CAROLINA 1A TRACK: Hobbton boys, girls claim team titles

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 5, 2016 1:46 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- Hobbton coach Jeff Klaves took a quick glance at the team score sheet and walked back toward the infield at Princeton High School on Wednesday afternoon.

Rosewood head coach Robert Britt relaxed in a golf cart a few feet away.

Each knew their Carolina 1-A Conference track and field title hopes hinged on the final race -- the 4x4 relay. Hobbton held a slim four-point lead and needed to finish no worse than second place to unseat the Eagles, who entered as the two-time defending champions.

Meanwhile, Rosewood needed some help -- either one or two teams needed to finish ahead of the Wildcats, which would have created either a tie or secured an Eagle "three-peat."

The relay went as expected.

Rosewood, the reigning state champ, took first place. Hobbton came in second and returned to Newton Grove with the Carolina 1-A Conference championship in tow. The Wildcats edged the Eagles, 153-151.

"I'm not sure they knew it. We were in it to win that thing," Hobbton head coach Jeff Klaves said. "Rosewood, obviously, is (the) returning state champs in the 4x4. (My team) is built around the best athletes trying to run the 4x4 and fortunately we finished second."

Rosewood's foursome of Alex Godwin, Montonio Wheeler, Ethan Chapin and Zack Barnes crossed the line in 3 minutes, 32.32 seconds -- nearly seven seconds ahead of Hobbton.

"Our 4x4 looked good," said Britt, who wore his trademark bucket hat. "We've had some injuries throughout the year. We're starting to get healthy (and) ran probably about as good as I was expecting us to run."

Overall, Hobbton walked away with four individual championships on the day. Josh Polk won the 100- and 200-meter dashes, while teammate Raekwon Bryant claimed gold in the 400 run and long jump.

Rosewood senior Marquail Al-montaser repeated as the 110-meter hurdle champion. Teammate Alex Godwin won the 300 meters and triple jump (41 feet, 5 1/2 inches). The Eagles' foursome of Kodey Silknitter, Dalton Farmer, Chapin Barnes secured first in the 3,200 relay.

"Hobbton...they did a really good job, are a good team and deep," Britt said. "It's great to have that type of competition in our conference because now it's going to make us both better for the regionals and state meet."

Princeton received double-gold efforts from distance specialist Austin Sullivan (1,600 and 3,200 runs), and Jose Moreno (800 run, pole vault).

The Bulldogs compiled 104 points, followed by Lakewood with 65. James Kenan (31), Spring Creek (24), North Duplin (18) and Neuse Charter (6) rounded out the eight-team field.

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On the girls' side, Princeton's Shamonda Bell claimed four conference titles. She successfully defended her 100-, 200- and 400-meter crowns, and added the 100 hurdles to her impressive resume.

Meanwhile, Hobbton got a triple-gold performance from Lakelyn Bass -- the league champion in the high jump, long jump and pole vault. Teammate Nina Devone won the shot put (33 feet, 2 inches) and discus (87-2).

Ashley Hinterleiter claimed the 1,600 run and Janet Thompson placed first in the 300 hurdles. The Wildcats won the 4x2 and 4x4 relays.

"My girls' team, I've got some horses," said Klaves, whose team easily claimed the team title with a 178-156 triumph over 2015 champion Princeton.

"Sometimes you go ahead and put them in the stable, and then we get them to the starting line, you just open up the gate and they go ahead and fly. We don't have a barn burner like Shamonda Bell.

"Kudos to Princeton. On a state level, she's a star to watch. But we've got girls who are die-hard, get after-it-types."

Princeton's Amber Johnson captured the 3,200-meter run. She participated on the meet-winning 3,200 relay that included Altheia Balageo, Lily Eklund and Chelsea Hawley.

James Kenan took third in the team competition with 63 points. North Duplin scored 46 points. Rosewood (35 points), Neuse Charter (33), Lakewood (22) and Spring Creek (8) completed the team points tally.