The Davie County High School Indoor Track Team concluded their impressive season on February 15 at the JDL Fast Track competing at the NCHSAA 4A Indoor State Championship Meet. Even though the team faced numerous obstacles, they demonstrated undeniable talent and resilience throughout the season.
A Season of Successes
The team showcased impressive performances throughout their season at multiple meets, including the North Stokes Indoor Track Classic, Jace’s Journey Holiday Invitational, Southern Carolina & Central Piedmont Conference Championship, and the North Stokes Indoor Track Classic. The season came to its ending peak at the Championship Meet where the team placed 12th with 16 points.
At the State Championship Meet, junior jumper Austin Sweet and senior thrower Cooper Williams competed with the best of the best athletes in the 4A conference. Sweet placed 3rd in pole vault with a height of 14’6” and Williams, who will throw for UNC Chapel Hill next year, placed 1st in shot put with a mark of 61-08.50, beating 2nd place by 8 feet. With this performance, Williams is now a two-time state champion and ranked #13 in the nation for shot put.
With the performance of these two athletes alone, Davie High ranks #12 in the state for Indoor Track and Field. Williams and Sweet have also qualified to go to the prestigious New Balance Nationals in Boston next month.
The team’s successful season has been full of lots of new runners. They are proud of their accomplishments and can’t wait to see what they can bring into the outdoor spring season. The many PRs they have set show their dedication and training. Senior jumper David Patton is proud of how their season turned out.
“Hoping we can take this into the spring and set even more PRs,” Patton said. “I was also pleased to set a new PR in the long jump.”
Even though the excitement and adrenaline after winning or performing well is what everyone talks about, the memories are something that the athletes will have forever. The proud feeling after pushing yourself to do your best is worth it and brings passion to continue. Junior high jumper America Stockton started track because she is good at it, but she continues to because it helps her push herself.
“My best memory was when our 4×1 team got first even when it was only our second time running it,” Stockton said. “My proudest moment would have to be when I ran a 7.93, which was my PR in the 55m.”
A Season of Hurdles
Like any reward after a long journey, the track season came with its own set of hurdles. The team persevered through injuries, pushed through difficult workouts, and faced many freezing temperatures that even led to having to cancel practices. Junior long-distance runner Ethan Lakey fought the struggle of illnesses being spread around the school and team.
“I’ve had a lot of sickness occur the past couple of weeks, so I’m still coming back from that,” Lakey said. Despite these setbacks, he hopes to push for better PRs going forward. But not all struggles are physical, many are mental. Senior sprinter and jumper David Patton came into his first season back after recovering from an ACL tear.
“I had a hard time getting back into track, which led to me having to take a break for a week or two,” Patton said. In spite of all of these challenges, Patton still earned a new PR in long jump of 19-9.
As the Indoor Track Season comes to an end, the team can look back and reflect on a season marked by many PRs, challenges, victories, and growth among the team. These athlete’s contributions to Davie County High School’s athletic program history will not go unnoticed. But this ending is only the beginning for many of these athletes, as the Outdoor Track Season approaches quickly.
