Wayne County Track & Field Championships -- CBA girls repeat as team champs

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 16, 2013 1:47 PM

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The young runners are maturing.

That's not good news for future Charles B. Aycock opponents on the high school girls' track scene.

Sophomore Courtney Warner emerged the 100- and 200-meter dash champion, and the Golden Falcons easily defended their team crown during the 2013 Wayne County Track and Field Championship meet on Monday afternoon.

Aycock, which won three of four relays, defeated runner-up and meet host Rosewood 199-154. The Eagles had five individual winners -- Anna Ingram (shot put), Lexi Mercer (high jump), Brynna Lee (pole vault), Alysse Atwell (100 and 300 hurdles) and Ashley Duran (1,600 and 3,200 runs).

Eastern Wayne had three individual champions -- Tamiya Dortch (long jump), Rajuana Boyette (triple jump) and Tomeka Williford (400) -- and placed third with 91 points.

Goldsboro (77.5 points), Southern Wayne (70), Spring Creek (24.5) and Wayne Country Day (10) rounded out the seven-team field. The Saints' foursome of Latrecia Johnson, Deajahne Edwards, Philicia Thompson and Cierra Thompson captured the meet-ending 1,600 relay.

"The girls had a very good day," CBA head coach Roger Rhodes said. "I've got a great group of young-uns who don't mind running and will rise to the occasion. We've got freshmen and sophomores who can run, jump and throw ... are pushing the juniors and seniors.

"They are raising the level (of competition) within the team."

Emily Martin emerged the lone field event winner for Aycock with a mark of 88 feet, 2 inches in the discus. Teammate Taylor Daniels topped the competition in the 800 with a time of 2:49.7.

The Golden Falcons' quartet of Diamond Blount, Natasha Williams, Tara Simmons and Courtney Warner claimed county titles in the 400 and 800 relays. The foursome of Taylor Daniels, Precious Reid, Infinite Reid and Jasmine Blount captured the 3,200 relay.

"I saw the team concept more today than I have at any other time (this season)," Rhodes said. "I was real pleased with the overall effort. We had good overall balance and the group really worked well together."

The Eagles' meet-high seven individual wins included two repeat champions -- Atwell and Lee. Atwell won the 100 and 300 in the 2012 county meet. Lee collected her third consecutive pole vault title.

Mercer snapped Martin's string of two straight high jump championships with a leap of five feet. Martin and teammate Jade Creel each jumped 4-6.

"Today was a day for our girls to prepare themselves for the conference meet, regional and states," Rosewood head coach Josh Smith said. "I thought they did a great job stepping up to the competition. I'm very proud of the effort that the girls gave.

"We tried not to do too much and let everything take care of itself. To finish second in the county, I think, is an honor for Rosewood."