By Katherine Jamtgaard. BOONE, N.C. — The App State men’s and women’s track and field teams kicked off competition at the App State Open on Friday with a new facility record and seven top-five finishes. Competition resumes on Saturday with track events at 9 a.m. and field events at 10 a.m.
ZAP Endurance team member Anne Marie Tuxbury served as the ‘rabbit’ or pacesetter in the women’s 10K on April 26, for the App State Open. Following close behind and the eventual winner is Chloe Wellings of Radford University. Photographic image by David Rogers
Senior Chris Wainscott recorded a new facility record in the men’s hammer throw with a personal best of 58.57m (192′ 2″). He set the previous record of 56.36m (184′ 11″) at last year’s inaugural App State Open and his 2024 personal best moves him to fifth in the App State all-time list. Freshman Nick Lane rounded out the top-five with a personal best of his own with a toss of 45.05m (147′ 10″). In the women’s hammer throw, junior Daiyanna Cooper clinched first with a toss of 52.11m (171′ 0″).
On the track, senior Jasmine Donohue stopped the clock at 4:54.55 for a personal best and second-place finish in the MJ Harrelson Women’s Mile. Fellow senior Elizabeth Fuller rounded out the top-five with a personal best of 5:03.52. In the men’s invitational mile, sophomore Ethan Lipham placed third with a personal best of 4:03.91. Senior Ben Datte also registered a third-place finish in the invitational section of the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:43.97.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Demonstrating just how important those second place finishes are to a track and field team’s final score, freshman Susanna Goff captured the No. 2 spot in the 1600-Meter Run among the 15 entrants, as well as the No. 2 spot in the 800-Meter Run (14 entries), contributing 12 total points to the Pioneers’ dominating team win in which they scored 162 points, well ahead of second place Avery County’s 67 points.
In the 1600 Meter Run, Goff’s fellow Watauga freshman Winter Shaw crossed the line at No. 1 (6:13.66). Molly Forbes, an Avery County freshman, finished No. 1 in the 800 meters, recording a time of 2:53.45, with Goff just five seconds behind.
Pioneer senior Olivia Burroughs was far and away the class of the fields in both the Discus and the Pole Vault. In the Discus, Burroughs threw almost 23 feet further than Alexander Central’s Asia Jackson in the second spot. In the Pole Vault, Burroughs finished a foot and a half better than teammate Emmerson Martin in the No. 2 spot, with teammate Sydney Helms picking up more team points at No. 3.
Burroughs completed her 22-point team contribution by placing second in the Shot Put, with freshman Lainey Gragg not far behind in the No. 3 position among the 17 entrants. Hibriten freshman Maggie Tay was No. 1, with a heave of 30-11.
With a total of eight athletes competing, Pioneer juniors Maggie Barnes and Ava Curtis, along with freshman Frances Davis, went 1-2-3 in the 300 Meter Hurdles event, besting competitors from Alexander Central and North Wilkes.
RaceTab by MileSplit/FloSports Watauga 1, Watauga High School
Home Meet #3 - 4/24/2024 12:38:38 PM
Watauga, Boone, NC
Varsity Girls 4x800 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga A 10:26.37 8
2 Alexander Central A 11:53.11 6
3 Watauga B 13:23.44
Varsity Girls 100 Meter Hurdles
=======================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Wind Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Maddy Barrett 11 Avery 17.04 NWI 8
2 Elizabeth Foster 12 North Wilkes 18.52 NWI 6
3 Tessa Buchanan 9 Watauga 18.56 NWI 4
4 Haley Rash 10 Alexander Central 19.88 NWI 2
5 Hallie Harrington 10 Alexander Central 20.86 NWI 1
6 Aniyah Taylor 9 Alexander Central 22.26 NWI
Varsity Girls 100 Meter Dash
==========================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Wind H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Jada Brown 12 Hibriten 12.77 NWI 2 8
2 Malayah Adams 10 Alexander Central 12.99 NWI 1 6
3 Lillie Ward 12 Avery 13.25 NWI 1 4
4 Bryana Giron 10 Hibriten 13.27 NWI 3 2
5 Kaydence Menifee 10 Avery 13.43 NWI 2 1
6 Olivia Kop 12 Watauga 13.58 NWI 1
7 Olivia Foskey 12 Watauga 13.75 NWI 2
8 Ka'Mauri Howell 10 Hibriten 14.01 NWI 1
9 Mackenzy Cheek 9 Watauga 14.01 NWI 1
10 Sophia Kop 10 Watauga 14.04 NWI 1
11 Brooke Sullivan 11 Avery 14.09 NWI 3
12 Nya Miller 10 Alexander Central 14.12 NWI 2
13 Mackenzie Merritt 9 Alexander Central 14.20 NWI 3
14 Nivea Dula 10 Hibriten 14.25 NWI 2
15 Cheyenne Taylor 11 Alexander Central 14.40 NWI 2
16 Natalie Johnston 11 Watauga 14.80 NWI 2
17 Leah Gaydon 10 Watauga 14.81 NWI 3
18 Natalie Fitch 11 Watauga 14.82 NWI 3
19 Ava Hickerson 10 Alexander Central 15.23 NWI 3
20 Breeana Critcher 12 Watauga 15.31 NWI 3
21 Desaray Robinson 11 Johnson Co. HS 15.40 NWI 1
22 Ella Dillard 9 Hibriten 15.41 NWI 1
23 Asha Batchelor 9 Watauga 15.84 NWI 2
24 Maggie Barnes 11 Watauga 15.95 NWI 4
25 Layah Dula 9 Hibriten 16.77 NWI 3
26 Lillian Anderson 9 Watauga 17.41 NWI 4
27 Nhi Nguyen 9 Hibriten 17.81 NWI 4
28 Abigail Clark 10 Watauga 17.82 NWI 4
29 Neave Tuberty 9 Watauga 18.84 NWI 4
Varsity Girls 4x200 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Avery A 1:47.09 8
2 Alexander Central A 1:49.61 6
3 Watauga A 1:49.84 4
4 Watauga A 1:57.91
5 Hibriten B 2:05.55 2
Varsity Girls 1600 Meter Run
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Winter Shaw 9 Watauga 6:13.66 8
2 Susanna Goff 9 Watauga 6:23.74 6
3 Anna Norris 10 Watauga 6:33.16 4
4 Molly Forbes 9 Avery 6:39.87 2
5 Hope Cox 10 Alexander Central 6:50.55 1
6 Lydia Crosby 11 Avery 6:53.70
7 Laurel Mortensen 11 Watauga 6:58.03
8 Julia Mckinney 10 Watauga 7:14.60
9 Dulce Sanchez 9 Avery 7:15.17
10 Hadley Carpenter 11 Watauga 7:25.57
11 Zoe Critcher 9 Watauga 7:26.85
12 Cora Smith 10 Watauga 7:35.38
13 Vivian Rushing 12 Watauga 7:48.10
14 Allyssa Barnes 10 Alexander Central 8:04.36
15 Chloe Fox 9 Alexander Central 8:29.49
Varsity Girls 4x100 Meter Relay
===============================================================
Team Time H# Pts
---------------------------------------------------------------
1 AC 51.67 1 8
2 Watauga 51.70 1 6
3 Hibriten 52.30 1 4
4 Watauga 52.51 1
5 Watauga 55.34 2
6 Watauga 55.48 2
7 Hibriten 56.93 1
8 Johnson Co. HS 1:01.65 1 2
9 Watauga 1:03.45 2
Varsity Girls 400 Meter Dash
====================================================================
Name Yr Team Time H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Renn Herdklotz 12 Avery 1:00.66 1 8
2 Brooke Sullivan 11 Avery 1:04.79 1 6
3 Madalyn Shepherd 12 Alexander Central 1:09.38 1 4
4 Julian Martin 9 Watauga 1:09.42 1 2
5 Natalie Johnston 11 Watauga 1:10.42 1 1
6 Sofia McEvoy 9 Watauga 1:14.06 2
7 Taylor Roseman 12 Alexander Central 1:15.21 1
8 Harper Bowman 9 Alexander Central 1:15.51 2
9 Abigail Clark 10 Watauga 1:17.89 2
10 Keaton Jenkins 9 Alexander Central 1:21.21 2
11 Chloe Fox 9 Alexander Central 1:24.53 2
Varsity Girls 300 Meter Hurdles
====================================================================
Name Yr Team Time H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Maggie Barnes 11 Watauga 51.65 1 8
2 Ava Curtis 11 Watauga 54.31 2 6
3 Frances Davis 9 Watauga 55.16 2 4
4 Elizabeth Foster 12 North Wilkes 55.74 1 2
