Six track athletes qualify for state competition

    Six Northwood track athletes finished in the top four at their event in the regional competition May 14 and will be competing at the state competition May 20.

    These athletes included junior Tessa Sheets and senior Jack Maynard for pole vaulting, senior Chaz Bailey for both the high jump and the triple jump, sophomore Cam Council for the 100-meter dash, and both senior Samaria Chance and freshman Samantha Ennis for shot put.

    The state competition will take place at N.C. A&T University. Bailey thinks there is a good possibility for him to place at the competition.

    “I believe I can place in the top four for the triple jump,” Bailey said.

    Maynard is grateful for another opportunity to participate in the state competition.

    “It feels really good [to go to states],” Maynard said. “Knowing this is my last year, being a senior, I’m glad I’ve been able to go to states for the third year in a row.”

    Council is eager about participating in states.

    “I’m excited,” Council said. “I’m just ready to go and compete.”

    Maynard contributes his success this season to his coaches and his teammates.

    “Definitely Coach McDonald, Coach Ford and even Tessa have helped me out a lot,” Maynard said. “Plus my teammates always cheering me on.”

    Bailey was committed to doing well at regionals in order to make it to states and wants to have a strong performance at states.

    “In regionals, I just focused on making it to states,” Bailey said. “And for states, I just want to do as well as I can.”

    Council has had his mind set on doing the best he can and all he’s learned from his coaches.

    “My mindset was just to run fast,” Council said. “I was just trying to focus on all my techniques and everything that I learned, and going into states, I just wanna be able to place and get in the finals and then go run my fastest.”

– By Davis Palermo