Larry Griffin
lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com
The Swain County High School Lady Devils indoor track team remains undefeated for the third year in a row at the NCHSAA 1A Indoor Track state championships, held in Winston-Salem this past weekend.
It was their ninth overall win in a row in running sports for Swain County High, between indoor track, outdoor track and cross country competitions in the last several years.
The girls’ 4x800 relay team, made up of Arizona Blankenship, Angel Lomelli, Annie Lewis and Emily Grey Stargell, finished their run in 9:52.71, ahead of second-place finishers Christ the King Catholic School, which finished in 10:11.83.
Lewis also came in 1st for the 1000 meter run with a time of 3:05.56. Blankenship got a first-place win at the 1600 meter run with a time of 5:06.05. Blankenship came in second place at the 3200 meter run with a time of 11:05.77, as well.
Gracie Sutton placed 3rd in the high jump with a score of 5-2, while Alden Thomas got 2nd in pole vault with a score of 9-6.
The Maroon Devils got first place in the 4x800 relay as well, with the lineup of Carl Baird, Abhi Patel, Connor Lambert and Kane Jones finishing in 8:37.51.
Meanwhile, Nse Uffort got 2nd place in shot put with a score of 55-5.25.
“This was unlike any of our previous state wins,” Coach Keith Payne wrote in an email later. “Nothing was for certain, nothing was for sure and we went into the last event not knowing if we could win. I have told our girls before that pressure makes diamonds, and sure enough, diamonds were forged this weekend.”
Payne said he was “proud of the boys and the girls” and of the fact that Swain took “more athletes to this meet than any 1A/22A team in the state.”
“That is a testament to their work ethic, their fortitude, and their resilience,” he wrote.
All State athletes:
Arizona Blankenship---4x800, 1600, 3200
Angel Lomeli--4x800, 1600, 3200
Annie Lewis--4x800, 1000
Emily Gray Stargell---4x800
Gracie Sutton --- HJ
Alden Thomas --PV
Carl Barid -- 4x800
Abhi Patel -- 4x800
Connor Lambert -- 4x800
Kane Jones -- 4x800
Nse Uffort -- Shot Put