Taylor Cook captures

state pole vault title
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

GREENSBORO — Taylor Cook made sure Watauga’s stranglehold on girls’ pole vaulting was as strong as ever.

Cook, who is a junior, kept up Watauga’s tradition in the event by winning the state 4-A championship in pole vaulting Saturday at Irwin Belk Track at North Carolina A&T’s Aggie Stadium. Cook vaulted 11-feet even, which put her in a tie with Karen Kazaglis of Green Hope, but Cook had fewer misses, which gave her the championship.

Watauga coach Randy McDonough said Cook was somewhat nervous during the indoor finals, but showed confidence Saturday.

“I’m very proud of her,” McDonough said. “She came into the indoor meet as the favorite and didn’t have a good day. This time, she was a lot more relaxed. She missed her first vault, but didn’t panic and didn’t miss again until both the girls were at 11-6.”

Watauga has turned into a pole vault dynasty, particularly in the girls division. The Pioneers have won four out of the last five pole vault championships.

McDonough gave credit to pole vault coach Daniel Isaacs.

“We’ve sort of moved from distance running to the pole vault,” McDonough said. “Daniel Isaacs has done a super job with the vaulters. I can’t say enough about him.”

Watauga’s other participants set some personal bests in times, but still did not score any team points. Jay Weaver set a personal best in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:34.67, but settled for 14th place.

The runner that won the race, Dylan Farris of East Forsyth, was named the meet’s Most Valuable Player. He won the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:17.96, and also won the 800-meter run.

Weaver teamed with Justin Martin, Ben Vollmer and Jordan Trivette to set a personal best time of 8:28.34 in the 3,200-meter relay, but also finished 14th. Vollmer was 13th in the 3,200-meter run with a 10:24.63.

Matt Salzano settled for 10th in the shot put with a toss of 46-feet, 2 1/2 -inches, and 15th in the discus with a throw of 118-2.

“We didn’t have the day we had hoped, but we made a lot of improvements and that’s something to build on,” McDonough said.

Boys tennis
CHARLOTTE — Watauga’s doubles team of Graham Battle and Steve Lake finished third in the state 4-A Western Regional held at Ardrey Kell Saturday.

The two will play in the state individual playoffs.

Prep baseball: E. Forsyth 7, Byrd 3
KERNERSVILLE — East Forsyth beat Fayetteville Douglas Byrd 7-3 Friday in the fist round of the state 4-A baseball playoffs.

Luke Dunlap, Ryan Dull and Travis Starbuck all hit home runs for East Fosyth (20-5), which hosts Watauga in the second round of the playoffs Tuesday.