By David Rogers. TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. — With the NCHSAA 6A Regionals just two Saturdays away, May 9 at Asheville’s A.C. Reynolds High School, the Watauga men’s and women’s track and field teams had quite a “tune-up,” both claiming Northwestern Conference team championships on April 29 at Alexander Central High School — in dominating fashion.
WOMEN’S DIVISION
TEAM STANDINGS
- Watauga (278)
- Alexander Central (174,5)
- South Caldwell (68)
- St. Stephens (65)
- Freedom (63.5)
- McDowell (35)
We have to lead this accounting of the Watauga women’s team performances with a nod to sophomore Cali Townsend and freshman Josie Mayo.
Townsend competed in the 1600 Meters, the 3200 Meters, winning both long distance races. Josie Mayo? All she did was run on the winning 4×800 relay team, come in No. 2 in the 3200 Meters and No. 2 in the 1600 Meters.
“We call Josie’s 3-race performance ‘The Trio of Death’ because of how demanding it is to compete in those three distances in a single track event. The only ones to do it have been Josie (‘our FRESHMAN!’) and Cali,” said Watauga running coach J. Scott Townsend.
The Watauga women won each of the four relays, the 4×200, the 4×100, the 4×800 and the 4×400. In the individual events, the greatest curiosities were when the Pioneers didn’t have all three of their entries in the top five, if not a 1-2-3 sweep. The 4×800 Relay started this off, with Watauga finishing No. 1 (10:46.13), roughly 28 seconds ahead of second place St. Stephens (11:14.38).
Watauga had only two entries in the Women’s 100m Hurdles, going 1-2 with Tessa Buchanan (No. 1, 15.47) and Grace Scantlin (No. 2, 17.70). The Pioneers didn’t make the podium in the Women’s 100 Meters, but all three entries finished in the Top 10, including Charlotte Rosenbalm (No. 5, 13.45), Sophia Kop (No. 7, 13.64) and Gracyn Phelps (No. 9, 13.70). Malayah Adams of Alexander Central won the race with the only time under 13 seconds (12.39), but the rest of the field was tightly bunched with 10 runners between St. Stephens’ Ady McHenry (No. 2, 13.23) and McDowells Azmond Carson (No. 11, 13.97)
It was an exciting start to the afternoon’s competition. The Women’s 4×800 Relay could well have been the most exciting event of the day with No. 1 Watauga (1:49.29) barely edging out No. 2 St. Stephens (1:49.49). When you consider that each athlete on a team ran the equivalent of a half mile and the total distance run by each team was the metric equivalent of two miles, to have the finish come down to two-tenths of a second is a thrilling race. The Watauga foursome was Sydney Townsend, Lainey Johnston, Lily Kimbrough and Josie Mayo.
Cali Townsend continued her season-long excellence in the 1600 Meters event, finishing No. 1 (5:41.29), just over eight seconds ahead of the Pioneers’ Josie Mayo (No. 2, 5:50.23) and another three seconds ahead of teammate Lily Kimbrough (No 3, 5:53.73). The Pioneers’ 1-2-3 sweep was a statement as the only athletes under six minutes. No. 4 went to McDowell’s Elyse Foster (6:32.97).
In the 100m Hurdles, the first individual event, Tessa Buchanan and Grace Scantlin got Watauga off to a promising start with a 1-2 sweep of the event, Buchanan at No. 1 (15.47) and Scantlin at No. 2 (17.7).
The Pioneers may not have had any sprinters among the leaders in the individual 100 Meters sprint race, but apparently they have greater roster depth than the rest of the conference because they took the 4×100 Meters Relay (51.41), again by an eyelash over the runner up team, Alexander Central (51.63) for an exciting finish. Watauga’s quartet was comprised of Gracyn Phelps, Tessa Buchanan, Sophia Kop and Charlotte Rosenbalm.
All three of Watauga’s entries in the Women’s 400 Meters finished in the Top 10, capped by Lily Stough’s No. 1 victory (58.61), the only runner in the event to eclipse the 1-minute mark. South Caldwell’s Sarah Franklin took the No. 2 spot (1:01.37), followed by No. 3 Ava Cooke of Freedom (1:01.39). Watauga’s Vivian Hans (No.6, 1:04.35) and freshman Ember Honeycutt (No. 7, 1:04.49) picked up valuable team points with their finishes.
The Women’s 300m Hurdles was another 1-2-3 sweep for the Pioneers, with Tessa Buchanan (No. 1, 46.32). Grace Scantlin (No. 2, 52.28) and Hannah Kop (No. 3, 52.90). The figured as role models for the Pioneers’ entries in the 800 Meters, with Cali Townsend (No. 1, 2:20.46), Lainey Johnston (No. 2, 2:24.34) and Lily Kimbrough (No. 3, 2:33.55) following suit for yet another 1-2-3 sweep for the Pioneers.
Although Watauga didn’t have anyone place on the podium in the earlier 100 Meters, the 200 Meters sprint race was a different story. Alexander Central’s Malayah Adams won the event (No. 1, 26.28), but Watauga had the next two finishing spots, both within about a half-second of the winner: Mackenzy Cheek (No. 2, 26.78) and Tessa Buchanan (No. 3, 26.92). Merritt Powell also made the top 10, finishing No. 7 (28.39).
The final individual running event of the evening was arguably the Pioneers’ most dominating: the 3200-Meter Run. Cali Townsend (No. 1, 12:05.09), Josie Mayo (No. 2, 12:20.53) and Susanna Goff (No. 3, 12:23.03) lapped the field in taking the 1-2-3 sweep and demonstrating Watauga’s long distance superiority, at least in the 6A/7A Northwestern Conference. South Caldwell’s Kaylee Teague ran a respectable 15:44.09 at No. 4, well ahead of her No. 5 rival, Hope Cox (16:00.75), representing Alexander Central, but put in perspective, all three of Watauga’s athletes were more than three minutes ahead of the field, running near or under their personal bests.
