Lowering the broom

Published 8:08 am Sunday, March 25, 2012

Woodland-Bartow’s track and field teams obviously have enjoyed visiting Whitfield County this season for invitational meets.

The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats took the team titles Saturday at Dalton High’s Ronnie McClurg Invitational — previously known as the Dalton Rotary Invitational — as they followed up on a sweep at the Northwest Invitational earlier this month.

“My mom (Cynthia Johnson) is from Dalton,” Woodland boys coach Adrian Steele said. “I grew up learning about the Rotary, though I went to school in Calhoun. We’re trying to run against all kinds of competition. We knew that we would get good competition here.”

Two local schools did claim team trophies, however, with Northwest Whitfield’s girls finishing second and Dalton’s boys third.

Northwest’s Shelby Wilson was the lone area athlete to win two individual events, taking the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5 minutes, 36.88 seconds and the 800 (2:25.44). She was also part of the Lady Bruins’ 4×400 relay team that included Maggie Kalafut, Briana Coppock and Allie Mullins and won with a time of 4:19.50.

“I’m happy to get wins in such a highly regarded meet,” Wilson said. “My times were slower than my best times this year, but this gives me a lot of confidence.”

Lady Bruins coach Carrie Brown was quite pleased with Wilson and the rest of her team.

“It was a great day,” Brown said. “There was great competition. We look for great things from Shelby for both the region and state.”

Although Dalton’s boys did not win an event, they had several good place finishes. Jonathan Hernandez was second in the 800 in an exciting photo finish behind Calhoun’s Cesar Brown of Calhoun, whose 2:06.78 edged Hernandez’s 2:06.95.

“I’m just happy that the meet went off so well,” said Dalton boys coach Scott Thompson, who served as meet director. “We had been concerned about the weather reports so we ran the meet off a little faster, but they had enough time to recover. You want a safe environment. We had beautiful weather and a lot of good help from the Rotarians and others.”

Inclement weather forced the cancellation of last year’s competition, a rarity for the event which started in 1974 and was renamed to honor Dalton High’s former athletic director, football coach and track and field coach.

Woodland’s boys won with 101 points, ahead of Atlanta’s Grady (72), Dalton (62), Northwest (55) and Gordon Central (48.5) in the top five. Villa Rica (46.5), Model (43), Cartersville (42), Calhoun (37), LaFayette (35), North Murray (29), Pickens (27), Chattanooga’s Brainerd (14) and Murray County (12) rounded out the field.

The Lady Wildcats (148) were pursued by Northwest (109), Grady (94), Cartersville (52), Villa Rica (46), Gordon Central (42), Pickens (36.5) and Dalton (36). Not all schools brought girls teams.

North Murray’s had two winners — Brady Swilling (high jump, 6 feet, 6 inches) and Isaac Pacheco (3,200, 9:57.09). Swilling couldn’t match his best jump this season, a 6-8 recorded at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, but was happy with his effort — especially considering the field events were held in the morning and early afternoon, in contrast to weekday meets, which are held after school.

“Of four meets we’ve had recently, I’ve only jumped in two,” Swilling said. “I wanted to be ready for this meet. I went for 6-8, which would have equalled my best. Hey, I’m not used to these early morning meets.”

Pacheco shattered his own school record by 10 seconds while being pushed to the wire by Model’s Chris Atkins of Model (9:58.82). The junior finished his final 1,600 meters in 4:52 — 13 seconds faster than his first 1,600.

“Isaac’s a machine,” Mountaineers coach Eric Bishop praised. “I use him as an example to our basketball players for his work ethic. Brady has been consistent at 6-6, where last year he was consistent at 6-4. I’m looking for him to peak at the right time.”

Northwest’s Cliff Phillips won the 400 in 50.07. The Bruins’ Colter Creswell tied for the top pole vault mark at 13-6, but Pickens’ Drew Bellows had fewer misses and took first.

Grady’s Gray Quiller of Grady claimed the boys’ Best Runner honor following victories in the 100 (10.97) and 200 (22.16). Gordon Central’s C.J. Bell earned the Best Field prize after taking first in the shot put (45-11) and second in the discus (117-3).

Woodland’s boys had wins from Deo Adams (300 hurdles, 40.03) and their 4×100 relay team (43.06).

Villa Rica also two first-place finishes — Larcel Coilton (triple jump, 44-1) and B.J. McCoy (discus, 125-1).

Other first-place finishers in boys competition were LaFayette’s Demarcus Simpson (long jump, 23-11); Pickens’ Drew Bell (1,600, 4:34.50) and Grady’s Hughston Leaks (100 hurdles, 15.41).

In girls competition, Cartersville’s Caroline Haupt won the girls’ Best Runner award and Gordon Central’s Caroline Haupt took the Best Field prize.

Haupt swept the hurdles’ races, taking the 100 in 15.28 and the 300 in 48.33. Reynolds won the discus (124-0) and shot put (42-3).

Woodland’s Idraiah Thompson was a double winner in the 100 (12.82) and 200 (26.65). Other Lady Wildcats winners were Katie Harris (400 dash, 1:03.43); Brianna Brown (high jump, 5-4); and the 4×100 relay team (50.95).

Grady got wins from Vandria Shackelford (triple jump, 35-0) and Ayanna Toomer (long jump, 16-0). Pickens’ Alyssa Weaver took the 3,200 in 12:12.