Rosewood girls roll at Carolina 1-A track
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 26, 2012 1:49 PM
PRINCETON -- The leadership came from different directions.
And Rosewood reaped a long-awaited reward Wednesday afternoon.
Sprinter Alysse Atwell continued her dominance in the hurdles, the Eagles emerged victorious in two relays and captured the 2012 Carolina 1-A Conference women's track and field championship at the Fred Bartholomew Athletic Complex.
Rosewood racked up 137 points in the six-team event. Archrival Princeton claimed runner-up honors with 110, followed by 2011 champion Ayden-Grifton with 98. Goldsboro (76 points), Spring Creek (55) and North Duplin (47) rounded out the field.
"We got a total team effort today," Eagles head coach David Younts said. "We scored points in the field events, sprints, hurdles, distance and relay events today. We are not a big team, but we have quality people in all areas."
Atwell collected gold medals in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, and ran the anchor leg on the 1,600-meter relay. She was joined by Holly Heath, Crystal Yelverton and Jamekia Best. Atwell, a sophomore, took the silver in the triple jump.
Kasie Elliott, Charleigh Smith and Ashley Duran each recorded a personal best in the 1,600-meter run. Smith and Elliott also set personal records in the 3,200 run and helped the Eagles pick up 10 crucial points, which sealed the overall outcome and took pressure off the 1,600 relay.
Fellow Eagle Brynna Lee claimed the pole vault gold.
Princeton's Ashley Jacobs and Hannah Woodard claimed individual conference crowns in the high jump and 200-meter dash, respectively. Woodard also participated on two gold medal-winning relays.
Woodard ran a phenomenal third leg in the 800 relay, which prevented Ayden-Grifton from taking the event. Midway between the third and final turn, Woodard erupted with a burst of energy and held a 50-meter advantage when she handed the baton off to freshman Jasmine Bogle.
Bogle crossed the line in 1:56.96 -- nearly 18 seconds faster than the Dawgs' seed time.
"I was just thinking about my teammates, trying to do my best for them and just get points," Woodard said. "I wanted to do well for myself, too. We have a strong team and we made it up in the long run. We've got each other's backs."
The same foursome claimed the 400 relay in 54.71 seconds.
Sara Boltinhouse is no longer a bridesmaid.
The Spring Creek senior captured gold in the 800-meter run and no longer has to stare at an abundance of silver medals she has compiled during her prep career. She logged a time of 2:57 -- six seconds quicker than runner-up Lea Taylor of North Duplin.
Before the event started, Boltinhouse learned that Goldsboro's Mikayla Huf would walk off at the starter's gun. Huf secured conference championships in the 1,600 and 3,200 runs.
"I was very surprised because she always gives 110 percent and is always the one who I fight with to the finish so I was very surprised when she walked off," said Boltinhouse, who is headed to Campbell University. "Naturally, I turned to the next person beside me (Taylor) and knew I had to do the best I possibly can because not only was I going for first, but my personal best.
"It feels great and I've worked so hard the past four years to get to this point."
The Gators' Sheritta Peele won the shot put, while the Cougars' Khadijah Dixon seized the 100 dash.