Eastern Wayne wins Wayne County boys' track title
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 5, 2012 1:49 PM
Pardon us, Tom Cruise.
Eastern Wayne felt "the need for speed" Wednesday afternoon.
The Warriors turned on the afterburners in the sprint and relay events, and captured the 2012 Wayne County Track and Field boys' team championship contested at Rosewood High School.
Darius Evans and senior Tykwan Days emerged victorious in the 110-meter hurdles and 100 dash, respectively, to spearhead Eastern Wayne's 159-point output. Charles B. Aycock, which had five individual winners and seized two relays, finished runner-up with 125 points.
Rosewood, the 2011 boys' champion, placed third with 119 points. Southern Wayne (71 points), Goldsboro (55) and Spring Creek (25) rounded out the six-team competition.
"Still young," quipped EW head coach Bubba Williams. "We don't have very many fast kids, but we have a bunch that can compete with a lot of people."
Days edged Southern Wayne's Ricky Tillman by four one-hundredths of a second in the 100. Evans beat his nearest competitor, teammate Romello Hamiton, by more than half a second in the hurdles.
The Warriors' Marquis Lawrence and Dennis Swinson, who transferred from Spring Creek, picked up field titles in the long jump and triple jump, respectively. Each also participated on the 1,600-meter relay team, which placed first.
EW also won the 400 relay.
Aycock's individual champions were Andre South (discus), Marvin Alexander (1,600 run), Cade Ivey (800), Austin Snowden (300 hurdles) and Khaleil Owens (400 run). Ivey, who has accepted an appointment at West Point, anchored the 3,200 relay that placed first in 8 minutes, 55 seconds -- nearly a minute faster than runner-up Rosewood. A senior, Ivey was joined by Owens, Alex Rogers and Jerry Huffman.
The Golden Falcons claimed the 800 relay.
Rosewood's Ricky Donahue repeated as the pole vault champion with a jump of 12 feet. Senior distance runner Nick Britt successfully defended his 3,200 crown, crossing the line in 11:14 -- eight seconds faster than his meet-winning time a year ago.
Britt immediately set the pace once the starter's gun sounded.
"That surprised me," Britt said. "I didn't expect to start out that fast. I wanted to slow down because I was a little tired, but I couldn't. I knew he (Alexander) was right behind me."
The Eagles' Joel Davis took the high jump.
Southern Wayne's JaMario Roberts and Tillman secured county titles in the shot put and 200 dash, respectively.