By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
The Northside Panthers are sending a strong contingent of athletes to the Class 1-A state track and field championships.
The championships, which begin at noon today, will be held at the Irwin Belk Track at North Carolina A&T.
Northside qualified eight individuals and one relay team on the boys side, along with four individuals and two relay teams on the girls side.
Southside, Williamston, Roanoke and Mattamuskeet will also be represented by individual athletes.
Suzanne Lee leads the Panthers into battle as the senior qualified to state in three events. She won the regional championship in the 300-meter hurdles for the second year in a row, while also placing runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles and high jump.
Lee, who took fourth in the 300 hurdles at state last year, enters today’s field with the fastest time at 47.44 seconds. She’ll be joined in the event by Ashley Clayton, who has the sixth fastest time.
Lee’s leap of 4 feet, 10 inches in the high jump has her ranked ninth entering the state meet, while her time of 17.24 seconds in the 100 hurdles is the 10th best. Lee tied for 10th in the state high jump competition last year.
This marks the third straight year Lee qualified to state in the 300 hurdles and high jump events and the second consecutive year in the 100 hurdles.
Williamston’s Michelle Bracey, who also qualified to state in three events, will also participate in the 100 hurdles. Bracey’s clocking of 17.54 seconds is 13th best in the 16-runner field.
Raquel Wilson, fresh off being named the Most Valuable Performer in the field events at the 1-A East Regional meet, will participate in the shot put and discus events for the Panthers. The Northside senior has the sixth best throw (31-09) in the shot and the 10th best performance (85-0) in the discus. Wilson finished eighth in the shot put event at last year’s state meet.
Joining Wilson in the shot put event will be Roanoke’s Kristie Roberson, who has the 11th best throw, and Mattamuskeet’s Shayanne Wright, who owns the 15th top throw.
Wilson will be joined by Northside teammate Charley Taylor (15th best throw) and Williamston’s Lynn Davis (eighth best throw) in the discus event.
Northside qualified its 1,600 meter relay team (12th fastest time) and 3,200 meter relay team (11th fastest time).
Bracey will also compete in the triple jump and long jump events. The Williamston senior, who will play volleyball at Pitt Community College next year, owns the fourth longest triple jump (33-01) and 10th farthest long jump (15-09.5) in the field.
Bracey will be joined by Tiger teammate Lashonya Bazemore (16th ranked) in the triple jump and Roanoke’s Genae Roberson (16th ranked) in the long jump.
Southside’s lone female representative, Tuijunia Keech, has the 12th fastest time entering the 400-meter dash event.
Ben Hopkins will make another trip to state in the shot put event. He finished in a tie for 14th last year. The Northside senior has the ninth best throw entering today’s competition. Hopkins will be joined in the event by Williamston’s Alonza Ransom (11th best throw).
Warren Hamilton will compete in the 1,600 meter run. The Northside senior has the 14th best time in the field.
Northside’s Korey Booth, who has the 12th best throw, will take part in the discus event.
T.J. Slade will take part in the triple jump and high jump events. The Panther senior enters with the ninth best performance in both events.
Northside’s Wesley Anjudar and Rick Harris will compete in the 110-meter hurdles. They enter with the 14th and 16th top times, respectively.
Southside’s Bryon Jordan (10th best time) and Northside’s Clay Leary (15th best) will compete in the 300-meter hurdles.
Seahawk Brandon Cratch (11th best) and Panther Chad Davenport (13th best) will take part in the 800 meter run.
Northside’s 3,200 meter relay team has the 15th quickest time entering today’s race.
Washington qualifiers
The Washington Pam Pack will send three athletes to the 3-A state meet, which will be held Saturday at the Irwin Belk Track at North Carolina A&T. Action begins at 10 a.m.
Dujuan Murray will compete in the shot put and discus events. He has the 12th best throw in the discus event and the 15th best throw in the shot put.
Travis Daniels will take part in the long jump event. He owns the 11th best jump entering the event.
Sharita Grice is the lone Washington female qualifier. Grice will take part in the discus event, where she has the third best throw heading into the event.
STATE TRACK QUALIFIERS
Meet will be held Friday at the Irwin Belk Track at N.C. A&T
Class 1-A
NORTHSIDE
Ben Hopkins, shot (third at regionals, 45-11.25)
Korey Booth, discus (third at regionals, 116-1.25)
T.J. Slade, high jump (third at regionals, 6-0)
T.J. Slade, triple jump (fourth at regionals, 41-11)
Warren Hamilton, 1,600 meter run (third at regionals, 4:55.5)
Chad Davenport, 800 meter run (third at regionals, 2:11.07)
Wesley Andujar, 110 hurdles (third at regionals, 16.78)
Rick Harris, 110 hurdles (fourth at regionals, 18.11)
Clay Leary, 300 hurdles (fourth at regionals, 43.1)
3,200 meter relay (fourth at regionals, 9:08.43)
Girls
Suzanne Lee, 300 hurdles (first at regionals, 47.13)
Suzanne Lee, 100 hurdles (second at regionals, 16.94)
Suzanne Lee, high jump (second at regionals, 4-10)
Raquel Wilson, shot put (first at regionals, 31-9)
Raquel Wilson, discus (third at regionals, 85-0)
Ashley Clayton, 300 hurdles (third at regionals, 49.53)
Charley Taylor, discus (fourth at regionals, 82-3)
3,200 meter relay (third at regionals, 11:50)
1,600 meter relay (third at regionals, 4:37.61)
SOUTHSIDE
Bryon Jordan, 300 meter hurdles (second at regionals, 42.58)
Brandon Cratch, 800 meter run (second at regionals, 2:10.17)
Girls
Tuijunia Keech, 400 dash (fourth at regionals, 1:05.14)
WILLIAMSTON
Alonza Ransom, shot (fourth at regionals, 43-3)
Girls
Michelle Bracey, long jump (second at regionals, 15-9.5)
Michelle Bracey, triple jump (second at regionals, 33-1)
Michelle Bracey, 100 hurdles (third at regionals, 17.22)
Lynn Davis, discus (third at regionals, 86-0)
Lashonya Bazemore, triple jump (fourth at regionals, 29-11.5)
ROANOKE
Girls
Kristie Roberson, shot (third at regionals, 30-4)
Genae Roberson, long jump (fourth at regionals, 14-2)
MATTAMUSKEET
Girls
Sharyanne Wright, shot (fourth at regionals, 29-0)
STATE TRACK QUALIFIERS
Meet will be held Saturday at the Irwin Belk Track at N.C. A&T
Class 3-A
WASHINGTON
Travis Daniels, long jump (third at regionals, 21-01.75)
Dujuan Murray, shot put (fourth at regionals, 44-11.25)
Dujuan Murray, discus (fourth at regionals, 131-11)
Girls
Sharita Grice, discus (second at regionals, 113-02)