Carrboro boys, DSA girls take 4th at NCHSAA 2A track and field championships

The Carrboro boys’ 35-point effort was the best showing among Triangle schools at the state 2A outdoor track and field championship Saturday at N.C. A&T State University. The Jaguars, like Durham School of the Arts’ girls, finished fourth in the team standings.

Carrboro’s Mangus Herweyer captured the discus and shot put championships for the second straight year, despite throws that weren’t as long as in 2015.

“My performances were actually a lot better last year,” Herweyer said. “I’m not disappointed with winning. I’m just a little flustered with not going up, getting a little better.”

Draughn’s Mason Poteat was a worthy challenger, offering a throw of 155-3. Herweyer’s best ended up being 155-8, which didn’t come until the final attempt. The shot put was even closer.

Herweyer’s throw of 51-3.75 was narrowly better than North Pitt’s Micah Clemons (51-3.25) and Farmville Central’s Jaqwuez Norman (51-0.25).

“It was really close,” Herweyer said. “It was very stressful. I’m probably going to go home and take a nap.”

Herweyer will throw collegiality at Williams College in Williamstown, Ma.

Carrboro’s 4-by-100 meter boys relay team placed third behind meet champion North Brunswick and Forest Hills. Theodore Wiggins, Tabian Sales, Ajani Murdaugh-Wright and Quinton Adams finished in 42.95 seconds to gain six points.

Dylan Strickland placed sixth in the 3200 for Carrboro with a 9:54 time. Quinton Adams was fifth in the 200 (22.27).

The DSA boys were led by Jalen Drayton’s runner-up performance in the 800 (1:57). The Bulldogs’ boys 4-by-800 (Jalen Drayton, Lizandro Marcial-Armas, Ben Kearsley and Joey Kreiling) finished third as did Panther Creek’s boys 4-by-100 team.

DSA GIRLS TIE FOR 4TH

Deja Davis, a Durham School of the Arts senior, was runner-up in the girls 300 hurdles, finishing in a personal best 45.77 seconds.

“My main goal was to push it on the last straightaway,” Davis said. “That’s always the hardest part. The last hurdle is so hard to go over.”

Kayla Moore of Burlington’s Cummings High won the race in 43.79.

“When I run against her, she pushes me to do my best,” Davis said.

DSA’s Simi Gbadegesin was third in the girls 400 dash (58.24 seconds) and Ziya Bradley earned a point with an eighth place finish (1:01). The DSA 4-by-400 relay team of Destiny Stevons, Dajanai Harper, Autumn Russell and Gbadegesin placed third, four seconds behind winner North Rowan.

DSA’s girls tied for fourth in the team standings with 33 points. Cummings was the dominant champion with 123 points.

MORE MEDALISTS

Carrboro’s girls 4-by-800 relay (Sydney Buck, Elise Deshusses, Natalie Richardson and Amanda Hickey) placed fifth. Hickey was also third in the 1600 and fifth in the 800. Also for Carrboro, Maley Wagner was fourth in the pole vault.

North Johnston’s Dylan Pinder won the 100 (23.72) and 200 wheelchair dash events. Pinder bested his times from last year and set state records.

“My goal was to go out there and beat my record,” said Pinder, who came in second in the shot put with a throw of 14-4.

“Getting second in the shot put didn’t sit too well with him,” North Johnston coach Jason Wilson said. “I think that’s where that extra two seconds came from in the 100.”

Jordan-Matthews’ Rahim Mateen was runner-up in the long jump (22-4). Bunn’s Jackson Leggett was third in the discus (151-3).

Ayden-Grifton’s Halei Ward was fourth in the girls’ 3,200 (11:51.09).

N.C. School of Science and Math got a fourth-place run (9:46) from Frank Kenny in the 3,200. He was fifth in the 1,600.

Franklinton was fourth in the boys’ 4-by-100 relay.

This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 3:24 AM with the headline "Carrboro boys, DSA girls take 4th at NCHSAA 2A track and field championships."