By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
Coach Jon Blank got just what he wanted for his Washington Pam Pack track teams — a competitive meet that helped prepare them for next week’s conference meet.
Washington’s boys (8-2-1) finished second to West Carteret in a tight race at Wednesday’s Coastal Conference tri-meet. The Patriots finished with 70 points to the Pam Pack’s 68 points.
South Central was third (37).
“It was a highly competitive meet that we really needed to end the season with,” Blank said. “Unfortunately, we took second behind West Carteret but, right now, they’re the team to beat. If we can adjust a few things, hopefully, we can make up for the points that we didn’t get today (at conference).”
Josh Brown had another solid day for the Pack. He won the 110 meter hurdles (15.75 seconds) and 300 meter hurdles (42.52).
William Ellegor took first in the triple jump (41 feet, 4 inches). Malik Moore added a first in the high jump (5-8).
Washington’s 400 relay (44.37), 800 relay (1:33.83) and 3,200 relay (9:18) teams all won.
Earning seconds were Amiar Johnson in the shot put (44-7), Moore in the 110 hurdles (17.15) and Byron Hopkins in the 300 hurdles (44.97).
Thirds went to Ricky Dunlop in the long jump and Hopkins in the 110 hurdles (17.34).
Alexus Spencer had a big day for Washington on the girls side. She took first in the high jump (4-10) and 100 hurdles (17.66) while adding a second in the 300 hurdles (53.17).
South Central won the team event (111), followed by West Carteret (40) and Washington (16).
Blank has been happy with several of his athletes, but would like to see others make a strong contribution.
“I’m pretty pleased in some areas with this season,” Blank said. “I’m really pleased that we’ve found some kids that have done their best this year. We just need some other kids to kind of pull their weight.
“We have a few that are really carrying us at the top, and they’re having to do a lot of things for us. There are others that are content with mediocrity, which is unacceptable.”
Blank said there’s plenty of work to be done before Wednesday’s Coastal Conference meet at West Carteret.
“We really have to tighten up a few handoffs on our relays,” Blank said. “We might have to reconfigure a few lineups. Our jumpers really have to improve on today’s numbers.
“We really need our distance kids to improve.”
Blank is hoping to see Janell Griffin return for the conference meet. Griffin injured a knee after taking a tumble during a hurdle event.
“Right now it’s kind of up in the air,” Blank said. “I think she should be able to compete next Wednesday. She really wants to be out there on the track.”
The Pam Pack coach knows his teams will be up for a challenge at the meet.
“We know that West Carteret is the toughest competition (on the boys side),” Blank said. “We hear that White Oak is pretty tough. I think South Central girls will win the conference, however, the White Oak girls and the Havelock girls are really strong this year, too.”
The regional meet will be held at Nash Central High School, and the state meet will be held at North Carolina A&T.