5 Hallie Harrington 10 Alexander Central 56.55 1 1
6 Haley Rash 10 Alexander Central 57.42 1
7 Aniyah Taylor 9 Alexander Central 1:03.42 2
8 Hayden Pruett 9 Alexander Central 1:05.72 2
Varsity Girls 800 Meter Run
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Molly Forbes 9 Avery 2:53.45 8
2 Susanna Goff 9 Watauga 2:58.69 6
3 Julian Martin 9 Watauga 2:59.22 4
4 Lydia Crosby 11 Avery 3:02.62 2
5 Anna Koontz 10 Watauga 3:03.55 1
6 Anna Norris 10 Watauga 3:03.87
7 Maggie Souza 12 Watauga 3:04.03
8 Iyla Freed 10 Watauga 3:04.82
9 Faith Gragg 9 Avery 3:13.18
10 Kaleigh Queen 11 Alexander Central 3:19.10
11 Hailey Molinera-Herna 9 Avery 3:38.60
12 Jaidyn Queen 10 Alexander Central 3:50.07
13 Dulce Sanchez 9 Avery 3:51.90
14 Stella Johnson 9 Avery 3:52.16
Varsity Girls 200 Meter Dash
==========================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Wind H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Maddy Barrett 11 Avery 27.03 NWI 1 8
2 Kaydence Menifee 10 Avery 27.18 NWI 2 6
3 Sadie Buchanan 11 Watauga 27.23 NWI 2 4
4 Renn Herdklotz 12 Avery 27.50 NWI 1 2
5 Lillie Ward 12 Avery 27.60 NWI 3
6 Olivia Kop 12 Watauga 28.61 NWI 1 1
7 Sienna Johnson 10 Watauga 28.83 NWI 2
8 Brooke Sullivan 11 Avery 28.90 NWI 3
9 Ava Doty 11 Watauga 29.05 NWI 1
10 Carly Hendren 9 Alexander Central 29.16 NWI 1
11 Mackenzy Cheek 9 Watauga 29.54 NWI 1
12 Ka'Mauri Howell 10 Hibriten 30.48 NWI 1
13 Darla Bachman 10 Watauga 30.58 NWI 2
14 Leah Gaydon 10 Watauga 30.73 NWI 3
15 Natalie Johnston 11 Watauga 32.06 NWI 3
16 Breeana Critcher 12 Watauga 32.68 NWI 3
17 Asha Batchelor 9 Watauga 32.89 NWI 3
18 Ella Dillard 9 Hibriten 33.35 NWI 1
19 Nhi Nguyen 9 Hibriten 36.99 NWI 2
20 Mackenzie Turnmire 9 Watauga 39.61 NWI 3
Varsity Girls 3200 Meter Run
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Mia Grace Llibre 11 Watauga 13:53.20 8
2 Ellary Smith 12 Watauga 13:57.97 6
3 Patricia Collins 10 Watauga 15:03.17 4
4 Julia Mckinney 10 Watauga 15:03.75
5 Tessa Roupe 11 Alexander Central 16:42.21 2
6 Maggie Souza 12 Watauga 17:54.92
6 Laurel Mortensen 11 Watauga 17:54.92
6 Hadley Carpenter 11 Watauga 17:54.92
6 Anna Norris 10 Watauga 17:54.92
6 Vivian Rushing 12 Watauga 17:54.92
11 Cora Smith 10 Watauga 18:18.42
12 Iyla Freed 10 Watauga 18:18.52
Nt Susanna Goff 9 Watauga NT
NT Sofia McEvoy 9 Watauga NT
Varsity Girls 4x400 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Hibriten 5:51.77 8
Varsity Girls Long Jump
=======================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Wind Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Jada Brown 12 Hibriten 17-06.00 NWI 8
2 Sydney Helms 9 Watauga 15-08.00 NWI 6
3 Hallie Jarrett 12 Alexander Central 15-02.00 NWI 4
4 Kayla Graham 12 Watauga 15-00.00 NWI 2
5 Olivia Foskey 12 Watauga 14-08.00 NWI 1
6 Naomi Smith 9 Watauga 14-00.25 NWI
7 Emmerson Martin 12 Watauga 13-09.00 NWI
8 Paiten Carroll 12 Johnson Co. HS 13-02.00 NWI
9 Mackenzie Merritt 9 Alexander Central 13-00.00 NWI
10 Joely Cremeans 10 Alexander Central 12-11.00 NWI
11 Kylie White 11 Avery 12-08.75 NWI
12 Lexi Proffit 12 Johnson Co. HS 12-01.00 NWI
13 Mayra Capula-Leon 12 Hibriten 10-09.75 NWI
NM Ava Hickerson 10 Alexander Central ND NWI
nm Desaray Robinson 11 Johnson Co. HS ND NWI
Varsity Girls Triple Jump
=======================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Wind Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Jada Brown 12 Hibriten 38-03.25 NWI 8
2 Nancy Stough 10 Watauga 35-04.50 NWI 6
3 Maddy Barrett 11 Avery 33-05.00 NWI 4
4 Sydney Helms 9 Watauga 31-05.50 NWI 2
5 Cadence Rollins 10 Alexander Central 30-11.75 NWI 1
6 MaNya Spears 12 Alexander Central 30-11.50 NWI
7 Olivia Foskey 12 Watauga 30-08.25 NWI
8 Joely Cremeans 10 Alexander Central 29-01.75 NWI
9 Naomi Smith 9 Watauga 29-01.50 NWI
10 Kara Schneider 11 Watauga 28-07.75 NWI
NM Sadie Baranowski 11 Avery ND NWI
Varsity Girls Shot Put
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Margaret (Maggie) Tay 9 Hibriten 30-11.00 8
2 Olivia Burroughs 12 Watauga 29-07.00 6
3 Lainey Gragg 9 Watauga 27-10.00 4
4 Ryver L. Moss 11 Hibriten 26-08.50 2
5 Asia Jackson 9 Alexander Central 25-09.00 1
6 Tyiana Cowan 11 Alexander Central 25-08.50
7 Somerlyn Cole 11 Watauga 25-02.00
8 Alayzhia Cowan 10 Alexander Central 24-06.50
9 Lucy Bachman 12 Watauga 23-02.50
10 Teryn Hartis 12 Alexander Central 22-07.50
11 Harper Bowman 9 Alexander Central 21-04.00
12 MaNya Spears 12 Alexander Central 21-02.00
13 Margot Smith 9 Watauga 20-11.00
14 Riley Parsons 10 Alexander Central 20-05.00
15 Isabella Macias 11 Avery 20-04.50
16 Yesenia Azua-Martin 10 Hibriten 19-09.00
17 Caroline Clark 9 Watauga 19-04.00
Varsity Girls Discus Throw
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Olivia Burroughs 12 Watauga 107-11 8
2 Asia Jackson 9 Alexander Central 85-02 6
3 Ryver L. Moss 11 Hibriten 82-06 4
4 Lainey Gragg 9 Watauga 79-04 2
5 Margaret (Maggie) Tay 9 Hibriten 76-10 1
6 Somerlyn Cole 11 Watauga 72-11
7 Teryn Hartis 12 Alexander Central 69-03
8 Riley Parsons 10 Alexander Central 68-06
9 Yesenia Azua-Martin 10 Hibriten 65-11
10 Paiten Carroll 12 Johnson Co. HS 63-04
11 Caroline Clark 9 Watauga 59-02
12 Lucy Bachman 12 Watauga 56-03
13 Harper Bowman 9 Alexander Central 56-00
14 MaNya Spears 12 Alexander Central 55-00
15 Isabella Macias 11 Avery 52-07
Varsity Girls High Jump
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Carly Hendren 9 Alexander Central 4-10.00 8
2 Sydney Helms 9 Watauga 4-10.00 6
3 Blair Haines 9 Watauga 4-06.00 3
3 Emmerson Martin 12 Watauga 4-06.00 3
5 Chloe Fox 9 Alexander Central 4-06.00 1
6 Lydia Hendren 11 Alexander Central 4-04.00
7 Khloe Burleson 12 Avery 4-02.00
8 Asia Jackson 9 Alexander Central 4-02.00
9 Sadie Baranowski 11 Avery 4-02.00
10 Ryver L. Moss 11 Hibriten 4-00.00
10 Kayla Graham 12 Watauga 4-00.00
Varsity Girls Pole Vault
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Olivia Burroughs 12 Watauga 11-00.00 8
2 Emmerson Martin 12 Watauga 9-06.00 6
3 Sydney Helms 9 Watauga 8-06.00 4
4 Caroline Bradbury 9 Watauga 7-06.00
5 Emery Miller 9 Alexander Central 7-06.00 2
Varsity Girls Team Scores (18 Events Scored)
==========================================================================
Team Pts Spr Dst Hrd Rel Thr Jmp Oth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga 162 8 47 22 18 20 47 0
2 Avery 67 35 12 8 8 0 4 0
3 Hibriten 55 10 0 0 14 15 16 0
4 Alexander Central 52 10 3 4 12 7 16 0
5 North Wilkes 8 0 0 8 0 0 0 0
5 AC 8 0 0 0 8 0 0 0
7 Johnson Co. HS 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Strong performances in the Distance, Sprint and Relay events led the Watauga men to a convincing team win on April 24, in the third home meet of the 2024 high school track and field season at Jack Groce Stadium.
Among the most impressive event showings was the Pioneers sweep of the top five spots in the 1600 meters, led by senior Wesley Coatney at No. 1 (4:46.24), followed by a youthful brigade of sophomore Zeke Walker (No. 2, 5:02.90), freshman Grady Gates (No. 3, 5:04.12), junior Samuel Rex (No. 4, 5:08.85) and sophomore Silas Powell (No. 5, 5:08.85).
Also in the distance events, the3200 Meters race saw the Pioneers take the top three spots, led by sophomore Arthur McAulay (No. 1, 11:11.84), senior Davis Crymes (No. 2, 11:17.65) and freshman Brian Newmark (No. 3, 11:41.95).
