West Forsyth boys, Hillside girls lock down 4A titles

By Adam Kopet of DyeStat

It was a windy weekend at the NCHSAA State Championships at North Carolina A&T in Greenboro, N.C. The sprinters faced stiff headwinds at times, slowing times on the track.

PHOTOS by Phil Ponder

It is therefore no surprise that the winning 4A teams scored their points in events less affected by the wind. The state champion West Forsyth boys scored the majority of their points in the field. Senior Austin Harrison won the shot put (57-3.75) and discus (169-6) and junior Seth Clyburn won the high jump with a personal best clearance of 6-8.

The Hillside girls came away big winners. The Hornets won both the 4x200 and 4x400 relays (1:38.16 and 3:44.84 respectively), and they also picked up individual points from their sprinters, including freshman Alysia Johnson, who finished second in the 400 with a time of 53.88. Hillside also picked up the win in the shot put with junior Kayla Beasley's winning mark of 42-10.

Ahead of Johnson in the 400 was Southeast Guilford junior Kiya Oviosun with her winning time of 53.53. That ranks US#8 this season.

High Point Central used top performances from senior Tamara Clark, winner of the 100 meters (11.72) and 200 meters (23.59), and the junior middle distance duo of Ticoiya Gidderon and Monzerad Creary, who went 1-2 in the 800 meters in 2:11.93 and 2:12.60, to challenge for the team title, but in the end only finished third.

Morgan Smalls, a freshman from Panther Creek, won the high jump with a clearance of 5-8.

For the boys, senior Connor Lane of Cardinal Gibbons won both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Already the state record holder in the 3,200 meters from his run at the Arcadia Invitational, Lane won the event in 8:59.90, about 13 seconds off his best. He finished the 1,600 meters in 4:17.58. Mount Tabor's Cameron Ponder was second in both races. 

Southern Guilford senior Aaron Wilkerson won the 3A boys shot put with a best of 60-3.5, the top mark of the weekend.

Jayhlen Washington, a senior from North Brunswick, won the 2A boys triple jump with a weekend best of 47-8.75. He also won the long jump with a leap of 23-3.

Competing in the NCISAA, Gracie Whelan, a senior from Providence Day, dominated the 3A 400 in 55.95. She also won the 200 in 25.34.

Team Champions

NCHSAA

4A – West Forsyth boys 46, Hillside girls 71

3A – Weddington boys 68, West Carteret girls 51

2A – North Brunswick boys 69, T W Andrews girls 90

1A – Mt. Airy boys 64, North Stokes 61

NCISAA

3A – Providence Day boys 101, Providence Day girls 141.5

2A/1A – CFA Academy boys 73, Carolina Day girls 134