JV track runs out of steam, looks to future

Riley O'Neill, Reporter, Political Cartoonist|April 18, 2016

Key performances from several freshmen helped the NC Track & Field team secure fifth and tenth overall places for boys and girls respectively at the 2016 Cobb County JV Championships.

The NC JV track and field team strongly contented in one of their final meets of the 2016 season, the Cobb County JV Championships, taking place at Wheeler High School on April 13 and 14. Although the girls and boys teams’ overall finishes did not break into the top three spots, standout performances from several NC athletes indicate promise in and beyond the program’s 2017 season.

The NC girls team finished sixth overall out of the 18 schools with female teams in the meet. An impressive slew of freshman athletes earned a majority of the girls’ points, a situation which excites the team that will enjoy three more years with these athletes.

Freshman Kaylisa Anderson placed first in the 100-meter dash (12.71 seconds) and third in the shot put (31 feet). Building upon Anderson’s success, freshman Lajohnda Boone earned NC an additional first place finish in the 200-meter dash (29.76 seconds). Rounding out NC’s female sprint team’s impressive performances, freshman Naomi Langford finished second in the 400-meter dash (1:04.82).

NC girls remained impressive throughout the distance events, where freshman Daisy Dunlap finished fifth in the 800-meter run (2:42.95). Following her teammates’ 800 performance, freshman Lindsey O’Neill finished second in the 3200-meter run (12:47.60).

Photo courtesy of Cindy O’Neill
Although she did not run a personal record, freshman Lindsey O’Neill finished the 3200 meter run with a time of 12:47.60, which secured second place for the race.

Although O’Neill did not run her fastest time of the season, her second place constituted the latest of many top three finishes for the athlete this season. After a disappointing 1600-meter finish, O’Neill described her 3200-meter race as “exciting because [she] felt the strongest [she] ever has in the two mile race.”

Despite finishing lower overall, coming in tenth out of 15 teams, the NC boys team also included several impressive individual performances. With the NC boys’ highest meet finish, sophomore Jamal Clemmons earned first in the 200-meter dash (24.64 seconds).

Freshman Zach Mills continued NC’s success in the boys distance events, placing third in the 3,200-meter run (11:47.08). Senior Nyles Darough represented NC in the distance events, placing second in the long jump (19-1.75).
Many athletes ran their final races for the 2016 season at the Cobb County JV Championships, while a few will advance to the upcoming Regional Championship meet. Considering the wealth of top three finishes from underclassmen runners, NC track and field looks forward to a solid returning team for its 2017 season.