WCHS sends 12 individuals, three relays teams to AAA meet

White County High School's track team is sending 12 individuals and three relay teams to the Class AAA state meet this weekend at Carrollton High School.

The WCHS athletes earned the state bids during the the Class AAA state sectional last weekend in Norcross.

The Lady Warriors will be represented by Lily Gearing (300-meter hurdles), Rusty Dye (discus), Maci Shelnut (high jump), Adelynn Knight (high jump), Ella Blair (pole vault), and Tallulah Shack (pole vault) in individual events. The 4x400-meter team of Kendyl Cantrell, Emma Lightsey, Nevaeh McCollough, and Gearing  earned a state spot, along with the 4x800-meter team of Reese Vandegriff, Nealeigh Broadwell, Rachel Carter and Lightsey.

The Warriors will also have six individual competitors. Cam Wilson (100 meters and 200 meters), Teddy Strange (triple jump), Colton Turner (300-meter hurdles), Sean Hughes (triple jump and long jump), Ashton Pickett (pole vault), and Kyler Mayo (400 meters) all punched their state ticket at the sectional meet.

The boy's 4x400-meter team of David Boman, Jackson Jarvis, Wilson, and Mayo also moved onto the the state meet.

“Our sectional was absolutely brutal,” WCHS head coach Jake Cantrell said. “It's one of the harder ones we've ever been in, especially since we've been in (Class) 3A. It was definitely the the tougher of the two this year. There are people that will be sitting at home who would have qualified on the other side. At the end of the day, it's the hand you are dealt. You go out there and do the best you can do, and go from there.”

In the girl's division, Gearing posted the second-fastest time among all 16 of the state qualifiers. She turned in a time of 46.44, which was second only to Westminster's Grace Smith at 45.55.

“Lily's been one of the most consistent people in the 300 across the state,” Cantrell said. “There are a couple of girls around the state who've run a little faster this year, but when you put something in front of you, anything can happen. She's a competitor, through and through, so I like her chances of finishing high in the state.”

In the discus, Dye was third in the sectional with a mark of 119-05, which is a personal record. Among all 16 state qualifiers, Dye is the fifth seed heading into the state meet.

“That was a PF, but she still hasn't thrown her best in a meet; she's got more left in the tank,” Cantrell said. “She's got to bust one big throw and see what happens. She has the ability to get on the podium again.”

The Lady Warriors have a pair of high jumpers in the state field as Shelnut and Knight are among the 16 athletes that made it through the two state sectionals. Shelnut and Knight both cleared 5-00 during the sectionals, and are among 10 jumpers in the field that qualified with a 5-00 height.

“Maci has been consistent all year, posting one of the  higher marks in the state, so we like her chances,” Cantrell said. “You just have to put it all together on that one day. We had a scratch and Claire Beckman wasn't able to jump, so Adelynn snuck in and made the most of the opportunity. She definitely took advantage of it and she's getter better everyday.”

WCHS will also have two athletes in the girl's pole vault competition. Blair cleared 9-00 in the sectional, while Shack posted a height of 8-00.

“Ella is going back again, was a medalist last year,” Cantrell said. “She's been injured, rolled her ankle right before spring break, and could barely walk. She got through region, and she's getting better. Tallulah has gotten better and being, and she's learning from Ella.”

The Lady Warriors' 4x800-meter team posted a school-record time of 10:35.98 during the sectional meet. The team of Vandegriff, Broadwell, Lightsey, and Carter are the No. 7 seed heading into the state meet.

“They put up a Top 8 time in the state this year, and they are just rounding into shape,” Cantrell said. “We're looking for big things from them; think they can get on the podium.”

The girl's 4x400-meter team had a time of 4:16.65 during the sectional meet to earn a spot in the state finals. Lightsey, Cantrell, Gearing, and McCollough had the seventh-fastest time during the sectional round.

“We've played musical chairs all year with the 4x4,” Cantrell said. “Typically, Kendyl has run the first leg, and she's done a great job. Emma, Lily, Nevaeh, and Nealeigh have all run this. Regardless of who we've put out there, they compete, and I think this group is peaking at the right time. It's going to be a super tight race on the girl's side. One second could be the difference between second or third and 12th.”

For the Warriors, Wilson turned in a stellar effort in the 100-meter race, finished as the sectional runner-up with a time of 11.08.

“It's close to a school record in the 100,” Cantrell said. “Caleb Stephenson had a 10.95 hand-held, but Wilson has the fastest FAT (fully automatic time) we've ever had. We've been working on his starts, and I think that's made a difference. He made it in both, and he's got a great chance to get on the podium in both.”

Wilson had the sixth fastest overall time between the two sectionals. In the 200-meter race, Wilson had a time of 22.47, and is the No. 8 seed heading into the state finals.

Strange finished as the sectional runner-up in the triple jump with a mark of 42-11, and will be the fifth seed in the state field.

“Teddy's been jumping for a while,” Cantrell said. “He's really worked and put in the time. It's his second time going down. Teddy had a good day, second longest jump of the day.”

Turner was third in the 300-meter hurdles at the sectional meet with a time of 40.66. He is the fifth seed in the event in the state field.

“Colton answered the bell in the 300,” Cantrell said. “He knew what he needed to do. He didn't have his best time but he advanced. He's right there in the mix; anytime you put the hurdles out anything crazy things can happen. When you have hurdles or batons involved, you never know what's going to happen.”

Hughes posted a mark of 42-07 in the triple jump at the sectional meet, finishing fourth. He will be the No. 7 seed in the state meet. Hughes also had a mark of 21-04 to qualify for the long jump event, and is the 10th seed in the state field.

“Sean has been one of our more consistent jumpers, and he got through in both of the jumps,” Cantrell said.

Pickett punched a state ticket in the pole vault, clearing a height of 11-06 at the sectional meet, setting a personal record. Pickett is the No. 8 seed in the state field.

“He's been battling a nagging injury, and for him to just be able to compete is a testament to his strong will,” Cantrell said. “He's just gotten better and better, and that was a PR for him.”

Mayo rounds out the Warriors' contingent, qualifying in the 400-meter field with a time of 51.69. Mayo will be the 13th seed in the state finals.

“Half the battle is just getting in the race,” Cantrell said. “There's a lot of strategy in the 400. I like our chances if he can stay relaxed and push out like he's supposed to.”

The Warriors' 4x400-meter team is the sixth seed in the state field after posting a time of 3:31.57 at the sectional meet. The team of Mayo, Jarvis, Wilson, and Boman finished fifth at the sectional meet.

“We've had several guys run this throughout the year,” Cantrell said. These four guys, along with Elijah Nelson and Tripp Nix have all run it. You prepare everybody to run, and then when the day gets here, you decide what's your best plan.”