In the sprints, Watauga didn’t capture the top spot in the 200 Meter Dash, but picked up valuable team points by taking No. 2 (senior Lade Oguntoyinbo, 23.86), No. 3 (junior Jakob Crosswell, 23.98) and No. 4 (junior Alex Gremmell, 24.64).
Watauga junior Will Bradbury continued his season of strong performances in winning the 800 Meters, in 2:00.79). Teammates Jonah Norris and Levi Anderson, a junior and sophomore, respectively, also picked up important team points by finishing No. 3 and No. 4 in the 18-man field of competitors.
Four Pioneer juniors and one freshman swept the first five spots in the 400 Meter Dash. The juniors included Jakob Crosswell (No. 1, 52.96), Alex Gremmell (No. 2, 54.36), Curtis Sevensky (No. 3, 56:05) and Matthew Habich (No. 4, 59.31). Freshman Quincy Honeycutt was close behind at No. 5, in 59.42.
The meet included athletes from Northwestern Conference rivals Alexander Central and Hibriten, as well as regional rivals Avery County, North Wilkes, and Johnson County (Tenn.).
RaceTab by MileSplit/FloSports Watauga 1, Watauga High School
Home Meet #3 - 4/24/2024 12:38:38 PM
Watauga, Boone, NC
Varsity Boys 4x800 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga 8:20.90 8
2 Watauga 9:16.22
3 Alexander Central 9:28.05 6
4 Alexander Central 9:32.83
5 Hibriten 10:09.03 4
Varsity Boys 110 Meter Hurdles
=======================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Wind Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Eil Shell 12 North Wilkes 16.56 NWI 8
2 Ethan Reed 9 Watauga 19.78 NWI 6
Varsity Boys 100 Meter Dash
==========================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Wind H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Jamison Rowe 11 Alexander Central 11.24 NWI 1 8
2 Will Stanford 12 Avery 11.54 NWI 1 6
3 Jeremiah Whitaker 10 Alexander Central 11.57 NWI 1 4
4 Omoladà Oguntoyinbo 12 Watauga 11.67 NWI 1 2
5 Kees Greene 10 Watauga 11.75 NWI 1 1
6 Matthew Leon 10 Watauga 11.98 NWI 2
7 Connor Gibson 11 Johnson Co. HS 12.11 NWI 1
8 Gerard Felder 12 Hibriten 12.15 NWI 1
9 Jaheim Redmond 10 Alexander Central 12.20 NWI 2
10 Adian Baity 10 Alexander Central 12.28 NWI 3
11 Mason Harris 10 Watauga 12.33 NWI 2
12 Cole Pennell 9 Alexander Central 12.40 NWI 2
12 Noah Bauler 10 Watauga 12.40 NWI 3
14 Dexter Mosley 11 Hibriten 12.40 NWI 1
15 Gary Moss III 11 Watauga 12.49 NWI 3
16 Kaleb Vaught 10 Hibriten 12.59 NWI 2
17 Zarrian Miller 10 Hibriten 12.68 NWI 3
18 Blake Combs 10 Alexander Central 12.71 NWI 3
19 Garrett Bagley 11 Watauga 12.73 NWI 3
20 Kevin Hinson 10 Alexander Central 12.79 NWI 4
21 Brandon Goodson 10 Hibriten 12.84 NWI 2
22 Anthony Lee 9 Hibriten 12.93 NWI 3
23 James Merschat 10 Watauga 13.13 NWI 5
24 Dalton Mackey 9 Watauga 13.26 NWI 5
25 Micah Simmons 9 Hibriten 13.27 NWI 4
26 Bennett Ward 9 Watauga 13.31 NWI 4
27 Ari Sutriasa 10 Avery 13.44 NWI 2
28 Alan Aguilar 9 Watauga 13.45 NWI 5
29 Javien Millsaps 9 Hibriten 13.60 NWI 5
30 Conner O'Shields 11 Hibriten 13.69 NWI 4
30 Crue Stoddard 10 Watauga 13.69 NWI 4
32 Michael Church 9 Alexander Central 13.72 NWI 3
33 Zane Cheuvront 9 Avery 13.88 NWI 4
34 Caleb Dewey 11 Watauga 13.93 NWI 4
35 Tucker Houston 9 Avery 13.95 NWI 4
36 James Shive 10 Watauga 14.04 NWI 5
37 Sawyer Kennedy 11 Watauga 14.26 NWI 2
38 Maverick Mora 9 Avery 14.78 NWI 5
39 Graham Greene 9 Watauga 15.73 NWI 5
Varsity Boys 4x200 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 AC A 1:32.83 8
2 Watauga B 1:38.24 6
3 Hibriten A 1:40.19 4
4 Watauga C 1:43.69
Varsity Boys 1600 Meter Run
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Wesley Coatney 12 Watauga 4:46.24 8
2 Zeke Walker 10 Watauga 5:02.90 6
3 Grady Gates 9 Watauga 5:04.12 4
4 Samuel Rex 11 Watauga 5:07.38
5 Silas Powell 10 Watauga 5:08.85
6 Lukas Sanderlin 10 Hibriten 5:09.30 2
7 Ian Sanderlin 9 Hibriten 5:17.40 1
8 Charles Langley 11 Watauga 5:36.57
9 Tristan Benedict 10 Alexander Central 5:50.34
10 Alexander Bruch 12 Hibriten 5:53.68
11 Tallon Abrams 9 Watauga 5:53.76
12 Noah Jolly 12 Alexander Central 6:15.77
13 Brayden Collins 12 Watauga 6:56.65
Varsity Boys 4x100 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga 43.67 8
2 AC 44.00 6
3 Johnson Co. HS 46.15 4
4 Watauga 47.18
Varsity Boys 400 Meter Dash
====================================================================
Name Yr Team Time H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Jakob Crosswell 11 Watauga 52.96 1 8
2 Alex Gremmell 11 Watauga 54.36 1 6
3 Curtis Sevensky 11 Watauga 56.05 2 4
4 Matthew Habich 11 Watauga 59.31 3
5 Quincy Honeycutt 9 Watauga 59.42 2
6 Elijah Healy 9 Hibriten 59.59 1 2
Daniel Brown 12 Hibriten 1:03.31 1
7 Jabes Euceda 9 Hibriten 1:03.66 3 1
8 Crue Stoddard 10 Watauga 1:04.03 3
9 Sawyer Kennedy 11 Watauga 1:05.26 2
10 Carter Adams 12 Alexander Central 1:05.50 1
11 Braeden Little 10 Alexander Central 1:05.84 1
12 James Shive 10 Watauga 1:05.86 3
13 Conner O'Shields 11 Hibriten 1:10.54 2
14 Sullivan Hogan 9 Hibriten 1:11.42 3
15 Rolando Guzman 12 Hibriten 1:25.18 2
16 Daniel Amaya-Perez 10 Hibriten 1:26.04 2
17 Liam McNeal 10 Johnson Co. HS 1:28.67 1
Varsity Boys 300 Meter Hurdles
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Eil Shell 12 North Wilkes 42.86 8
2 Nyle Peays 10 Watauga 44.45 6
3 Brandon Goodson 10 Hibriten 46.23 4
4 Cory Mays 11 Alexander Central 48.67 2
5 Ethan Reed 9 Watauga 49.25 1
Varsity Boys 800 Meter Run
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Will Bradbury 11 Watauga 2:00.79 8
2 Zachary Zirkle 11 Alexander Central 2:08.61 6
3 Jonah Norris 11 Watauga 2:12.93 4
4 Levi Anderson 10 Watauga 2:15.67 2
5 Aaron Mclain 10 Alexander Central 2:23.66 1
6 Griffin Duncan 11 Alexander Central 2:24.87
7 Ian Sanderlin 9 Hibriten 2:28.33
8 Lukas Sanderlin 10 Hibriten 2:29.86
9 Aron Tomas 9 Avery 2:31.79
10 Cooper Smith 11 Alexander Central 2:33.94
11 Owen Tincher 11 Watauga 2:36.46
12 Davis Merritt 9 Alexander Central 2:39.24
13 Joshua Spence 9 Avery 2:41.67
14 Noah Jolly 12 Alexander Central 2:41.70
15 Tallon Abrams 9 Watauga 2:42.53
16 Mitch Jasper 10 Watauga 2:47.00
17 Landon Hudson 11 Alexander Central 2:54.24
18 Eli Fortner 10 Alexander Central 3:04.14
Varsity Boys 200 Meter Dash
==========================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Wind H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Will Stanford 12 Avery 23.19 NWI 1 8
2 Omoladà Oguntoyinbo 12 Watauga 23.86 NWI 1 6
3 Jakob Crosswell 11 Watauga 23.98 NWI 1 4
4 Alex Gremmell 11 Watauga 24.64 NWI 3 2
5 Adian Baity 10 Alexander Central 24.91 NWI 1 1
6 Jaheim Redmond 10 Alexander Central 25.06 NWI 1
7 Kevin Hinson 10 Alexander Central 25.55 NWI 2
8 Mason Harris 10 Watauga 25.61 NWI 2
9 Blake Combs 10 Alexander Central 26.18 NWI 2
