By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
Getting first-place finishes from six different individuals, the Washington Pam Pack track team ran past Havelock and White Oak.
The Pack boys finished with 79 points at Wednesday’s home meet. Havelock was second (65) and White Oak was third (30).
While Pam Pack head coach Jon Blank was happy about the win, he said his team still has work to do.
“We’re not quite where we want to be,” Blank said. “We’ve achieved some success this year, but we can’t be satisfied with where we’ve been. We’ve won against some good teams, but we really have to pull some things together if we want to compete for a championship.”
The Pack did well all over the field on Wednesday. Kevin Chapman won the shot put event with a heave of 41 feet, 4 inches.
Washington also did well in the jumping events. William Ellegor took the long jump (18-7 1/2), Thomas Hall won the triple jump (35-9) and Jamel Moore finished on top in the high jump (5-2).
Washington was just as solid on the track. Josh Brown took top honors in the 110 high hurdles (16.29 seconds) and Raheem Patterson sprinted across the finish line first in the 200-meter dash (23.72).
Ellegor, Patterson, Brown and Ronnie Woolard also took first in the 400-meter relay (46.23).
Blank is expecting that kind of balance each time out.
“I have high expectations for Raheem Patterson, William Ellegor, Raphael Gibbs, Amiar Johnson, Forrest Latham, Marquin Hill and Dylan Mizzelle,” Blank said.
A handful of those athletes enjoyed success last year, but Blank said this year’s team has to focus on this year.
“I really feel like we have a new team this year,” Blank said. “We have a good core group of returning kids, but we have so many new kids that they really don’t understand the success that we had last year. We hope that our leaders will lead them in a positive direction.
“We have to keep getting better every time out. We have to keep having success on a regular basis. Everybody has to understand that they have a role on the team. If we can improve every time out, I feel like we have a promising season ahead of us.”
Washington’s girls team is spread thin this year with just 10 on the squad. The Pack girls took third Wednesday with 24 points. White Oak won the event (83) and Havelock took second (65).
The 400-relay foursome of Datisha Redmond, Alexus Spencer, Janell Griffin and Yasmine Horton claimed the team’s lone first-place finish. The squad finished in 54.74 seconds.
Griffin took runner-up in the long jump (14-1), 100 hurdles (17.21) and 300 hurdles (55.22).
Blank is confident his girls team can do some big things this year.
“Despite the low numbers, a lot returned from last year,” Blank said. “We have a great core group; we just have to get more girls out.
“I’m really expecting Haley Hiatt to step up. Janell Griffin, Alexus Spencer, Yasmine Horton, Datisha Redmond are all returners and I have high expectations for them.”
Shelby Nall adds veteran experience to the distance events.
“Shelby is a great kid,” Blank said. “Shelby is the type of kid that every coach wants to have on their team.”
The Pack returns to action Wednesday at D.H. Conley. Washington then joins Southside for a meet at Northside next Thursday.