WHS heads

to state
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

The number of athletes is low, but expectations are high for Watauga’s indoor track team at the state 4-A finals.

The meet, which begins Saturday at 4 p.m., in Chapel Hill, will have four Pioneers trying to win state championships. The odds are good for pole vaulter Taylor Cook that she could bring a title back to Boone.

Cook is ranked first in the state in the event. She has cleared 10-feet, 8-inches, which is second in school history to Sallie Gurganus, who won state championships in indoor and outdoor pole vaulting.

Casey Jones, a freshman, qualified in the 55-meter hurdles and is ranked fourth overall. Jones faces plenty of competition, particularly from athletes from Charlotte schools, including Ashley Bethune from Charlotte Harding. Her time of 8.08 seconds is the fourth fastest in North Carolina history.

“The pole vault is our best shot,” indoor track coach Daniel Isaacs said. “The girls’ 55 meter hurdles is pretty strong in our state. There is one who is one of the top five in the country, so I don’t see that happening. But everybody’s got a shot at scoring, so that’s not bad.”

On the boys’ side, Matthew Salzano has tossed the shot put 45-11 and is fifth ranked going into Saturday’s meet. Ben Vollmer is ranked 19th in the 3,200-meter run, and has posted a time of 10:12.41.

“The main goal is to get everyone to score at least a point,” Isaacs said. “Obviously, in the pole vault, we’re expecting Taylor to win. Casey is a freshman, but if she can score and possibly even medal, that would be a big accomplishment. Matt Salzano has a shot at medaling, as well.”

Isaacs feels that New Bern is a favorite to win the boys’ meet, while the girls’ meet could be won by Harding.
“Both of those schools can get kids out and keep them out during the winter,” Isaacs said.