10 Quincy Honeycutt 9 Watauga 26.53 NWI 3
11 Anthony Lee 9 Hibriten 26.56 NWI 1
12 Jabes Euceda 9 Hibriten 26.92 NWI 4
13 Elijah Healy 9 Hibriten 27.35 NWI 1
14 Jack Garrett 10 Watauga 27.43 NWI 4
15 Aron Tomas 9 Avery 27.47 NWI 4
16 Bennett Ward 9 Watauga 27.64 NWI 4
17 Daveon Howell 9 Hibriten 27.78 NWI 2
18 Javien Millsaps 9 Hibriten 27.79 NWI 3
19 Micah Simmons 9 Hibriten 27.86 NWI 3
20 Alan Aguilar 9 Watauga 28.09 NWI 4
21 James Merschat 10 Watauga 28.18 NWI 3
22 Zane Cheuvront 9 Avery 28.20 NWI 3
23 Ari Sutriasa 10 Avery 28.26 NWI 1
24 Carter Adams 12 Alexander Central 28.88 NWI 3
25 Carter White 12 Avery 29.19 NWI 2
26 Sawyer Kennedy 11 Watauga 29.50 NWI 2
27 Maverick Mora 9 Avery 29.69 NWI 4
28 Daniel Brown 12 Hibriten 29.95 NWI 2
29 Joshua Spence 9 Avery 32.06 NWI 2
Varsity Boys 3200 Meter Run
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Arthur McAulay 10 Watauga 11:11.84 8
2 Davis Crymes 12 Watauga 11:17.65 6
3 Brian Newmark 9 Watauga 11:41.95 4
4 Lucas Ritchie 11 Alexander Central 11:50.88 2
5 Wesley Coatney 12 Watauga 11:52.45
6 Isaac James 9 Watauga 12:01.67
7 Sullivan Hogan 9 Hibriten 15:59.42 1
8 Christopher Church 12 Hibriten 16:17.27
9 Mitch Jasper 10 Watauga 17:54.72
Varsity Boys 4x400 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga 3:36.21 8
2 Hibriten 4:14.04 6
3 Hibriten 4:17.00
Varsity Boys Long Jump
=======================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Wind Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Gerard Felder 12 Hibriten 18-00.50 NWI 8
2 Jacob Miller 9 Alexander Central 17-07.00 NWI 6
3 Cory Mays 11 Alexander Central 17-00.00 NWI 4
4 Hunter McGuire 9 Alexander Central 16-07.25 NWI 2
5 Gary Moss III 11 Watauga 16-05.75 NWI 1
6 James Merschat 10 Watauga 16-02.25 NWI
7 Garrett Bagley 11 Watauga 15-11.50 NWI
7 Jordan Bowlin 10 Watauga 15-11.50 NWI
9 Preston Vang 9 Alexander Central 15-06.00 NWI
10 Zane Cheuvront 9 Avery 15-05.00 NWI
11 Javien Millsaps 9 Hibriten 15-03.50 NWI
12 Dalton Mackey 9 Watauga 14-11.75 NWI
13 Ari Sutriasa 10 Avery 14-11.50 NWI
14 Tucker Houston 9 Avery 13-10.50 NWI
15 Conner O'Shields 11 Hibriten 13-08.00 NWI
16 Maverick Mora 9 Avery 13-04.25 NWI
17 Rolando Guzman 12 Hibriten 13-02.00 NWI
18 Kyle Watson 12 Hibriten 11-00.50 NWI
DQ Alan Aguilar 9 Watauga ND NWI
nm Jazhir Jones 11 Hibriten ND NWI
Varsity Boys Triple Jump
=======================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Wind Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Braydon Rowe 12 Alexander Central 37-02.85 NWI 8
2 Hunter McGuire 9 Alexander Central 36-00.25 NWI 6
3 Grayson Elliott 12 Watauga 31-10.25 NWI 4
Varsity Boys Shot Put
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Garison Millsaps 11 Alexander Central 50-11.00 8
2 Chad Lasher 12 Alexander Central 42-11.00 6
3 Grayson Hoilman 11 Avery 41-05.00 4
4 Zakkary Barnett 10 Alexander Central 41-01.00 2
5 Coy Johnson 10 Watauga 41-00.00 1
6 Carson Gunnell-Beck 11 Watauga 40-05.00
7 Caleb Dewey 11 Watauga 38-08.00
8 Chandler Williams 11 Alexander Central 36-10.00
9 Gabe Suddreth 12 Hibriten 36-03.00
10 Nicholas Turnmire 11 Watauga 34-05.50
11 Daniel Portillio 11 Johnson Co. HS 33-11.00
12 Gabriel Miller 9 Alexander Central 32-06.00
13 Benny Heath 12 Alexander Central 32-01.00
14 Nate Dorman 11 Johnson Co. HS 32-00.00
15 Dalton Terrell 10 Avery 31-06.00
16 Cameron Crowder 11 Johnson Co. HS 31-05.00
17 Alexander Bruch 12 Hibriten 28-05.00
18 Noah Gordon II 9 Watauga 28-04.00
19 Daniel Amaya-Perez 10 Hibriten 27-06.00
20 Patrick Mellon 11 Watauga 25-10.00
21 Alen Lin 11 Johnson Co. HS 24-02.00
22 Jaden Hurst 10 Watauga 24-00.00
22 Luis Byrd 11 Johnson Co. HS 24-00.00
24 Ryan White 9 Watauga 22-08.00
Varsity Boys Discus Throw
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Gabe Suddreth 12 Hibriten 150-00 8
2 Chad Lasher 12 Alexander Central 147-10 6
3 Garison Millsaps 11 Alexander Central 132-04 4
4 Zakkary Barnett 10 Alexander Central 116-06 2
5 Coy Johnson 10 Watauga 116-00 1
6 Caleb Dewey 11 Watauga 101-04
7 Micah Foddrell 12 Hibriten 100-06
8 Nicholas Turnmire 11 Watauga 96-04
9 Benny Heath 12 Alexander Central 89-07
10 Noah Gordon II 9 Watauga 85-04
11 Chandler Williams 11 Alexander Central 84-00
12 Gabriel Miller 9 Alexander Central 81-07
13 Johnathan Lisi 9 Johnson Co. HS 75-08
14 Cameron Crowder 11 Johnson Co. HS 73-00
15 Daniel Amaya-Perez 10 Hibriten 66-04
16 Alexander Bruch 12 Hibriten 64-08
17 Alen Lin 11 Johnson Co. HS 61-11
18 Dalton Terrell 10 Avery 60-01
19 Patrick Mellon 11 Watauga 59-09
20 Ryan White 9 Watauga 43-04
21 Jaden Hurst 10 Watauga 39-01
nm Carson Gunnell-Beck 11 Watauga ND
Varsity Boys High Jump
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Austin Presnell 11 Alexander Central 5-06.00 8
2 Carter White 12 Avery 5-04.00 6
3 Alex Morales 12 Alexander Central 5-02.00 4
4 Jazhir Jones 11 Hibriten 5-02.00 2
5 Jacob Hubbard 9 Alexander Central 5-02.00 1
Varsity Boys Pole Vault
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Caleb Robbins 12 Hibriten 13-00.00 8
2 Clayo Kulczyk 11 Watauga 12-06.00 6
3 Santino Wood 10 Watauga 11-00.00 4
4 Neil Branson 10 Alexander Central 9-00.00 2
5 Julian Miranda-Aponte 10 Watauga 8-06.00 1
6 Thomas Clark 10 Avery 8-06.00
7 Benny Heath 12 Alexander Central 8-00.00
8 Jared Castaneda 9 Alexander Central 7-06.00
8 Finley Critcher 10 Watauga 7-06.00
10 Dominic Trez 11 Watauga 7-00.00
NH Kyle Watson 12 Hibriten NH
NH Adrian Ambrocio-Rios 9 Alexander Central NH
Varsity Boys Team Scores (18 Events Scored)
==========================================================================
Team Pts Spr Dst Hrd Rel Thr Jmp Oth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga 144 33 50 13 30 2 16 0
2 Alexander Central 99 13 9 2 6 28 41 0
3 Hibriten 51 3 4 4 14 8 18 0
4 Avery 24 14 0 0 0 4 6 0
5 North Wilkes 16 0 0 16 0 0 0 0
6 AC 14 0 0 0 14 0 0 0
7 Johnson Co. HS 4 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Sean Rea jumped out to the lead in the Boys 1600 on April 23 at Watauga High School and was out front for the first three laps before letting Watauga middle school teammate Jonah Pearson take the lead entering the fourth and final trip around the track. Completing the final turn, however, Rea pushed back into the lead for a climactic sprint to the finish, stopping the clock with a winning time of 5:11.82, which is pretty respectable for a 7th grade performer. Pearson finished No. 2, just a second behind.
When it comes to track and field team performances there, is safety in numbers. On April 23, both of the Watauga District middle school teams all but swamped their guest competitors, with good performances from the 6th through 8th grade ranks.
