Warner, Hamilton, Johnson combine for 4 regional 3A track titles

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 4, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

WENDELL -- Three Wayne County athletes -- Courtney Warner, Romello Hamilton and Natasha Johnson -- emerged as eastern 3-A regional champions and qualified the season-ending state meet Friday.

Overall, eight competitors will participate in the day-long meet contested on the Irwin Belk Track at N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro.

Warner, a senior at Charles B. Aycock, secured regional titles in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. She's seeking her fourth and fifth state crowns, which would make her the first-ever, five-time state champion -- any in sport -- in Golden Falcons' athletic history.

However, the East Carolina signee will get some stout competition two from two county rivals -- Southern Wayne's tandem of Cierra Thompson and freshman Takeitha Glaspie. Thompson and Glaspie placed third and fourth, respectively, in the 100.

Glaspie qualified in the 200.

"Takeitha, as a freshman, has improved so much with her times and confidence in her running," SW head coach Takisha Vann said. "She's a hard worker and has gained so much in one just one season. Cierra has gotten faster and is running some of her best times of her career this year.

"(We're) looking forward to the state meet to make improvements there as well. Each year she has been, she has gotten further and we expect the same this year."

The Saints did not place among the top four in relays.

Eastern Wayne's Natasha Johnson seized the long jump title with a mark of 17 feet, 91/2 inches. She placed eighth overall in the 200.

"Tasha made it to the state meet in the long jump last (year) and did not do as well as she could," EW head coach Phil Gray said. "She worked hard this season to have a chance to make it back."

The Warriors' Romello Hamilton qualified in three events. He emerged as the regional champ in the long jump (21 feet, 53/4 inches) and fourth in the 400 dash in 50.87 seconds. Hamilton ran one leg on the 800 relay, which finished regional runner-up and punched its ticket to N.C. A&T.

Blake Hartsfield secured fourth place in the 100 dash in 11.32. He participated in the state-qualifying relay team along with Hamilton, Dayshawn Pridgen and KK Best.

"Blake has worked hard this season to have an opportunity to compete at the state meet," Gray said. "Blake has stepped in and given the team a chance at winning the 800 relay (at the state meet). Romello is competing in his third state finals meet (through) his hard work and determination."