Kenan's Sutton emerges as triple jump 1A state champ

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 12, 2014 1:48 PM

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GREENSBORO -- Less than six months after helping guide James Kenan to a state championship in football, senior Marcelias Sutton gets another ring.

The N.C. State commit emerged as the triple jump state champion during the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A men's track and field championships contested at N.C. A&T State University on Friday. Sutton recorded a mark of 45 feet, 51/2 inches -- nearly two feet farther his closest competitor.

According to Association records kept since 1961, Sutton is to believed to be the first-ever state champion -- male or female -- in James Kenan track history. Before Sutton's achievement, the Tigers' highest male finisher was Dasmine Smith, who took second place in the 100-meter dash during the 2009 state meet.

Other state runners-up include former NFL standout Sam Aiken, Duane Thomas, Stephen Boney and Farrior. The Tigers were state runners-up in the 800 relay in 1996 and 1998.

Sutton is the first state champ in Carolina Conference history since 2010 when Princeton alum T.J. Wilson won the 110 and 300 hurdles.