By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Watauga Women’s Track and Field team used strong performances in the middle and longer distances to capture the 3A/4A Northwestern Conference track and field championships title on May 1, hosted at Jack Groce Stadium.
Unlike in the Men’s Division where all three 4A schools took the top three spots in the team results, NWC 3A member Ashe County posted a strong performance to take the No. 2 team finish in the Women’s competition.
Highlights of the Women’s competition:
- 4×800 Relay: Watauga demonstrated its roster depth, capturing No. 1 by almost a 19 second margin over No. 2 Ashe County, with South Caldwell another 30 seconds later at No. 3.
- 100 Meter Hurdles: Watauga’s Sadie Buchanan was the only hurdler to record a time under 15 seconds as No. 1, with Ashe County claiming the No. 2 and No. 3 finishes by Emmi Cheek and Paige Overcash, respectively.
- 100 Meter Dash: Alexander Central (Malaya Adams), Hibriten (Jada Brown), and Ashe County (Emmi Cheek) claimed the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 podium finishes, respectively.
- 4×200 Relay: Alexander Central topped Watauga by a fraction of a second to claim the No. 1 spot on the podium. Ashe County came in No. 3.
- 1600 Meter Run: A Watauga 1-2 sweep with sophomore Janie Beach-Verhay taking the convincing win with freshman Lainey Johnston capturing the No. 2 spot. Ashe County picked up valuable team points with Emory Taylor’s No. 3 finish and teammate Evie Pyles at No. 4.
- 4×100 Relay: Same players, similar order with Alexander Central, Watauga and Ashe County taking 1-2-3.
- 400 Meter Dash: In one of the closest races of the afternoon, Freedom’s Ava Cooke took No. 1, just 10/100ths of a second ahead of No. 2 Lilly Stough of Watauga. The Pioneers’ Ava Doty and Kaitlyn Darner claimed the No. 3 and No. 4 finishes among the large field of 15 athletes competing.
- 300 Meter Hurdles: Ashe County’s Emmi Cheek triumphed over No. 2 Sadie Buchanan and No. 3 Tessa Buchanan, both of Watauga.
- 800 Meter Run: Jainey Beach-Verhay became a double winner with a convincing win over Ashe County’s Abilene Dollar at No. 2 and Pioneer teammate Lainey Johnston at No. 3, who also claimed her second podium finish.
- 200 Meter Dash: In a large field of 14 runners, Alexander Central’s Malayah Adams also became a double winner with Emmi Cheek of Ashe County at No. 2 and Hibriten’s Jada Brown also claiming multiple podium finishes each.
- 3200 Meter Run: Watauga’s Annabelle Stewart and Ellary Smith were both more than 30 seconds ahead of the rest of the field in finishing No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Ashe County’s Emory Taylor, Chloe Henson and Evie Pyles put in a strong Husky performance with the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 finishes.
- 4×400 Relay: This middle distance relay demonstrated more High Country depth as Watauga claimed No. 1 and Ashe County No. 2, with Alexander Central at No. 3.
- Long Jump: Hibriten’s Jada Brown was the class of the field, jumping more than 2 feet farther than Hallie Jarrett at No. 2. Watauga’s Eden Krenzin and Kayla Graham went 3-4, a few inches short of the No. 2 spot.
- Triple Jump: Jada Brown of Hibriten earned some more No. 1 hardware, with Watauga’s Lilly Stough and Alexander Central’s Cadence Rollins not far behind in No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively.
- High Jump: Ashe County’s Paige Overcash became a multi-medalist in winning the event, followed by Alexander Central’s Carly Hendren and another Husky, Katlyn French at No. 3. Watauga’s Olivia Foskey and Ashe County’s Loralei Overcash took home the No. 4 and No. 5 honors in the 14-jumper field.
- Pole Vault: This was another dominating Watauga team performance in going 1-3-4 led by Olivia Burroughs at No. 1, Sydney Helms at No. 2 and Emmerson Martin at No. 4. Ashe County’s Gracie Finley was No. 2, but Burroughs’ successful vault performance was almost 3 feet higher than anyone else.
- Shot Put: Ashe County’s Emily Hartsoe had a heave that was more than 8 feet farther than No. 2, Maggie Tay of Hibriten and another foot beyond Watauga multi-sport athlete Emma Pastusic’s No. 3 distance.
