Greensboro – Andrews senior Kaylin Ellis has had an excellent two weeks to wrap up her high school athletic career.
At the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A West Regional Championships on May 13, Ellis won the 100-meter hurdles in a school-record time of 16.36 seconds. A week later, she got on the podium at the 1A state championships, placing third in a time of 16.59.
“The past three years I’ve only scored sixth in state,” Ellis said. “So it’s really important to me that I got on the podium for my senior year.”
Ellis wasn’t sure the Andrews school record was in reach until a week before the regional championships. As one of the shorter competitors in the hurdles races, she usually takes four steps in between each hurdle compared to most athlete’s three. It didn’t matter, as Ellis ended her high school career a school record holder and a state championship medalist.
“I tried to tell my dad that there’s no way I could beat the people that are three-stepping,” Ellis said. “But he said
well if your four steps are faster than their three steps then you can. And then I beat them.”
Of the 13 athletes who competed at Saturday’s state championship, 12 had top-eight finishes, with five including Ellis making the podium. Andrews junior Isaac Weaver joined Ellis as the other Wildcat to make the podium, placing fourth in the boys long jump (21 feet, 2.5 inches).
Murphy sophomore Jordan Oliver took first in the girls 100-meter wheelchair dash (41.07), while also taking second in the wheelchair shot put (9’6.5”) and discus (14’3”). In their final high school competition, Juan Allen took third in the 110-meter hurdles (16.37), while Hunter Laney tied for fourth in the high jump (6’2”).