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The Lady Devils track team won the Smoky Mountain Conference title for the fourth year in a row. -
The Maroon Devils track team won the Smoky Mountain Conference title for the third year in a row.
The Swain County High School track teams defended their Conference Championship titles in resounding fashion last Wednesday, May 1 at Cherokee High School. The Maroon Devils won their third consecutive Smoky Mountain Conference Championship by easily outdistancing 2nd place Hayesville by 74 points. The Lady Devils won their fourth consecutive Smoky Mountain Conference Championship by an astounding 118 points over 2nd place Robbinsville.
“It was a dominant performance across the board,” said Head Coach Ian Roper. “One of the fun things about watching our kids perform is that we have contributors in every phase. A lot of programs only excel in one or two areas, but our program is really well balanced.”
The girl’s team was led by Arizona Blankenship, who was recognized as the Most Outstanding Female Runner for the Smoky Mountain Conference, followed by Melanie Linton. Blankenship set conference records in both the 1,600 (5:00) and the 3,200 (11:16) in route to winning both events. She also was part of the 4x800 team that set a new conference record (9:56). Other 4x800 relay members included Annie Lewis, Angel Lomeli and Emily Grey Stargell. Blankenship rounded out her day with a 3rd place finish in the 800.
Linton scored four first place finishes in her events for the Lady Devils. She won both the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles while also participating on the 1st place 4x200 and 4x400 conference champion relay teams. Other members of the 4x200 team included Marlee Hicks, Mya Burrows-Kurr and Audrey Monteith. The 4x400 team also included Audrey Monteith, Mya Burrows-Kurr and Annie Lewis.
The other Conference Champions for the Lady Devils were Gracie Sutton in the high jump (5’2), Alden Thomas in pole vault (10’0) and Faith Woodard in the shot put (35’.5).
The boy’s teams was led by the outstanding performances of Nse Uffort in field events and Zeke Glaspie and Carl Baird in the running events. Uffort was named the Most Outstanding Male Field Athlete for the Smoky Mountain Conference, while Glaspie was recognized as the Most Outstanding Male Runner. Uffort won both the shot put (59’1.5) and discus (165’8). Both marks established new Smoky Mountain Conference records.
Glaspie won both the 100 (11.18) and 200 (22.73) dashes. Glaspie’s time in the 200 broke the Swain County High School record that was set in 1987 by Jamie Cook. Zeke also won gold in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. He was joined in both relays by Josh Collins, Kaden Sawyer and Josiah Glaspie.
Carl Baird won both the 1600 (4:28) and the 3200 (10:15). Carl’s time in the 1600 established a new SMC record. Baird also won gold in both the 4x800 Relay (8:28) and the 4x400 Relay (3:36). The other members of the 4x800 Relay included Kane Jones, Abhi Patel and Connor Lambert. Baird was joined on the 4x400 team by Connor Brown, Abhi Patel and Kane Jones.
Other conference champions for the boys included Abhi Patel in the 800 (2:02) and Owen Craig in Pole Vault (13’0).
Other placers for Swain County included:
Mya Burrows Kurr: 100 hurdles (5th) and 300 hurdles (2nd)
Addison Blankenship: 300 hurdles (3rd) and high jump (8th)
Marlee Hicks: 100 (4th) and 200 (5th)
Leilani Queen: 100 (7th), long jump (4th), triple jump (4th)
Audrey Monteith: 400 (3rd) and 200 (6th)
Lilah Foster: 400 (5th)
Joylynn Stillman: 400 (6th)
Angel Lomeli: 1600 (3rd) and 3200 (2nd)
Lily Bjerkness: 1600 (5th)
Annie Lewis: 800 (2nd) and 3200 (3rd)
Emily Grey Stargell: 800 (4th)
Ryan Ellis: long jump (6th) and triple jump (7th)
Carley Teesateskie: shot put (4th)
McKenzie Royce: Discus (7th)
Hannah Wingate: pole vault (3rd)
Carden Oetting: pole vault (2nd)
Connor Brown: 1600 (2nd) and 800 (6th)
Ross Clapsaddle: 1600 (7th) and 3200 (8th)
Josiah Glaspie: 400 (2nd)
Kaden Sawyer: 400 (6th)
Corey Wolf: 300 Hurdles (6th)
Kane Jones: 800 (2nd)
Connor Lambert: 3200 (4th)
Derek Gunter: High Jump (7th)
Josh Collins: long jump (5th) and triple jump (2nd)
Nathan Brown: triple jump (4th)
Andrew Scaggs: shot put (6th) and discus (6th)
Evan Hall: pole vault (2nd)
Duncan Brown: pole vault (4th)
The track team will next compete in the 1A West Regional Championships at Montreat College on Saturday.