- Discus: Another solid performance by Emily Hartsoe of Ashe County claimed the title, with Olivia Burroughs and Emma Pastusic of Watauga going No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.
Team Scores
TEAM SCORE
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1 Watauga 248
2 Ashe County 180.5
3 Alexander Central 113.5
4 Hibriten 61
5 South Caldwell 39
6 Freedom 38
4x800 Meter Relay
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School Finals
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Finals
1 Watauga 'A' 10:56.37
2 Ashe County 'A' 11:15.23
3 South Caldwell 'A' 11:35.93
4 Alexander Central 'A' 11:51.83
5 Freedom 'A' 12:11.96
100 Meter Hurdles
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Name Year School Finals H#
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1 Buchanan, Sadie Watauga 14.80 2
2 Cheek, Emmi Ashe County 16.32 2
3 Overcash, Paige Ashe County 16.41 2
4 Buchanan, Tessa Watauga 16.75 2
5 Schneider, Kara Watauga 17.68 2
6 Lackey, Kylie South Caldwe 18.67 2
7 Rash, Haley Alexander Ce 19.03 2
8 Harrington, Hallie Alexander Ce 20.24 1
9 Bolick, Chloe South Caldwe 20.44 1
10 Taylor, Aniyah Alexander Ce 21.75 2
11 Plumley, Zania Freedom 22.73 1
100 Meter Dash
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Name Year School Finals H#
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1 Adams, Malayah Alexander Ce 12.55 3
2 Brown, Jada Hibriten 12.59 3
3 Cheek, Emmi Ashe County 12.72 3
4 Kop, Olivia Watauga 13.14 3
5 Caldwell, Cynica Freedom 13.31 3
6 Dawson, Lexie Ashe County 13.36 3
7 Queen, Aniah Freedom 13.75 2
8 Howell, KaMauri Hibriten 13.75 2
9 Miller, Nya Alexander Ce 13.76 3
10 Kop, Sophia Watauga 13.79 2
11 Foskey, Olivia Watauga 13.83 2
12 McMinn, Kerris South Caldwe 13.99 2
13 Taylor, Cheyenne Alexander Ce 13.99 3
14 Dula, Nivea Hibriten 14.36 2
15 Bridges, Bella South Caldwe 14.49 1
16 Goodman, Carley Ashe County 14.59 1
17 Kanipe, Kemora Freedom 15.30 1
18 Lambert, Kayleigh South Caldwe 16.06 2
4x200 Meter Relay
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School Finals
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1 Alexander Central 'A' 1:47.12
2 Watauga 'A' 1:47.76
3 Ashe County 'A' 1:48.62
4 Freedom 'A' 1:50.08
5 Hibriten 'A' 2:02.87
6 South Caldwell 'A' 2:07.76
1600 Meter Run
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Name Year School Finals
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1 Beach-Verhay, Janie Watauga 5:38.26
2 Johnston, Lainey Watauga 5:58.55
3 Taylor, Emory Ashe County 6:04.65
4 Pyles, Evie Ashe County 6:25.03
5 Noble, Clara South Caldwe 6:27.61
6 Townsend, Sydney Watauga 6:31.53
7 Bautista, Hannely Ashe County 6:43.97
8 Cox, Hope Alexander Ce 6:49.73
9 Osborne, Maggie South Caldwe 7:04.96
10 Denton, Kennedy Freedom 7:08.10
11 Childers, Madison South Caldwe 7:20.43
12 Spencer, Chloe Freedom 7:28.97
4x100 Meter Relay
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School Finals
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1 Alexander Central 'A' 50.37
2 Watauga 'A' 50.50
3 Ashe County 'A' 52.08
4 Freedom 'A' 53.31
5 Hibriten 'A' 55.86
6 South Caldwell 'A' 57.57
400 Meter Dash
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Name Year School Finals H#
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1 Cooke, Ava Freedom 1:02.15 2
2 Stough, Lilly Watauga 1:02.25 2
3 Doty, Ava Watauga 1:03.68 2
