WCTF: Warrior boys sweep relay, claim 3rd straight team title

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 15, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Never one to display his full emotions, Bubba Williams said Eastern Wayne "had a great day in the relays" during the boys' portion of the 2014 Wayne County Track & Field Championship meet Monday afternoon.

A great day?

How about impressive and dominating?

The speed-rich Warriors swept the relays and six individuals combined to win eight different events during an eye-popping, 238-point performance. Eastern Wayne seized its third consecutive county team championship and at least its fourth overall since 2007.

Rosewood took second with 124.33 points. Goldsboro and Charles B. Aycock shared third place with 93.33 points apiece. Southern Wayne (47 points), Wayne Christian (30), Spring Creek (27) and Wayne Country Day (8) rounded out the eight-team competition.

"(The relays) have been the same guys for the past three years," a modest Williams said. "They've finally gotten a little older, just like we did during football season. We put a younger guy in one of the relays, but they've pretty much been the same guys all the way through (the season)."

The Warriors started their splendid running day by dethroning three-time defending champ C.B. Aycock in the 3,200 relay. The foursome of Josh Vartz, Willie Hunter, Micah Smith and Jake Wiser posted a time of 8 minutes, 58 seconds.

Romello Hamilton, Dayshawn Pridgen, Lavoris Vick and Larry Newsome comprised the meet-winning 800 relay. Newsome, Robert Gonzalez, Pridgen and Dashawn Boudy emerged victorious in the 400 relay.

Wiser, Vick, Gonzalez and Boudy completed the sweep with a time of 3:37 in the 1,600 relay.

"We have had a good track year," Williams said. "These kids have bought into what we've asked them do and they're finally starting to see some of those rewards."

Malik Richards won the long and high jump titles. Derius Evans topped the competition in the 110 hurdles and 100 dash. Vick and Boudy claimed the 200 and triple jump, respectively.

Wiser won the 300 hurdles.

"Wiser has been that way all year," Williams smiled. "He's a competitor. It doesn't matter what we ask him to do, he just goes and does it ... no questions, no complaints."

Wayne Christian senior Connor Jones ran his final county meet and added two more championships, giving him seven total for his career. Bound for Appalachian State, Jones won the 800 and 1,600 crowns just two days after winning his third consecutive Goldsboro Greater Road Race 10k title.

Goldsboro's Christian Martens secured the 400 dash title, while Rosewood's Zach Hinnant won the pole vault. Charles B. Aycock received individual victories from discus thrower Alston Best and distance runner Joseph Mooneyham, who claimed the 3,200.

Mooneyham let Jones set the pace comparable to their meeting in the GGRR. But Mooneyham had a little extra in the tank and took control of the race around the 600-meter mark.

"I felt like I've got to go for this race," grinning Mooneyham, who ran a time of 11:28. "This is my distance ... the one I really love and enjoy the most. I had to make sure I pulled through as hard as I could all the way."