Watauga relay team on April 23. Photographic image by David Rogers
Watauga Middle School Home Meet #2 - 4/23/2024 11:38:23 AM
Watauga HS Stadium, Boone, NC
Varsity Girls 3200 Meter Run
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Moore Kate 6 Watauga Middle 12:33.81 6
2 Hannon Eva 7 Watauga Middle 13:58.23 4
Varsity Girls 100 Meter Hurdles
=======================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Wind Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Scantlin Grace 8 Watauga Middle 18.96 NWI 6
2 Powell Merritt 7 Watauga Middle 19.20 NWI 4
3 Aubry Alvarez 6 IC Imagine 22.63 NWI 3
4 Trader Ruby 8 Forsyth Home Educato 22.94 NWI 2
5 Stewart Leena 6 Forsyth Home Educato 23.05 NWI 1
Varsity Girls 100 Meter Dash
==========================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Wind H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Powell Merritt 7 Watauga Middle 13.90 NWI 2 6
2 Windish Kelbey 8 Watauga Middle 14.05 NWI 1 4
3 Hans Vivian 7 Watauga Middle 14.42 NWI 2 3
4 Greer Adeline 6 Watauga Middle 14.74 NWI 1
5 Rosie Rinaldi 7 IC Imagine 14.80 NWI 1 2
6 Lawson Ellie 8 Forsyth Home Educato 15.13 NWI 1 1
7 Casco Bianca 6 Watauga Middle 15.73 NWI 3
8 Strickland Jules 6 Watauga Middle 15.80 NWI 3
9 Cayden Spencer 6 IC Imagine 15.82 NWI 3
10 Stewart Leena 6 Forsyth Home Educato 15.85 NWI 1
11 Miller Bailey 6 Forsyth Home Educato 16.18 NWI 2
12 Gunnell-Beck Kacie 7 Watauga Middle 16.22 NWI 2
13 Lyla Gary 6 Grace Academy 16.23 NWI 2
14 Fuqua Hannah 6 Watauga Middle 16.33 NWI 3
15 Grace Skierczynski 6 IC Imagine 16.45 NWI 2
16 Kaylie Tipton 7 IC Imagine 16.55 NWI 1
17 Thompson May 6 Watauga Middle 16.64 NWI 3
18 Annas Faith 8 Forsyth Home Educato 16.72 NWI 2
19 Summerville Saffron 6 Watauga Middle 16.83 NWI 3
20 Page Lori 7 Watauga Middle 17.29 NWI 1
21 Marianne Cottrell 5 Grace Academy 17.46 NWI 1
22 Whicker Ellie 8 Forsyth Home Educato 19.76 NWI 3
Varsity Girls 4x200 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga Middle A 2:05.60 6
2 Watauga Middle B 2:08.95
3 IC Imagine A 2:14.33 4
4 Forsyth Home Educators A 2:14.48 2
Varsity Girls 1600 Meter Run
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Hanson Annabelle 7 Forsyth Home Educato 5:54.77 6
2 Moore Kate 6 Watauga Middle 6:02.10 4
3 Tunstill Ayla 7 Watauga Middle 6:07.74 3
4 Britt Madeleine 6 Forsyth Home Educato 6:22.00 2
5 Patton Rachel 7 Forsyth Home Educato 6:27.74 1
6 Trader Ruby 8 Forsyth Home Educato 6:33.41
7 Lila Carter 3 Unattached 7:00.48
8 Kali Emerson 6 IC Imagine 7:32.27
Varsity Girls 4x100 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga Middle A 59.22 6
2 Watauga Middle B 1:00.04
3 Watauga Middle C 1:03.17
4 Watauga Middle F 1:04.01
5 Watauga Middle D 1:06.15
6 Watauga Middle E 1:08.64
7 Forsyth Home Educators A 1:10.46 4
Varsity Girls 400 Meter Dash
====================================================================
Name Yr Team Time H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Hanson Annabelle 7 Forsyth Home Educato 1:09.22 1 6
2 Hans Vivian 7 Watauga Middle 1:11.62 1 4
3 Honeycutt Ember 7 Watauga Middle 1:12.37 1 3
4 Smith Hannah 7 Forsyth Home Educato 1:17.14 2 2
5 Aubry Alvarez 6 IC Imagine 1:23.13 2 1
6 Hemp Elle 6 Watauga Middle 1:23.85 2
7 Grace Skierczynski 6 IC Imagine 1:24.56 1
8 Taylor Madalyn 8 Watauga Middle 1:24.95 2
9 Cayden Spencer 6 IC Imagine 1:26.29 1
10 Rosie Rinaldi 7 IC Imagine 1:27.02 1
11 Kaylie Tipton 7 IC Imagine 1:36.16 2
Varsity Girls 300 Meter Hurdles
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Scantlin Grace 8 Watauga Middle 57.08 6
2 Powell Merritt 7 Watauga Middle 58.48 4
3 Gunnell-Beck Kacie 7 Watauga Middle 1:13.38 3
Varsity Girls 800 Meter Run
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Hanson Annabelle 7 Forsyth Home Educato 2:44.77 6
2 Tunstill Ayla 7 Watauga Middle 2:51.26 4
3 Britt Madeleine 6 Forsyth Home Educato 2:51.32 3
4 Nance Claire 8 Watauga Middle 2:57.78 2
5 Jackson Ellary 7 Watauga Middle 2:58.25 1
6 Patton Rachel 7 Forsyth Home Educato 3:00.83
7 Scantlin Grace 8 Watauga Middle 3:11.87
8 Kelley Mia 6 Watauga Middle 3:29.52
9 Hancox Olive 6 Forsyth Home Educato 3:49.49
Varsity Girls 200 Meter Dash
==========================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Wind H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Rosie Rinaldi 7 IC Imagine 32.97 NWI 1 6
2 Stewart Adamae 7 Watauga Middle 34.18 NWI 1 4
3 Cayden Spencer 6 IC Imagine 34.93 NWI 2 3
4 Aubry Alvarez 6 IC Imagine 35.16 NWI 1 2
5 Grace Skierczynski 6 IC Imagine 36.24 NWI 1
6 Merry Kirkwood 6 IC Imagine 36.36 NWI 2
7 Kali Emerson 6 IC Imagine 36.60 NWI 2
8 Marianne Cottrell 5 Grace Academy 38.55 NWI 1 1
9 Page Lori 7 Watauga Middle 39.27 NWI 2
10 Kaylie Tipton 7 IC Imagine 39.71 NWI 2
11 Whicker Ellie 8 Forsyth Home Educato 46.26 NWI 1
Varsity Girls 4x400 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Forsyth Home Educators 5:03.43 6
2 Watauga Middle 5:03.48 4
Varsity Girls Long Jump
=======================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Wind Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Windish Kelbey 8 Watauga Middle 12-10.00 NWI 6
2 Fuqua Hannah 6 Watauga Middle 9-11.50 NWI 4
3 Page Lori 7 Watauga Middle 9-06.50 NWI 3
4 Strickland Jules 6 Watauga Middle 8-11.75 NWI
5 Whicker Ellie 8 Forsyth Home Educato 8-07.50 NWI 2
Varsity Girls High Jump
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Honeycutt Ember 7 Watauga Middle 4-08.00 6
2 Taylor Madalyn 8 Watauga Middle 4-00.00 3.5
2 Woolard Macy 6 Watauga Middle 4-00.00 3.5
Varsity Girls Shot Put
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Helms Ellie 7 Watauga Middle 28-11.00 6
2 Woolard Macy 6 Watauga Middle 26-09.50 4
3 Gilbert Ellie 6 Watauga Middle 22-11.50 3
4 Miranda-Castro Valent 7 Watauga Middle 22-04.00
5 Prince Ashlyn 7 Watauga Middle 18-07.00
6 Miranda-Castro Zoe 6 Watauga Middle 15-06.00
Varsity Girls Discus Throw
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Helms Ellie 7 Watauga Middle 67-06 6
2 Gilbert Ellie 6 Watauga Middle 61-06 4
3 Miranda-Castro Valent 7 Watauga Middle 54-05 3
4 Woolard Macy 6 Watauga Middle 52-03
5 Prince Ashlyn 7 Watauga Middle 43-01
6 Miranda-Castro Zoe 6 Watauga Middle 26-01
Varsity Girls 4x100 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga Middle A 1:05.96 6
2 Forsyth Home Educators A 1:06.81 4
3 Watauga Middle B 1:07.23 2
4 Watauga Middle C 1:07.78
Varsity Girls Team Scores (15 Events Scored)
==========================================================================
Team Pts Spr Dst Hrd Rel Thr Jmp Oth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga Middle 139 24 24 23 16 26 26 0
2 Forsyth Home Educators 44 9 18 3 12 0 2 0
3 IC Imagine 21 14 0 3 4 0 0 0
4 Grace Academy 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Varsity Mixed Team Scores (1 Events Scored)
==========================================================================
Team Pts Spr Dst Hrd Rel Thr Jmp Oth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga Middle 8 0 0 0 8 0 0 0
2 Forsyth Home Educators 4 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
Varsity Boys 3200 Meter Run
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Lunde Beckette 8 Forsyth Home Educato 11:46.85 6
2 Williams Kylor 8 Forsyth Home Educato 12:14.19 4
3 Micah Arnold 5 Grace Academy 12:40.04 3
4 Hancox Abram 8 Forsyth Home Educato 12:48.83 2
5 Hodges Yates 6 Watauga Middle 13:46.60 1
6 Gray Cole 8 Watauga Middle 14:09.07
7 Springer Reed 7 Watauga Middle 15:03.42
Varsity Boys 100 Meter Hurdles
=======================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Wind Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Speas Matthew 7 Forsyth Home Educato 20.45 NWI 6
2 Fleischer Joel 7 Forsyth Home Educato 22.32 NWI 4
3 Naar Theo 7 Watauga Middle 22.53 NWI 3
4 River Lewis 7 IC Imagine 24.37 NWI 2
Varsity Boys 100 Meter Dash
==========================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Wind H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Ballenger-Peters Davi 7 Watauga Middle 13.33 NWI 1 6
