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Hurricanes win meet for Wolbert
JACKSONVILLE - As the Pamlico County track team battled for the Class 1-A regional title on Saturday, head coach Robert Wolbert was tending to his mother's care as she battled for her life.
Wolbert's mother did not win her fight. But, in honor of their coach, the athletes on the Pamlico track team did accomplish their goal - winning their third-straight regional title.
"I talked to a few kids who were at the meet, and they were saying, ‘We're going to win this for you,'" Wolbert said.
Wolbert handed over duties to assistant coach Brandon Squires and called for updates throughout the day.
"I was very appreciative of coach Squires for taking over," Wolbert said. "And I was very appreciative of the kids. That's something to say for the seniors to get three consecutive regional championships."
The Hurricanes crowned three individual champions, and also earned a victory in the 4x100 relay.
Leading the way, sophomore Damien Norman qualified for the state meet in two individual events. Norman won the triple jump, recording a distance of 42-0 1/2 and also placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdles, finishing with a time of 46.8 seconds.
The top-four individual finishers in each event qualified for Saturday's 1-A state meet in Greensboro.
Along with Norman, Kevin DeOlivera and Fraqwan Jones also earned regional titles in the meet. DeOlivera won the pole vault, clearing 11-0, and Jones placed first in the long jump with a leap of 21-6.
"We've never scored any points at the state meet in the pole vault," Wolbert said. "Looking ahead, I don't see any reason Kevin can't get us some points."
The Hurricanes earned major points in both the pole vault and long jump events. Ravon Sawyer and Logan Morris took second and third place in the pole vault, respectively, while James Bell finished second in the long jump (21-6) and Antwan Tutt followed in fourth (20-9).
Tutt also qualified for the state meet in the high jump, placing fourth by clearing 5-10.
Bell qualified in three individual events for the Hurricanes. The senior finished second in both the triple jump (42-0) and the 110 hurdles (16.0).
Choncey Sawyer and Tyler Egan also earned their tickets to the state meet. Saywer placed fourth in the shot put (43-10), while Egan finished third in the discus (136-8 1/2).
The Pamlico 4x100 team earned a win with a time of 43.3. Meanwhile the 4x400 team placed third with a time of 3:42.
Jones Senior's Robert Williams advanced to the state meet in the long jump after finishing third place in the regional with a leap of 20-10.
-- Pamlico girls move on to state
The Pamlico girls team track team placed second in the regional meet.
Junior Courtney Jones led the Hurricanes. Jones finished second in both the 100 (12.7) and the 200 (26.7), while also contributing to the winning 4x100 (50.8) and 4x200 (1:50.2) relay teams.
"Courtney Jones has been carrying this team," Pamlico assistant track coach Bernard White said. "She's being doing it all year for us."
The Hurricanes were also led by senior Quiesha Miller and freshman Kaylah Blount.
Miller won the shot put (34-7) and placed second in the discus (97-0) to qualify for the state meet in both events. Meanwhile, Blount earned a victory in the high jump (4-10) and finished third in the long jump (14-5).
"She did better than expected," White said of Blount. "She cleared 4-10, which she had never done. She did what she was supposed to do."
For their efforts, Jones, Miller and Blount were named the Pamlico Most Valuable Players Saturday. White said he is hoping for all of them to do big things on Saturday.
"I'm hoping that Courtney, Quiesha, and Kayla get in the finals," he said. "I'm hoping that Courtney finishes in the top-three - if not wins - the 100 and 200."
Jones Senior's Jennifer Bruinton also qualified for the state meet, after finishing third in the 300 hurdles with a time of 50.8.
Jess Huffman can be reached at (252) 635-5669 or at jhuffman@freedomenc.com.
