Wednesday, Feb. 01, 2012

Rams third in indoor track

South second in ECC finals

For years, South Johnston's boys have relied on their strength in the field events to help them to indoor and outdoor conference track championships.

This year, however, the field strengths were not enough to enable the Trojans to overcome the fleet-footed Hawks of Triton, garnering runner-up honors Thursday afternoon in the Eastern Carolina 3A Conference Indoor Championships.

Triton's girls used their overflowing girls contingent in rolling to 10 event victories and easily repeat as ECC champions, out-pointing the Trojans 163-67.

South picked up three field event wins, but managed only one sweep - the pole vault - picking up 56 field points in the events.

On the boys' side, Triton won eight of nine events, including one-two finishes in four events.

The efforts by the Hawks provided 98 of the team's 125 points, giving them the team championship over South, 125-89.

Cleveland, with a couple of individual firsts, picked up third place with 59 points.

Picking up victories for the Trojans were Quentin Williams in the long jump (20 feet, 11 inches), Blake Parker in the pole vault (9-0) and Donavann Thorton (44-10) in the shot put. In addition to his win in the long jump, Williams placed fourth in the 55-meter dash, timed in 6.58 seconds.

Completing the sweep in the pole vault for the Trojans were Casey Clymore (8-6), while Kyle Meyers cleared 7-6.

Cleveland received victories from Donqua Williams in the triple jump at 40-8, and Josh Carter in the 55-meter hurdles at 6.55. Donqua Williams added a third-place finish for the Rams in the long jump (19-8).

Multiple place-winners for the Rams included Taiquan Dixon who placed second in the 55 hurdles (8.55), third in the 300 (39.06) and high jump (5-6) and fourth in the triple jump (34-31/2).

Isaac Martin also had multiple place finishes, taking third in the 55 meters in 6.55 seconds and fourth in the 300 meters in 39.59. Also placing for the Rams, Aaron Schmidt, third in the 100 meters (3:05), and Dylan Caldwell, second in the shot (42-6 1/2).

Cleveland's 4x800 relay team overtook South in the final yards to place second in 10:06.

The Trojans girls also relied on field events for a majority of their points, sweeping the shot put and pole vault.

Whitney Willams' throw of 38-8 1/2 took top honors in the shot, while Cheyeene Ketchum placed second (31-9) and Alexis Massengill was third (29-1 1/2).

Cassidy Baker led a South sweep of the pole vault with a vault of 6-5, followed by Savannah Creed clearing six feet. Katie Hodges raced to victory in the 1,600 at 6:36.

Cleveland, which amassed only 15 points, but still took third in the team race, picked up two top-five finishes from Julia Lopp: third in the 55 meters (7.93) and fifth in the 300 meters (49.28).