RM dominates NEW 6 girls meet; Fike 3rd
May 2, 2009 Rocky Mount High School
By Tom Ham
Wilson Daily Times
ROCKY MOUNT -- An adverse development didn't cost the Fike High girls track team the championship in Wednesday's 3-A NEW 6 Conference final at Nash Central High -- because Rocky Mount again dominated.
But eliminate the occurrence and drama would have prevailed before the Lady Golden Demons yielded second place to Nash Central in overcast, then sunny, finally windy and cool conditions.
Rocky Mount now stands 4 for 4 in NEW 6 championships after piling up 204 points and has captured seven consecutive conference championships.
Nash Central (99 points) edged Fike (85) for second place, followed by SouthWest Edgecombe (61), Southern Nash (51) and Northern Nash (45).
A 12-point swing occurred when the victorious Lady Golden Demons' 4 x 200-meter relay team was disqualified and Nash Central, the runner-up on the track, was awarded the win -- thus collecting 10 points instead of 8, while Fike lost 10.
On the anchor leg, jubilant Fike senior Talaya Hall slightly hoisted her arms before crossing the finish line. The gesture along with the reaction of her teammates was construed as taunting -- resulting in the quartet's disqualification.
"It just felt good to win," Hall explained her actions. "There was no one here to taunt. That was disappointing, but we made up for it in the 4 x 100."
Fike's 4 x 100 quartet of Shaa Locus, Tramicka James, Jaleesa Harper and Hall smoked to a first-place time of 52.87 seconds.
Hall was joined by Locus, James and Jameka Thompson on the 4 x 200 relay.
Fike also flourished in distance running.
As distance coach Tom Griffith forecast, poised freshman Jentzen Jones surged the final 200 meters and overcame sophomore teammate Beth Hanson in the 1,600.
Jones resorted to a similar strategy in the 800, but settled for second place after being held off by Rocky Mount sophomore Erika Wesonga.
In the 3,200, the triumphant Hanson lapped most of the participants. Teammates Sydney Reaves, a freshman, and Jordan Davis, a senior, salvaged fourth and fifth, respectively.
Hall, willing to accept the team-leadership role as a four-year runner, hailed the 4 x 100 top finish as the Lady Demons' highlight.
"We did better than I expected," she summarized, "but we can still improve."
Fike and the other NEW 6 teams will be granted that opportunity in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A East Regional at Swansboro High on Saturday, May 9.
Rocky Mount was spurred by junior Latoya Applewhite, the Most Outstanding Performer. Applewhite placed second in the 400, long jump, triple jump and anchored the triumphant 4 x 400 relay.
Other Lady Gryphons winners were the 4 x 800 relay and Wesonga.
SouthWest Edgecombe produced a pair of twin victors in senior Denise Harrison and junior Jessica Barnes.
Harrison far excelled against her competition in the shot put and discus and now owns four conference championships in both events. Barnes captured the 100-meter dash and the long jump.
Leading Southern Nash was senior Domonica Coleman with a first-place effort of 35 feet, 1/2 inch in the triple jump and a winning time of 51.96 seconds in the 300 hurdles.
Ladybirds' junior Rachel Boykin won the pole vault.
However, Rocky Mount took control with effective depth -- posting 12 seconds and nine thirds.
Gryphon Boys
Rocky Mount's boys finished fifth in the NEW 6 meet. Nash Central won the event. The finals scores were: Nash Central (184.3), Northern Nash (126.5), Fike (115.4), Southern Nash (47.5), Rocky Mount (46.9) and SouthWest Edgecombe (36.4).
NEW 6 GIRLS TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT WINNERS
Shot Put - Denise Harrison (SWE) 34'8";
Discus - Denise Harrison (SWE) 106'11";
Long jump - Jessica Barnes (SWE) 16'7.5";
High jump - Jasmine Williams (NC) 5'8";
Triple jump - Domonica Coleman (SN) 35'0.5";
Pole vault - Rachel Boykin (SN) 8';
100m Hurdles - Xaviera Bass (NC) 16.81;
100m Dash - Jessica Barnes (SWE) 13.25;
1,600m Run - Jentzen Jones (WF) 5:47;
400m Dash - Jasmine Williams (NC) 1:01.18;
300m Hurdles - Domonica Coleman (SN) 51.96;
800m Run - Erika Wesonga (RM) 2:30.31;
200m Dash - Jennifer Cofield (NC) 27.49;
3,200 Run - Beth Hanson (WF) 12:45;
4x800m Relay - Rocky Mount (Micheala Thorne, Marquita Hines, Nancy Thai, Erika Wesonga) 10:31;
4x200m Relay - Nash Central (Gabrielle Foster, Jennifer Cofield, Jasmine Williams, Tyrequa Washington) 1:52.80;
4x100m Relay - Wilson Fike (Locus Shea, Jaleesa Harper, Tramicka James, Talava Hall) 52.87;
4x400m Relay - Rocky Mount (Erika Wesonga, Marquita Hines, Micheala Thorne, Latoya Applewhite) 4:24.82.
NEW 6 BOYS TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT WINNERS
Shot Put - Keith Thomas (NN) 46';
Discus - Jordan Crudup (NC) 134'2";
Long jump - Darius Parker (WF) 21'8";
High jump - Brett Bovia (WF) 6'2";
Triple jump - Jory Stephens (WF) 42'8";
Pole vault - Devin Williams (NN) 12';
110m Hurdles - Danny Allen (NC) 14.86;
100m Dash - Micheal Farr (WF) 11.46;
1,600m Run - Dillon Hawley (NC) 4:30.15;
400m Dash - Devonte Jenkins (SWE) 52.6;
300m Hurdles - Tra Von Banks (NN) 39.82;
800m Run - Danny Fretz (NN) 2:01.02;
200m Dash - Devin Williams (NN) 22.82;
3,200 Run - Dillon Hawley (NC) 9:43.86;
4x800m Relay - Wilson Fike (Joseph Speight, Carlvin Dorvilier, Johnathan Bennett, Cody Jones) 8:20.00;
4x200m Relay - Northern Nash (Devin Williams, Danny Fretz, Tavis Richardson, Tra Von Banks) 1:31.02;
4x100m Relay - Wilson Fike (Micheal Farr, Zamese Braswell, Rashaad Parker, Melvin Howard) 43.79;
4x400m Relay - Northern Nash (Tra Von Banks, J.J. McLaughlin, Tavis Richardson, Danny Fretz) 3:30.78. |
NATIONAL
NORTH CAROLINA