2 Aydan Lanier 6 IC Imagine 13.65 NWI 1 4
3 Kwong Darcy 7 Watauga Middle 13.86 NWI 1 3
4 Everett Luke 7 Watauga Middle 13.96 NWI 2 2
5 Clark Gavin 6 Watauga Middle 14.02 NWI 2
6 Benjamin Paine 6 Grace Academy 14.64 NWI 1 1
7 Eli Ashoff 5 Grace Academy 14.77 NWI 1
8 Ellis Wyatt 8 Watauga Middle 14.88 NWI 2
9 Perkins Clifton 8 Forsyth Home Educato 14.91 NWI 1
10 Bradley Tucker 8 IC Imagine 14.96 NWI 2
11 Sohl Rigdon 6 IC Imagine 14.98 NWI 1
12 Alexis Miggas 7 IC Imagine 15.07 NWI 2
13 Reed Johnny 6 Watauga Middle 15.16 NWI 3
14 Bleakley Isaac 8 Watauga Middle 15.40 NWI 1
15 Friedheim Tye 6 Watauga Middle 15.40 NWI 4
16 Hankins Nathaniel 6 Watauga Middle 15.48 NWI 4
17 McDaniel Holden 7 Watauga Middle 15.52 NWI 4
18 Logan Mitchell 6 IC Imagine 15.62 NWI 3
19 Chandler Hudson 8 Forsyth Home Educato 15.95 NWI 2
20 Whiteside Blake 7 Watauga Middle 15.96 NWI 3
21 River Lewis 7 IC Imagine 16.05 NWI 3
22 Trader Brooks 6 Forsyth Home Educato 16.38 NWI 3
23 Isaac Slagle 5 Grace Academy 16.61 NWI 2
24 Miller Charlie 6 Forsyth Home Educato 16.64 NWI 4
25 Friedheim Max 6 Watauga Middle 17.08 NWI 4
26 Gideon Paine 5 Grace Academy 17.35 NWI 4
Varsity Boys 4x200 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Forsyth Home Educators A 2:08.73 6
2 Watauga Middle A 2:20.30 4
Varsity Boys 1600 Meter Run
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Rea Sean 7 Watauga Middle 5:11.82 6
2 Pearson Jonah 7 Watauga Middle 5:12.90 4
3 Hamilton Andrew 7 Forsyth Home Educato 5:41.74 3
4 Lunde Beckette 8 Forsyth Home Educato 5:45.70 2
5 Speas Matthew 7 Forsyth Home Educato 5:48.07 1
6 Evan Gordon 6 Grace Academy 5:48.23
7 Aydan Lanier 6 IC Imagine 5:55.33
8 Rosen Zachary 8 Watauga Middle 5:56.54
9 Brandon Gordon 5 Grace Academy 6:11.10
10 Gray Cole 8 Watauga Middle 6:12.41
11 Hanson Dominik 7 Forsyth Home Educato 6:17.35
12 Hancox Abram 8 Forsyth Home Educato 6:19.42
13 Williams Kylor 8 Forsyth Home Educato 6:19.44
14 Duvall Caleb 7 Watauga Middle 6:33.35
15 Kroll Eli 7 Watauga Middle 6:36.52
16 Everett Landon 5 Unattached 6:49.82
17 Harris Caleb 6 Watauga Middle 7:02.86
18 Eli Paine 5 Grace Academy 7:03.18
19 Springer Reed 7 Watauga Middle 7:04.93
Varsity Boys 4x100 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga Middle A 55.96 6
2 Watauga Middle B 56.14
3 Watauga Middle D 1:01.38
4 IC Imagine A 1:02.79 4
5 Watauga Middle C 1:08.25
6 Forsyth Home Educators A 1:08.92 2
Varsity Boys 400 Meter Dash
====================================================================
Name Yr Team Time H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Fleischer Joel 7 Forsyth Home Educato 1:11.52 2 6
2 Bradley Tucker 8 IC Imagine 1:14.49 2 4
3 Wilde Silas 7 Watauga Middle 1:15.22 2 3
4 Sohl Rigdon 6 IC Imagine 1:16.71 2 2
5 Miller Nakhi 7 Watauga Middle 1:17.39 1 1
6 Eli Ashoff 5 Grace Academy 1:17.59 1
7 Trader Brooks 6 Forsyth Home Educato 1:18.50 1
8 Micah Arnold 5 Grace Academy 1:20.43 2
9 Alexis Miggas 7 IC Imagine 1:21.47 1
10 River Lewis 7 IC Imagine 1:21.76 2
11 Logan Mitchell 6 IC Imagine 1:23.69 2
12 Lunde Pierce 6 Forsyth Home Educato 1:28.32 2
Varsity Boys 300 Meter Hurdles
====================================================================
Name Yr Team Time H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Ballenger-Peters Davi 7 Watauga Middle 54.02 1 6
2 Chiarolanzio Kaiden 7 Watauga Middle 56.02 2 4
3 Lunde Beckette 8 Forsyth Home Educato 56.02 2 3
4 Naar Theo 7 Watauga Middle 59.95 1 2
5 Fleischer Joel 7 Forsyth Home Educato 1:05.18 1 1
6 Hicks Gray 6 Forsyth Home Educato 1:05.23 2
7 Hanson Dominik 7 Forsyth Home Educato 1:06.83 1
Varsity Boys 800 Meter Run
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Pearson Jonah 7 Watauga Middle 2:28.41 6
2 Hamilton Andrew 7 Forsyth Home Educato 2:29.06 4
3 Rea Sean 7 Watauga Middle 2:30.56 3
4 Evan Gordon 6 Grace Academy 2:50.97 2
5 Aydan Lanier 6 IC Imagine 2:54.06 1
6 Brandon Gordon 5 Grace Academy 2:54.17
7 Duvall Caleb 7 Watauga Middle 2:56.98
8 Isaac Slagle 5 Grace Academy 3:06.69
9 Ellis Wyatt 8 Watauga Middle 3:13.06
10 Trader Brooks 6 Forsyth Home Educato 3:13.82
11 Whiteside Blake 7 Watauga Middle 3:17.68
12 Miller Charlie 6 Forsyth Home Educato 3:27.16
13 Lunde Pierce 6 Forsyth Home Educato 3:27.31
14 Miranda-Castro Sebast 8 Watauga Middle 3:27.80
15 Stiller Judson 6 Forsyth Home Educato 4:59.61
Varsity Boys 200 Meter Dash
==========================================================================
Name Yr Team Time Wind H# Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Lovette Beck 8 Forsyth Home Educato 28.59 NWI 2 6
2 Bleakley Isaac 8 Watauga Middle 28.86 NWI 1 4
3 Perkins Clifton 8 Forsyth Home Educato 30.12 NWI 2 3
4 Bradley Tucker 8 IC Imagine 31.45 NWI 1 2
5 Reed Johnny 6 Watauga Middle 31.85 NWI 2 1
6 Eli Ashoff 5 Grace Academy 32.49 NWI 1
7 Sohl Rigdon 6 IC Imagine 33.41 NWI 1
8 Chandler Hudson 8 Forsyth Home Educato 33.69 NWI 1
9 Wilde Silas 7 Watauga Middle 33.83 NWI 1
10 Alexis Miggas 7 IC Imagine 34.60 NWI 2
11 Hicks Gray 6 Forsyth Home Educato 35.05 NWI 1
12 River Lewis 7 IC Imagine 35.54 NWI 2
13 Isaac Slagle 5 Grace Academy 36.27 NWI 2
14 Sohl Rigdon 6 IC Imagine 36.36 NWI 2
Varsity Boys 4x400 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga Middle 4:36.94 6
2 Forsyth Home Educators 4:42.97 4
3 Forsyth Home Educators B 4:56.07
4 Watauga Middle B 5:13.13
5 IC Imagine 5:14.63 2
6 Forsyth Home Educators C 6:02.17
Varsity Boys Long Jump
=======================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Wind Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Bleakley Isaac 8 Watauga Middle 14-05.00 NWI 6
2 Wright Gavin 7 Watauga Middle 14-02.50 NWI 4
3 Lunde Beckette 8 Forsyth Home Educato 13-11.50 NWI 3
4 Miller Nakhi 7 Watauga Middle 13-09.50 NWI 2
5 Everett Luke 7 Watauga Middle 13-02.00 NWI
6 Eli Ashoff 5 Grace Academy 12-10.75 NWI 1
7 Benjamin Paine 6 Grace Academy 11-04.50 NWI
8 Hicks Gray 6 Forsyth Home Educato 10-09.50 NWI
9 Isaac Slagle 5 Grace Academy 10-05.50 NWI
10 Haynie Kinson 7 Forsyth Home Educato 9-10.50 NWI
11 Eli Paine 5 Grace Academy 9-03.50 NWI
12 Gideon Paine 5 Grace Academy 9-02.00 NWI
13 Trader Brooks 6 Forsyth Home Educato 8-05.00 NWI
14 Miller Charlie 6 Forsyth Home Educato 7-10.50 NWI
Varsity Boys High Jump
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Lunde Beckette 8 Forsyth Home Educato 4-08.00 6
2 Chiarolanzio Kaiden 7 Watauga Middle 4-08.00 4
3 Lovette Beck 8 Forsyth Home Educato 4-08.00 3
4 Kwong Darcy 7 Watauga Middle 4-06.00 2
5 Miranda Aponte Joaqui 7 Watauga Middle 4-04.00 1
6 Hicks Gray 6 Forsyth Home Educato 3-10.00
Varsity Boys Shot Put
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Gilbert Lanson 8 Watauga Middle 30-02.00 6
2 Norman Trent 8 Watauga Middle 29-07.00 4
3 Kissinger Nathan 8 Forsyth Home Educato 28-04.75 3
4 Roper Justin 8 Watauga Middle 27-08.00 2
5 Resendiz Miguel 7 Watauga Middle 24-00.50
6 Wade Michael 6 Watauga Middle 22-09.00
7 Ballenger-Peters Scot 7 Watauga Middle 22-01.00
8 Shanklin Wyatt 7 Watauga Middle 15-06.50
Varsity Boys Discus Throw
=================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 Kissinger Nathan 8 Forsyth Home Educato 101-03 6
2 Gilbert Lanson 8 Watauga Middle 98-01 4
3 Norman Trent 8 Watauga Middle 78-08 3
4 Roper Justin 8 Watauga Middle 72-01 2
5 Resendiz Miguel 7 Watauga Middle 69-06
6 Wade Michael 6 Watauga Middle 63-11
7 Ballenger-Peters Scot 7 Watauga Middle 56-04
8 Stiller Judson 6 Forsyth Home Educato 53-08 1
9 Shanklin Wyatt 7 Watauga Middle 46-11
Varsity Boys Triple Jump
=======================================================================
Name Yr Team Mark Wind Pts
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Miller Nakhi 7 Watauga Middle 30-08.50 NWI 6
2 Williams Kylor 8 Forsyth Home Educato 30-05.50 NWI 4
3 Chiarolanzio Kaiden 7 Watauga Middle 29-03.25 NWI 3
4 Hanson Dominik 7 Forsyth Home Educato 25-05.25 NWI 2
Varsity Boys 4x100 Meter Relay
============================================================
