Corbin's headed to Lees-McRae, Forsyth to ASU
By Steve Behr

sports@wataugademocrat.com

Throughout the Randy McDonough era, Watauga’s track and field program has sent several athletes to compete at colleges all over the Southeast. He’s also sent a few to programs in Watauga’s own backyard.

Two of them include Candace Corbin and Brooks Forsyth, who will continue their respective careers in the High County. Corbin signed with Lees-McRae and Forsyth will stay in Boone to compete at Appalachian State.

Corbin is the latest Watauga girls’ pole vaulter to compete collegiately. Lees-McRae, a Division II institution in Banner Elk, relied on balance to win the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference, which is now known as Conference Carolinas.

Corbin should be able to compete on the varsity immediately. There were no pole vaulters on the roster on the team’s Web site, but versitile Erin Tyler finished second in the CVAC meet, which the Bobcats won.

“They started with a lot of distance runners and have added other positions gradually,” McDonough said.

Corbin finished third in the state 4-A Western Regional behind teammates Brooke Miller and Taylor Cook. She vaulted a 9-6 in the regional, which was at Jack Groce Stadium, and a 9-0 in the state meet in Greensboro.

She has two former prep teammates who compete on the college level. Sallie Gurganus pole vaults for South Carolina and Julie Ward does the same at Appalachian State.

The fact that Watauga has turned into a pole vaulting power, especially on the girls’ side, isn’t lost on McDonough. He gives the credit to vaulter coach Daniel Isaacs.

“He’s patient, but he’s hard on them,” McDonough said. “He expects a lot from them and he pushes them pretty hard, but he sticks with them and at the same time.”

Forsyth is the latest distance runner to advance to the college level. He joins his close friend and teammate, Luke Nelson, who is headed to the College of Charleston.

Forsyth finished 10th in the 1,600-meter run during the state meet, but McDonough added that the pace of that race was completely wrong for Forsyth. Instead of a fast pace, which Forsyth thrives in, the race was slower and threw the Watauga runner off.

“He was disappointed because he knows he can do better,” McDonough said. “The pace just killed him. He had to go out fast and they did not go out fast and he ended up in no-man’s land.”

Forsyth also ran cross counry for the Pioneers. He joins a Southern Conference powerhouse in Appalachian State, which has won men’s cross country championships nine times, including 2005. Appalachian State’s outdoor team has won SoCon championships 15 times, including a five-year run going from 2000-05.