2A state track preview-Spencer, Sommers looking to go out on top

Published 7:35 pm Wednesday, June 23, 2021

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Washington High School senior Kimaja Spencer’s high school track career will end in the place where it took off. She plans on continued success on the same track in the future.

Spencer caused college coaches to look a little closer when she finished the 400 meters in 58.25 seconds as a freshman at the 2A state meet on North Carolina A&T’s track.

Fast forward to the COVID-19 delayed 2021 season, where Spencer has committed to the Aggies to continue her career in college.

Saturday on that same track will be her final high school race as her future beckons. Spencer won the East regional last weekend with a 58.73 finish and also qualified for the 200 meters at state with a 26.84 race, good enough for second place.

“It shows what kind of athlete A&T is getting,” coach Perry Owens said. “She only started running the 200 earlier this month and now she’s running it at state. She has a great chance to finish strong.”

Fellow senior Ethan Sommers will wrap up his high school running days in the 3200 meters. He finished second in the regional with a time of 11:13.96.

Sommers joined the Pam Pack from Southside for his senior year and finished 19th in the state cross country meet this winter.

“Ethan is a strong tactical runner who has a shot Saturday,” Owens said.

“He’s had a good season and wants to show well in his last race.”

Junior William Reid will represent WHS in two events-the 110 and 300 meter hurdles, following in the footsteps of his brother Michael, who was a Pam Pack standout and now runs the hurdles at Wingate.

“William has stepped out of his brother’s shadow and is a legit hurdler in his own right,” Owens said. “He works hard on his own and has made some good adjustments to his form.”

Reid cleared the 110 hurdles in 15.98 to win the regional and finished third in the 300 meter version in 43.98 seconds.

“I’m really excited to compete in my first state tournament,” Reid said. “I know most of the other guys from football or from other track meets. I’m still adjusting some small things with my form, but I’ll be ready to go Saturday.”

Owens said the three have several things in common despite being in much different events.

“They are all elite students and they can learn and adapt on the track just like they did in the classroom,” he explained. “They know little things make a big difference at this level and they’ve put themselves in position to do well.”