In the final women’s relay, the iconic 4×400, Watauga (No. 1, 4:19.64), held off a game performance by Alexander Central’s quartet (No. 2, 4:29.40), as well as St. Stephens (No. 3, 4:36.66). The Watauga relay team members: Vivian Hans, Hannah Kop, Mackenzy Cheek and Eden Krenzin.
In the field events, Watauga continued its domination with most of the teams’ athletes finishing in the top five, if not winning. The Pioneers took a 1-2-3 sweep of the Pole Vault behind Sydney Helms (No. 1, 10-09), Sophie Robbins (No. 2, 9-06), and Carrie Bradbury (No. 3, 9-00).
The Pioneers’ Lily Stough (No. 1, 19-02) captured the Long Jump conference title, with Ember Honeycutt (No. 4, 15-11.50) and Eden Krenzin (No. 5, 15-10) rounding out the top five and capturing valuable team points.
Stough also showed well in the High Jump, placing No. 2 (5-02) behind Alexander Central’s Kay’ona Connor (No. 1, 5-04). Ashlyn Smith was Watauga’ only other entrant in the event, in the mix at No. 4 (5-00).
In the demanding Triple Jump, Stough again led a trio of Pioneers, all placing in the top five of the event. Stough captured the conference title with a leap of 40-04, more than four feet further than No. 2, Alexander Central’s Carly Hendren (35-10.25). Watauga’s Eden Krenzin (No. 4, 34-03) and Sophie Kop (No. 5, 33-08.25) rounded out the top five. Alexander Central also had the No. 3 jumper in Cadence (“Cadee”) Rollins (35-00).
Alexander Central’s Ali Lewis was a double winner in capturing the Shot Put and Discus titles, going 31-07 in the Shot Put and 198-04 in the Discus. While the Pioneers didn’t place anyone in the top five of the Shot Put, two Watauga athletes made it to the top five list in the Discus: Ellie Helms (No. 2, 96-03) and Maggie Smith (No. 5, 84-05).
MEN’S DIVISION
TEAM STANDINGS
- Watauga (218)
- Alexander Central (151)
- St. Stephens (122)
- Freedom (66)
- South Caldwell (63)
- McDowell (58)
Watauga won three of the four relay events, capturing the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×800. A lane violation in the 4×400 resulted in a disqualification.
The 4×800 team of Grady Gates, Levi Anderson, Brian Newmark and Calvin Zwetsloot got the Watauga men’s team started on the right foot, capturing the conference title with an 8:54.07 performance, a little more than 11 seconds ahead of No. 2 Alexander Central (9:05.62).
The 110m High Hurdles event was won by St. Stephens’ Kion-nie Banks (15.66), followed by the Pioneers’ Eli Reed (No. 2, 16.42)
.Watauga’s Nyle Peays led a 1-2 sweep of the 100 Meters, sprinting the distance in 10.66 seconds. He was followed by No. 2 Riley Ellison (10.93), the only two competitors under 11 seconds.
In the 4×200 Relay, the Pioneer quartet of Matthew Leon, Lucas Cash, Mason Harris and Riley Ellison were crowned conference champions, winning the event in 1:30.27.
James Bostrom of Watauga clocked a 4:37.14 time to secure the 1600 Meters title. Teammates Jonah Pearson (No. 3, 4:38.68) and Zeke Walker (No. 4, 4:45.04) were not far behind No. 2, Bryce Corpening of South Caldwell (4:38.06).
Watauga similarly showed off its sprint prowess in the 4×100, with the quartet of Mason Harris, Riley Ellison, Lucas Cash and Nyle Peays completing the one-lap circuit in 43.37 seconds, with Alexander Central No. 2 (44.11).
Pioneer senior Matthew Leon was the only Northwestern Conference performer to run under 50 seconds in the grueling 400 Meters sprint. His No. 1 time of 49.42, a personal best, allowed him to cross the finish line ahead of Alexander Central’s Aidan Batty (No. 2, 50.24) and Kevin Hinson (No. 3, 51.32). Leon revealed to Blowing Rock News that he has committed to play football next year for Mars Hill University, north of Asheville.
Nyle Peays and Eli Reed completed a 1-2 sweep in the Men’s 300m Hurdles. Peays was No. 1 (39.38) and Reed was No. 2 (40.74).
Watauga’s entries in the Men’s 800 Meters took another 1-2-3 sweep to the podium, with Levi Anderson (No. 1, 2:04.72), Zeke Walker (No. 2, 2:05.40) and Brian Newmark (No. 3, 2:06.20) taking the honors.
The Pioneers followed that up with 1-2 sweep of the Men’s 200 Meters, with Nyle Peays again leading the way at No. 1 (21.69), followed by Riley Ellison (No. 2, 22.35). Mason Harris (No.4, 23.53) was also among the leaders.
South Caldwell’s cross country and long distance star Bryce Corpening showed his stuff again in the Men 3200 Meters, going No. 1 in 10:11.39. He was followed by a trio of Watauga runners: Parker Williams (No. 2, 19:16.49), Isaac James (No. 3, 10:21.77) and Calvin Zwetsloot (No. 4, 10:30.93).
In the final event of the day, the Men’s 4×400 relay, Watauga was represented by Silas Powell, Sawyer Blackburn, Derek Nix, and Eli Reed, but was disqualified for a lane violation on one of the baton exchanges.
