By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
The Washington girls track and field team entered Thursday’s meet against West Craven with thoughts of payback and, by the end of the day, their minds were at ease.
After losing to the Eagles by 20 points in the Pam Pack’s previous meet, Washington bounced back to take a 60-45 victory.
Jessica Rogers led the charge as she earned two of the Pam Pack’s seven first-place finishes. The Washington track star nailed first place in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs, as well as a third-place finish in the triple jump.
Horton said Rogers’ attitude is just as important to the team as her physical gifts.
Horton also praised the efforts of freshman Jena Ross, who ran a personal-best four minutes, two seconds in the 800-meter run to take first.
Along with Ross and Rogers, Vantaisha Palmer, Samantha Smith, Sharita Grice and the 3,200-meter relay team walked away with wins over West Craven.
Palmer ran a 58.31 to take first in the 300-meter hurdles, while Smith’s time of 20.8 in the 100-meter hurdles was tops. Grice nailed first in the shot put with a throw of 32-8, while the 3,200-meter relay team (Ross, Emily Rowe, Bryana Cauthen and Ashley Ross) took first with a time of 15:02.
Horton said she was pleased with her team’s performance.
The boys’ team also brought intensity to the meet on Thursday as the Pam Pack topped West Craven 78-53. The Pam Pack took home nine first-place finishes, with Travis Daniels and Dujuan Murray grabbing two apiece.
Daniels took first in the long jump as well as the triple jump, while Murray went the distance in the shot put and discus, where he threw a personal-best 144-7.
The boys’ track and field coach, Jon Blank, was proud of his team.
Blank said the key to his team’s success is in its numbers.
Blank also praised the efforts of Murray.
Also picking up wins were Jamont Jones, Leonard Corey, Melvin Spruill, Allen Hodges and the 4×800 relay team.
Jones sprinted to first in the 200-meter dash, Corey took first in the 800-meter run, Spruill was tops in the 400-meter dash, Hodges paced the 1,600-meter run and Casey O’Brien, Hodges, Corey and Spruill teamed up to win the relay.
The Pack’s next meet will be Thursday in New Bern at the Coastal Conference meet.
Blank, like Horton, wants to see his team continue to show its desire.