4 Darner, Kaitlyn Watauga 1:04.19 2
5 Kirksey, Leah Freedom 1:06.29 2
6 Shepherd, Madalyn Alexander Ce 1:08.36 2
7 Smith, Ava Alexander Ce 1:08.75 2
8 Goodman, Carley Ashe County 1:10.03 1
9 Pennell, Lexi South Caldwe 1:10.32 1
10 Bolick, Chloe South Caldwe 1:13.21 2
11 Ritchie, Rylei Hibriten 1:13.84 1
12 Satterwhite, Audrey Ashe County 1:17.47 1
13 Holden, Vera South Caldwe 1:17.79 1
14 Lewis, Emily Ashe County 1:19.27 1
15 Yang, Raine Freedom 1:32.12 1
300 Meter Hurdles
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Name Year School Finals H#
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1 Cheek, Emmi Ashe County 46.84 2
2 Buchanan, Sadie Watauga 48.10 2
3 Buchanan, Tessa Watauga 50.31 2
4 Davis, Frances Watauga 54.37 2
5 Rash, Haley Alexander Ce 56.22 2
6 Harrington, Hallie Alexander Ce 56.72 2
7 Lackey, Kylie South Caldwe 56.76 2
8 Taylor, Aniyah Alexander Ce 59.81 1
9 Howell, Emma Ashe County 1:00.86 1
10 Plumley, Zania Freedom 1:06.30 1
11 Bridges, Bella South Caldwe 1:06.31 1
-- Hamby, Sophia South Caldwe FS 1
800 Meter Run
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Name Year School Finals
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1 Beach-Verhay, Janie Watauga 2:31.19
2 Dollar, Abilene Ashe County 2:34.26
3 Johnston, Lainey Watauga 2:37.30
4 Anderson, Payton South Caldwe 2:44.55
5 Franca, Josie Ashe County 2:48.24
6 Hendren, Lydia Alexander Ce 2:51.38
7 Crafton, Celeste Alexander Ce 3:02.48
8 Llibre, Mia Grace Watauga 3:02.89
9 Ritchie, Rylei Hibriten 3:17.62
10 Tomberlin, Olivia South Caldwe 3:25.67
11 Spencer, Chloe Freedom 3:27.49
12 Harris, Mackenzie South Caldwe 3:39.67
200 Meter Dash
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Name Year School Finals H#
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1 Adams, Malayah Alexander Ce 26.48 3
2 Cheek, Emmi Ashe County 26.92 3
3 Brown, Jada Hibriten 27.02 3
4 Johnson, Sienna Watauga 28.06 3
5 Caldwell, Cynica Freedom 28.15 3
6 Cheek, Mackenzy Watauga 28.47 3
7 Hendren, Carly Alexander Ce 28.50 3
8 Dollar, Addison Ashe County 29.07 2
9 Evans, Leland Freedom 29.19 2
10 Cooke, Ava Freedom 29.22 3
11 Glover, Olivia Ashe County 29.73 2
12 Howell, KaMauri Hibriten 30.42 2
13 Higginbothom, Brady South Caldwe 33.51 1
14 Austin, Zoey South Caldwe 36.00 1
3200 Meter Run
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Name Year School Finals
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1 Stewart, Annabelle Watauga 13:08.31
2 Smith, Ellary Watauga 13:16.55
3 Taylor, Emory Ashe County 13:47.47
4 Henson, Chloe Ashe County 13:53.30
5 Pyles, Evie Ashe County 13:56.26
6 Llibre, Mia Grace Watauga 14:52.49
7 Osborne, Maggie South Caldwe 15:51.92
8 Noble, Clara South Caldwe 15:52.97
9 Childers, Madison South Caldwe 17:10.23
10 Roupe, Tessa Alexander Ce 17:23.41
Event 23 Girls 4x400 Meter Relay
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School Finals
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1 Watauga 'A' 4:18.50
2 Ashe County 'A' 4:23.75
3 Alexander Central 'A' 4:41.68
4 South Caldwell 'A' 5:13.69
-- Hibriten 'A' DNF
Long Jump
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Name Year School Finals
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1 Brown, Jada Hibriten 17-09.00
2 Jarrett, Hallie Alexander Ce 15-08.75
3 Krenzin, Eden Watauga 15-04.75
4 Graham, Kayla Watauga 15-01.25
