Southeast Raleigh’s girls, Millbrook’s boys lead 4A Mideast track regional
Cary’s Julia Brown used a frantic strategy to win the girls 800 meters with a state-leading time in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A Mideast Regional track and field championships Saturday at Garner High.
But don’t expect the senior to duplicate the tactic that resulted in her time of 2 minutes, 14.03 seconds. Brown’s warmup was racing from the parking lot to the starting line.
“I got a call and they said the meet was ahead of schedule,” she said. “We got here as fast as we could.”
Brown had returned home to rest after helping Cary win the 4x800 relay at 10 a.m. The meet resumed at noon with the 800 expected to begin around 2 p.m. But her magic strategy actually was pure willpower.
“I was fifth the last two years,” she said, speaking of the top four places advancing to the state meet. “This is my senior year, and I just had to make it to state.”
In the team standings, Southeast Raleigh’s girls finished the day with 99 points to the Imps’ 92.5 with three events postponed due to wet conditions until Monday at Apex. The team titles will be decided after the pole vault begins at 2 p.m. and the long and triple jumps at 3 p.m.
In the boys standings, Millbrook leads Green Hope, 52-51, although multiple teams are within striking range.
More girls results
Apex’s Duke-bound Sydnei Murphy joined Brown as a new state-leader by winning the 200 in 24.00. She swept the sprints with an 11.81 in the 100 after clocking 11.73 in the prelims.
Other girls pulling off sweeps were Green Hope’s Elly Henes in the 1,600 (5:02.82) and 3,200 (11:00.8); Wakefield’s Breanne Bygrave in the 100 hurdles (14.14) and 300 hurdles (44.56); and Southeast Raleigh’s Hasana Clark in the shot put (45 feet, 8 inches) and the discus throw (141-11).
“Winning the team title my senior year after we won last year is very important to me,” Clark said. “I’m more consistent as the season has progressed.”
Cary’s Tennessee-bound Layla White won the 400 in 55.35. The only better time in the state is her 55.25 three weeks ago.
Garner’s Taylor Sutton won the high jump at 5-4.
Boys events
Clayton’s Rodney Rowe won the 100 in a state-leading 10.53 that broke the Trojans Stadium record of 10.61 set three weeks ago by Wake Forest’s Bryce Love in the Wake County Championships. But a showdown in the finals didn’t develop after Love pulled up in the prelims.
The Stanford-bound running back tweaked his hamstring recently, but he told his coaches he wanted to compete. He pulled up in the first 20 meters rather than risk a more serious injury.
Later in the meet, Rowe led the 200 when he reached for his hamstring in the final 10 meters to fade to a photo-finish third in 21.72. Wakefield’s Dylan Peebles won in 21.69 and Wake Forest’s Jonathan Iyamu ran 21.70.
Millbrook and Green Hope stand 1-2 in the team race despite each winning only one event. Millbrook’s Jonte Leaston claimed the high jump at 6-6 and Green Hope’s Henry Pehr the 1,600 at 4:23.29.
In other boys events, Southeast Raleigh’s Jayon Woodward won the 400, 49.07; Wakefield’s Tre Brooks the 800, 1:57.01; Broughton’s Jeremy Brooks the 3,200, 9:30.95; Sanderson’s Emmanuel Jackson the 110 high hurdles, 14.37; and Enloe’s Dominick Patterson the 300 intermediate hurdles, 38.65.
Middle Creek’s Terrell Adams continued his domination of the weight events this spring. He won the shot put at 57-2 and the discus throw at 154-5.
This story was originally published May 2, 2015 at 7:59 PM with the headline "Southeast Raleigh’s girls, Millbrook’s boys lead 4A Mideast track regional."