INDOOR TRACK: Saints' 4x2 boys' relay keeps knocking at the door

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 26, 2017 9:57 AM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- Beat the clock.

That was Ronnie McClary Jr.'s short -- but urgent -- reminder to his 4x2 boys' relay team Wednesday afternoon. Don't be concerned about the other runners on the track, but compete as if they were running alone.

A trip to the state indoor championship meet, as it has been all season, remained within reach.

And the Saints came oh so close again.

The foursome of Will Newsome, Taylen West, Dennis Boseman and Josh McClain completed the race in 1 minute, 36.3 seconds -- a mere 0.9 seconds shy of the qualifying standard set by the N.C. High School Athletic Association. McClary Jr. pointed out a shaky baton exchange toward the end of the race that proved pivotal.

Still, it was the group's best time of the season.

McClary Jr. remained optimistic since SW still has at least one non-conference meet and the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference championships remaining on the calendar.

"We can get there," he said.

The multi-team meet was a mixture of schools from the Carolina 1-A, Eastern Carolina 2-A and Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A conferences. Athletes dueled in 15 events on a sun-splashed afternoon that quickly turned chilly once the sun began to set behind the Fred Bartholomew Jr. Athletic Complex.

The biggest cheers of the afternoon occurred during the 55-meter wheelchair race. Hands wrapped around the top of each wheel, Rosewood's Phillip Kostelecky took off for the finish line once the starter's gun sounded.

Kostelecky unofficially crossed the line in 22.72 seconds.

"I'm trying to get there (to the states), but I haven't quite made it yet," said Kostelecky a sophomore who also competes in sled hockey, a sport played on ice in the Triangle area.

Complete results from the 2 1/2-hour meet were not available at press time.