5 Rollins, Alexis Ashe County 14-11.00
6 Foskey, Olivia Watauga 14-09.00
7 Glover, Olivia Ashe County 14-08.00
8 Dollar, Addison Ashe County 13-07.00
9 Caldwell, Payton Freedom 13-01.50
10 Higginbothom, Brady South Caldwe 12-10.50
11 Merritt, Makenzie Alexander Ce 12-05.50
12 Beck, Allie South Caldwe 12-00.75
13 Capula Leon, Mayra Hibriten 11-02.00
14 Austin, Zoey South Caldwe 9-05.00
Triple Jump
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Name Year School Finals
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1 Brown, Jada Hibriten 39-02.00
2 Stough, Lilly Watauga 35-03.50
3 Rollins, Cadence Alexander Ce 34-06.50
4 Spears, MaNya Alexander Ce 34-00.00
5 Krenzin, Eden Watauga 33-06.00
6 Foskey, Olivia Watauga 31-10.00
7 Rollins, Alexis Ashe County 31-03.00
8 Cremeans, Joely Alexander Ce 29-04.00
High Jump
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Name Year School Finals
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1 Overcash, Paige Ashe County 5-00.00
2 Hendren, Carly Alexander Ce 4-10.00
3 French, Katlyn Ashe County 4-08.00
3 Foskey, Olivia Watauga 4-08.00
3 Overcash, loralei Ashe County 4-08.00
6 Helms, Sydney Watauga J4-06.00
7 Graham, Kayla Watauga J4-06.00
8 Fox, Chloe Alexander Ce J4-06.00
9 Dula, Layah Hibriten 4-02.00
10 Higginbothom, Brady South Caldwe 4-00.00
10 Hendren, Lydia Alexander Ce 4-00.00
-- Summerlin, Chloe South Caldwe NH
-- Lambert, Kayleigh South Caldwe NH
-- Moss, Ryver Hibriten NH
Pole Vault
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Name Year School Finals
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1 Burroughs, Olivia Watauga 12-02.00
2 Finley, Gracie Ashe County 9-06.00
3 Helms, Sydney Watauga J9-00.00
4 Martin, Emmerson Watauga J9-00.00
5 Miller, Emery Alexander Ce 8-00.00
6 Rollins, Alexis Ashe County 7-06.00
6 Ackerman, Andersyn Alexander Ce 7-06.00
8 Capula Leon, Mayra Hibriten 6-00.00
-- Suddreth, Jenna South Caldwe NH
-- Pennell, Lexi South Caldwe NH
Shot Put
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Name Year School Finals
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1 Hartsoe, Emily Ashe County 40-09.25
2 Maggie) Tay, Margaret Hibriten 32-08.50
3 Pastusic, Emma Watauga 31-03.25
4 Peterman, Dakota Ashe County 28-10.50
5 Huitt, Carleigh South Caldwe 27-06.25
6 Cole, Somerlyn Watauga 26-11.00
7 Jackson, Asia Alexander Ce 26-05.75
8 Lail, Kendra South Caldwe 25-10.25
9 Cowan, Tyiana Alexander Ce 25-10.00
10 Miller, Abigail Ashe County 25-06.00
11 Moss, Ryver Hibriten 25-03.25
12 Wright, Simone Freedom 24-04.00
13 Hartis, Teryn Alexander Ce 22-01.25
14 Azua Martin, Yesenia Hibriten 21-04.25
15 Eaker, Choe South Caldwe 21-02.00
Discus Throw
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Name Year School Finals
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1 Hartsoe, Emily Ashe County 120-06
2 Burroughs, Olivia Watauga 114-04
3 Pastusic, Emma Watauga 98-07
4 Moss, Ryver Hibriten 89-07
5 Maggie) Tay, Margaret Hibriten 89-01
6 Peterman, Dakota Ashe County 87-00
7 Bowers, Lanie Ashe County 85-05
8 Jackson, Asia Alexander Ce 84-08
9 Huitt, Carleigh South Caldwe 82-11
10 Hartis, Teryn Alexander Ce 65-05
11 Wright, Simone Freedom 63-03
12 Smith, Margot Watauga 61-04
13 Lail, Kendra South Caldwe 59-00
14 Azua Martin, Yesenia Hibriten 58-10
15 Parsons, Riley Alexander Ce 58-03
16 Lambert, Kayleigh South Caldwell