Team Time Pts
------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga Middle A 1:05.96 6
2 Forsyth Home Educators A 1:06.81 4
3 Watauga Middle B 1:07.23 2
4 Watauga Middle C 1:07.78
Varsity Boys Team Scores (16 Events Scored)
==========================================================================
Team Pts Spr Dst Hrd Rel Thr Jmp Oth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga Middle 120 20 20 15 16 21 28 0
2 Forsyth Home Educators 91 15 22 14 12 10 18 0
3 IC Imagine 21 12 1 2 6 0 0 0
4 Grace Academy 7 1 5 0 0 0 1 0
Varsity Mixed Team Scores (1 Events Scored)
==========================================================================
Team Pts Spr Dst Hrd Rel Thr Jmp Oth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Watauga Middle 8 0 0 0 8 0 0 0
2 Forsyth Home Educators 4 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
By David Rogers. NEW YORK CITY — Let it be known that the Carolina Snowbelles and SnowFlurries were among more than 250 young performing artists stealing the hearts of people in The Big Apple on April 20. And they executed this “larceny” in broad daylight — in the very heart of Times Square. The larceny was grand, indeed!
BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE
FOR BEST VIEWING, CLICK ON ANY IMAGE FOR ‘SLIDESHOW’ MODE
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports.
At 22 years, Project Dance may well be the longest-running show on Broadway. Sure, it is only performed once a year on the third Saturday of April and there was a three-year hiatus while the world dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, but when a show is this good who cares about details?
The Carolina Snowbelles perform in Times Square on April 20 as part of Project Dance. Photographic image by David Rogers
Launched in 2002 by the Project Dance Foundation as a way to help the city “heal” after Sept. 11, 2001, Project Dance has now inspired people in more than 30 cities in 13 countries around the world with a series of open-air, free dance concerts that go for almost eight hours on a single day. In New York City, the event is performed on a popup stage where 44th Street, Broadway Avenue, and 7th Avenue intersect.
The Project Dance Foundation principal and founder is Cheryl Cutlip, now with ties to Boone and Blowing Rock, but who spent 15 years with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes as a performer and, later, administrator. Through her High Country studio, The Space at Project Dance, Cutlip formed the Snowbelles and SnowFlurries as a way for young people, especially girls, to find themselves through dance and performing. Although the New York contingent included some two dozen performers and their families, Cutlip’s dance school has grown to more than 100 dancers from all over the High Country.
The High Country’s SnowFlurries perform April 20 as part of Project Dance in New York City’s Times Square. Photographic image by David Rogers
In fact, The Space at Project Dance has outgrown their current rented space with Cutlip and her supporters looking to move into a purchased building in the near future.
For Project Dance on April 20, some 30 dance troupes from all over the U.S. took turns performing with ensemble, duo and solo acts, from 10 a.m. to almost 5 p.m. The weather gods knew Project Dance was coming, sending a morning rain shower during the event setup before 9 a.m., but clearing the skies for the rest of a “Chamber of Commerce” day.
Few artistic performances are as striking as the cacophony of beautiful, often inspirational and spiritual music against the backdrop of horns, sirens, and a multitude of vehicles rumbling over manhole covers. And visually, seeing the dancers perform juxtaposed against the neon lights and iconic signage for which Times Square is so famous may well be incongruous, but the energy and excitement of the moments are something to behold.
And behold they were, the individual performances often inviting whoops and hollars of encouragement but always drawing enthusiastic applause.
Project Dance 2024 in New York City’s Times Square, April 20. Photographic image by David Rogers
The High Country’s Snowbelles performed two routines and the SnowFlurries one, as well as special performances by two High Country based dance teachers and a solo performance by a young member of the Snowbelles.
DIFFERENT DRUM (SnowFlurries)
Choreography by: Emma Pinnix
Evie Jolly
Everlie Powell
Henley Brinker
Hollis Brinker
Emery Reed
Shepherd Gray
Avery Willingham
Addy Salley
Vera Kwong
SING (Carolina Snowbelles)
Choreography by: Cheryl Cutliip
Vera Kwong
Avery Willingham
Everlie Powell
Maggie Schlake
Anasofia Salinas
Rachel Witmer
Carly Watson
Brooke Church Handy
Emma Pinnix
Luci Pedroni
Journey Lockhart
Genevieve Goff
Cameron Parker
HAPPY (Carolina Snowbelles)
Choreography by: Claudia Palta
Maggie Schlake
Anasofia Salinas
Rachel Witmer
Carly Watson
Emma Pinnix
Luci Pedroni
Journey Lockhart
Genevieve Goff
Cameron Parker
Without You, Without Them
Choreographed and Performed by Emma Pinnix and Brooke Church Handy
In addition, Snowbelles member Journey Lockhart performed a solo routine, Columcille, choreographed by Randall Flinn.
By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. – With two on and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning and the score deadlocked at 11, CJ Boyd chopped a base hit over the drawn-in infield to give App State a 12-11 walk-off win over ETSU, Tuesday night at Smith Stadium.
The game-winning single marked the Mountaineers third walk-off win of the season, and came almost exactly a year after Boyd blasted a walk-off home run to beat JMU.
App State (23-14-1, 8-9-1) opened the ballgame in impressive fashion. Trey Tujetsch retired the first eight Buccaneers’ batters of the ballgame and nine of the ten he faced overall. The offense gave the right-hander some early run support, scoring three runs in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Adam Quintero.
Photo by Flaco Suarez-Robles for High Country Sports
The Mountaineers plated two more in the third. Drew Holderbach, who reached base four times in the ballgame, led off with a single, extending his on-base streak to 38 consecutive games. After a double from Banks Tolley, Boyd chopped an RBI single, and Quintero added his second RBI hit in as many innings later in the frame to get the Black and Gold out to a 5-0 head start. Tolley extended his hitting streak to ten straight games with a 4-for-5 effort.
After ETSU (24-14, 6-6) got on the board for the first time with a three-run fourth inning, App State responded by batting around in the home half of the frame. Boyd, who finished with three RBIs, plated a run with a sac fly and Xavier Moronta added an RBI single through the right side. With two outs in the inning, Hunter Wilder came through with a two-run single to push the lead to 9-3.
The Mountaineers added two more in the fifth, highlighted by Austin St. Laurent’s 11th home run of the season – a 421-foot blast to left – to go ahead 11-4.
The Buccaneers flipped the script thereafter. After batting around in a three-run sixth inning, Ryan McCarthy blasted a three-run homer in the seventh, to bring the visitors to within one at 11-10.
Then with the Mountaineers just four outs from victory, Blake Jacklin lifted a game-tying home run to left.
After Zach Lewis (win, 2-0) fired a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning, the Mountaineers wasted no time jump-starting the rally in the bottom half of the frame. St. Laurent led off with a single through the right side for his third hit of the game, and two batters later Tolley singled back up the middle, putting runners at the corners for Boyd who delivered the final blow.
App State has now scored 56 runs over its last four games, tallying 60 hits over that span.
The team will return to conference play this weekend as the Mountaineers head to Atlanta for a three-game set with Georgia State.
