Southwest Wake Athletic Conference track and field preview

Green Hope’s boys indoor track and field championship could make things interesting in the outdoor season for the Southwest Wake Athletic Conference.

Only Apex and Cary have won SWAC track and field titles over the last eight seasons.

BOYS

Green Hope’s Henry Pehr was third in the 1,600 at last year’s 4A championships and won the SWAC 800. Teammate William Hoffman won the SWAC 300 hurdles and was co-running MVP of the league.

The Falcons were second to Apex, which had heavy graduation losses, in last year’s SWAC championships.

Panther Creek was third in last year’s SWAC championships, Cary was sixth, Fuquay-Varina sixth and Athens Drive eighth.

Fifth-place Middle Creek has Terrell Adams, the returning state champ in discus who was also fourth in the shot put. Adams broke the SWAC record in the discus that had stood since 1990 and only been tied once.

Seventh-place Holly Springs’ Daniel Ligons won the 4A shot put title and Jordan Brown won the SWAC high jump, earning field MVP honors. The Golden Hawks also picked up SWAC 110 hurdles champ Bryce Wheaton, a transfer from Panther Creek.

Coach Ryan Matthews leads the first Apex Friendship team.

GIRLS

Defending SWAC champ Cary is led by sophomore Olivia Goodwin, who was fourth in the 4A pole vault. Goodwin was also the SWAC’s 110 hurdles champ.

Apex loses N&O athlete of the year Sydnei Murphy but sophomore Cara King is ready to defend wheelchair titles in the 100, 200, shot put and discus

Green Hope, third in the SWAC, is led by state champ Elly Henes, who won the 1,600 and 3,200 4A titles.

Panther Creek was fourth in last year’s SWAC, followed by Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs and Athens Drive.

Middle Creek junior Katie Nelson was the SWAC runner-up in the high jump.

Apex Friendship enters the fray this year.

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 1:26 PM with the headline "Southwest Wake Athletic Conference track and field preview."