WHS runners shine at conference meet

Published 4:17 pm Thursday, May 5, 2022

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Sophomore Hailey Broadwell dominated the distance events at Wednesday’s Eastern Plains Conference track and field meet at Greene Central High School in Snow Hill.

Broadwell won girls runner of the year recognition and was named the co-overall female track athlete of the year after winning the 1600 meter run (6:34.89) and the 3200 (16.08.83)

She finished second in the 800 (2:53.53) and anchored the first place 4 x800 relay team with Jessica Conner, Reagan Fisher and Jazmine Granados.

“Hailey did a tremendous job performing well in four events,” coach Perry Owens said. “All credit goes to Dawn Landen, her distance coach, who also coaches her in cross-country. Hailey is now a seven-time conference champion in two different conferences in just two years. Coach Landen has done a great job with her along with all the distance runners and she works hard on her own.”

The girls team finished third behind Farmville Central, while the boys were fourth behind North Pitt.

Fisher finished second in the 1600 (6:53.76), while freshmen Sary Acosta (16:4.02) and Conner (16:47.56) finished second and third behind Broadwell to complete a Pam Pack sweep of the event.

Alyza Grissom and senior Jewell Powell tied for second in the high jump (4-0), while sophomore Ornisha Norman took third in the triple-jump (’25-11).

Freshman Braden Smithwick finished in a three way tie for boys runner of the year after winning the 1600 (5:04.34) and the 3200 (12:38.37). He was also part of the second place 4 x800 relay with Braxton Woolard, Luke Brown and Williams Figuero (9.19.36)

Senior William Reid won his third conference title in the 110 hurdles (16.31) and finished second in the 300 hurdles (43.81)

Junior Christian Norman was third in the 100 (11.56) and 200 meters (23.56).

“Both squads are super-young, so I’m very pleased with their effort and results,” Owens said. “Jewell (Powell) and William (Reid) are the only seniors, so the future is bright.”