By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Hardly an Easter holiday goes by when I don’t recall a very special dinner, back in 1972.
As a kid growing up in Central California, summertime on Saturday often found my father and I sitting in front of a fuzzy, black and white TV watching Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese call the “Game of the Week.” Most often, as THE major market team in the earlier days of broadcast television, it was the New York Yankees playing some other American League team. Not surprisingly, my favorite players were the Bronx Bombers: Mickey Mantle, Bobby Richardson, Yogi Berra, Tony Kubek, Whitey Ford, Rhyne Duran, Hank Bauer, Billy Martin, Bill Skowron, Elston Howard and the like.
I was six years old in 1957, watching a game with Dad and one of my uncles when my father decided it would be cute to let me have a few sips of his Falstaff beer. He and Uncle Herm got a big kick out of that, but it cured me from drinking beer until I was in college. Mom kept saying that beer was evil and, well, I believed her — at least all the way through high school.
I was mesmerized. Starstruck, even.
Fast forward into the early 1970s and I was in college. I suspect a young woman I was dating at the time convinced her parents that our relationship might be serious because, almost out of the blue, I received an invitation to join the family for Easter dinner at a country club in Glendale, a suburb of Los Angeles.
Much of that evening remains a blur for me. I remember being seated at this big, long table with room for more than 12 dinner guests. I looked to my right and there was Yogi Berra, extending his hand with a greeting. I looked across the table from Berra, and his friend and host, Casey Stengel, acknowledged me with a “hello.”
Now, imagine a kid who grew up a continent’s width away from New York City. He used to dig into an old shoe box filled with baseball cards to make his pretend lineup for playing a one-on-one pretend game against his brother on a pretend Yankee Stadium carved out in the oilfields where they lived, 10 miles from anything resembling civilization. Yogi Berra was often his catcher and who didn’t know about Casey Stengel, the famous Yankees manager.
On this night, I was mesmerized. Starstruck, even. I don’t think I spoke two sentences the whole evening. Stengel said something about my long hair, which flowed down to my shoulders. We all laughed. This was the early 1970s, after all.
This happened in 1972. At age 82, there was little else about Stengel that evening to remind a fellow guest of his reputation for being “colorful” as both a player and manager. He was jovial enough, but not particularly healthy or vibrant. I don’t recall hearing any Yogi-isms, if the Hall of Fame catcher uttered them. It was all friendly banter. My girlfriend and her parents faded into the background, part of the wood-paneled walls serving as the setting for this moment. My attention was elsewhere.
Stengel passed away just three years later. Berra went back to managing the New York Mets. I returned to school with “bucket list” caliber memories to cherish over a lifetime.
By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. – App State built up an early lead but was unable to hold it down the stretch, falling 13-5 to Troy in the series finale at Smith Stadium on Sunday.
After Troy (25-12, 9-6) took a 1-0 lead on three singles in the top of the first, App State (20-13, 6-9) delivered a big counter punch in the home half of the inning. CJ Boyd led off with a single to left field, and Austin St. Laurent followed with an opposite field two-run home run, his ninth of the season, to jump start the App State offense. The Mountaineers have now hit 60 home runs on the season.
It was a dog day afternoon on April 14 at Smith Stadiium. Unfortunately, it was the Troy Trojans howling in celebration after an 11-5 victory to claim the weekend series, 2-1. Photo by Sam Baechli, courtesy of App State Athletics
Banks Tolley continued the first-inning rally with an infield single, and Braxton Church rifled an RBI triple into the right field corner to make it 3-1. Drew Holderbach plated Church with an RBI groundout.
Hunter Wilder walked to begin the second inning, and with two outs, St. Laurent came through again with an RBI double to right field to increase the advantage to 5-1.
The Mountaineers, however, were unable to muster much offensively following the second. The Black and Gold were held to just three hits over the final seven innings, and finished the day going just 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position, stranding 11 men on base on the afternoon.
Braxton Church slides into third with a triple on April 14 vs. Troy in Game 3 of the weekend series. Photo by Talylor Newton, courtesy of App State Athletics
The Trojans chipped away, scoring two in the third and one in the fifth to trim the deficit to just a run. Then in the sixth, Troy jumped ahead with back-to-back-to-back home runs, going in front 7-5.
After 1.2 scoreless innings in relief from Cody Little, the Trojans pulled away with a five-run eighth inning and another run in the ninth. The Trojans finished with 18 hits in the ballgame.
Logan Ross picked up the win for Troy, striking out six in four scoreless innings in relief.
Holderbach finished with a two-hit game for the Mountaineers, extending his on-base streak to 33 consecutive games.
App State will return to action on Tuesday, as the team travels to Western Carolina for a mid-week contest. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. on ESPN+.
New women’s basketball head coach Alaura Sharp does the honors in throwing out the first pitch on April 14, in Game 3 of the weekend series with Troy. Photo by Taylor Newton, courtesy of App State Athletics
By David Rogers. AZUSA PACIFIC, Calif. — Blowing Rock-based ZAP Endurance put another team member in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials on April 12 — and the High Country poached two of the top three spots in the Bryan Clay Invitational Women’s 5K Invite race at Azusa Pacific University.
Distance running veteran Abbey Cooper finished second in the Women’s 5K Invite, just ahead of ZAP Endurance team member Amanda Vestri. Both athletes finished under the U.S. Olympic Trials ‘A’ qualifying standard of 15:15, Cooper breaking the finish line in 15:11.15 and Vestri stopping the clock in 15:13.38. The University of Alabama’s international student from Kenya, Hilda Olemomoi, crossed the line in first place, 15:06.42.
Afterward the race, ZAP Endurance head coach Pete Rea said he was excited by Vestri’s progress and her potential in the Olympic Trials.
“I think Amanda can meet the Olympic Trials’ automatic qualifying standard in the 10K, too, and I would not hesitate in having her run both events at the Trials,” said Rea. “Her fitness level is very high right now.”
Rea said that Vestri is one of three ZAP endurance members he will be taking to a race near London, England, in May, the “Night of the 10K PBs,” in Highgate.
Both Vestri and Cooper are now Boone residents. Cooper (D’Agostino) is one of the current elder statesmen of USA Track & Field at the 5K distance, where she has qualified for several U.S. teams, including the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She is among the most highly decorated Ivy League track and field athletes from her time at Dartmouth. Before joining ZAP last year, Vestri competed for Syracuse University where she was a star performer in both track and cross country.
By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. – After falling, 17-2, in Game 1 of its doubleheader on Saturday, April 13, App State turned the page in a big way in Game 2, as Jackson Steensma set a career-high in strikeouts while the offense clubbed five home runs in an 11-1 win to earn the split at Smith Stadium.
Game 1
The Mountaineers (20-12, 6-8) fell victim to a trio of big innings in the opening game of the twin-bill as Troy batted around in the third, fifth and eighth innings, scoring four, five and seven runs respectively in those frames.
At the plate the Mountaineers offense came from CJ Boyd, who belted his 12th home run of the season in the third, and plated Joseph Zamora, who reached on a double, with a sac fly in the sixth.
Troy (24-12, 8-6) took advantage of 17 walks in the ballgame, which were the most issued by App State pitching in program history.
App State finished with just six hits in the ballgame, as Luke Lyon tossed an eight-inning complete game for Troy.
Banks Tolley celebrates a home run on April 13 vs. Troy in Game 2 of a doubleheader. Photo by Taylor Newton, courtesy of App State Athletics
Game 2
Jackson Steensma was dialed in from the get-go, retiring the first seven batters he faced in the ballgame, including four strikeouts over his first two innings of work.
Steensma (win, 4-1) fanned two more in the third, and two more in the fifth on his way to setting a career-high with ten strikeouts, while allowing just one run on three hits in six innings of work.
The lone run Steensma allowed was on a solo home run in the fourth inning, but he bounced back to strand a pair of runners in the frame. Steensma allowed just five base runners to reach in the ballgame and issued only one walk.
The offense provided the sophomore right-hander with plenty of support. Banks Tolley gave the Mountaineers the early lead in the first inning with a solo home run to left field.
Jackson Steensma had all the right stuff in Game 2 of App State’s Saturday doubleheader vs. Troy on April 13. Photo by David Katzenmeier, courtesy of App State Athletics
Boyd blasted a no-doubt home run in the third inning to push the lead to 2-0. The long ball was the 30th of Boyd’s career, tying Wes Hobson (2007-10) for fourth most in program history.
Leading 2-1 in the fifth, the Mountaineers blew the game open, batting around in the frame. After infield singles from Boyd and Austin St. Laurent, Tolley clocked a three-run home run for his second blast of the game to push the lead to 6-1. Tolley has now hit 14 home runs this season, bringing him within three of the program record with at least 19 games to play.
After a Trojan pitching change, Braxton Church continued the rally, lifting an opposite field shot to left for his fifth home run of the season.
App State added a pair of runs in the eighth on back-to-back doubles from Hunter Wider and Zamora, who came into score on a wild pitch.
Leading 9-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Adam Quintero reached on a two-out single. Following another Troy pitching change, Graham Smiley smoked a walk-off home run to left field, giving the Mountaineers an 11-1, run-rule victory.
Saturday marked the second time this season, and just the fourth in program history that the Mountaineers have hit five home runs in a game.
The doubleheader split sets up a rubber game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Smith Stadium.
