Deerfield-Windsor track & field teams roll to region titles

ALBANY — As Tarah Young hit the final 25 meters in the 100-meter dash, she could hear the cheers, screams and encouragement from her teammates and fans sitting in the Hugh Mills Stadium stands.

Young said it motivated her to strive harder and dig deeper.

“Everyone’s voices helped kick me into high gear,” the Deerfield-Windsor standout said.

Young took top honors in the 100, 200 and 400 events, then she teamed up to help the Lady Knights capture the 4×100 and 4×400 relays. She took the high points award trophy and helped Deerfield to a dominating performance in the GISA Region 3-AAA track & field meet on Wednesday.

The Lady Knights used Young’s 17.5 points to run away with the region title. Deerfield finished with 109 points to easily outdistance second-place Southland, which finished with 33.

The Deerfield boys didn’t win as convincingly. However, the Knights did finish with 87 points, while Southland came in second at 55.

In the 100 and 200, Young had to beat teammate Samantha James in both events. Young’s time of 12.45 topped James’ 12.79 in the 100, then she ran a 26.6 in the 200 to James’ 28.32.

“I really couldn’t have done what I did (Wednesday) without my team,” Young said. “I am so happy that I have the team that I have. They are like my family.”

The Lady Knights took first place in 13 of the 16 events. Young fended off stiff competition from Libby Greene, who won the long jump (15-feet, 4-inches), triple jump (34-4), 100 hurdles (17.84) and teamed with Young on the 4×100 relay team.

Deerfield’s girls also got top finishes from Cheyenne Colvin in the discus (88-3), Mary Warrington in the high jump (4-8) and 300 hurdles (53.67), Sarah Jones in the pole vault (8-6) and Virginia Moore in the 800 (2:31). Deerfield-Windsor’s 4×100 team, which ran a 52.66, consisted of James, Greene, Danielle Teemer and Young. The Lady Knights 4×400 team (4:24) was made up of Kendall Freeman, Mary Crisp, Moore and Young.

Southland’s Lady Raiders got first-place finishes from Mary McPherson (28-0) in the shot put, while Chris Shattles finished first in the 1600 (5:26) and the 3200 (11:50).

Young said it will be key for her team to duplicate the same kind of performance next week when the GISA state meet returns to Hugh Mills Stadium on April 24.

On the boys side, The Knights finished first in 10 of the 16 events and were led by high point winner Chapman Ivey, who finished first in the high jump (5-11), long jump (20-7) and triple jump (42-7).

But Ivey wouldn’t take credit for his performances. He was more interested in helping the Knights win the team title.

“Everybody has their events that they love doing,” Ivey said. “When you get to compete in an environment such as this, everybody has the same attitude. Practice pays off, and you work as a team. It’s not about individual events. It’s more about the team.”

The Knights also used a pair of first-place finishes from Mathew Fox in the discus (142-2) and shot put (48-4 1/2) and a top finish in the pole vault from Alec Miller (12-6). Aaron McNutt’s time of 16.23 in the 110-meter hurdles helped the Knights to another first-place finish, while Chris Boswell took first in the 400 (52.70).

Deerfield’s 4×100 relay team of Jay Barber, McNutt, Dee Barber and Boswell also earned a first-place finish after a time of 45.17, while the Knights’s 4×400 team of Trey Young, Chandler Mathews, Jay Barber and Boswell finished first with a time of 3:42.

Southland took top honors in four events — Dustin Shattles in the 100 (11.36), Wright Calhoun in the 3200 (5:02), Josh McKie in the 800 (2:11) and Collins Christian in the 200 (23.77).

Ivey said Wednesday’s meet was a good one for the Knights.

“After (Wednesday’s) meet, it gives us a confidence boost,” he said. “It’s all about going out and performing. This team is prepared to do that.”

The top four finishers in each event advanced to the state meet.