Winston-Salem – Murphy was the only Cherokee County school with athletes in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Indoor Track State Championship, which was held Friday and Saturday.
The 1A and 2A state championship events were held Saturday, when Murphy brought home two state championships. Jordan Oliver won the state championship in wheelchair shot put and wheelchair 55-meter dash. Oliver set a new career personal record in the 55m dash with her time of 26.02 seconds.
Gabby Lloyd earned 10th place in shot put, while Corrine Cotton earned 12th place in the 500-meter dash.
“I am proud of all three girls in how they represented Murphy High School,” Bulldogs indoor track coach Kristie Oliver said. “Of the three, Jordan has seen the state championship scene the most and knew what to expect. Of course, her events are similar, yet different than the others. While she most of the time does not compete against other athletes, she has to compete against a standard time and distance set by the NCHSAA.”
Kristie Oliver said this was Lloyd’s second trip to the state championship.
“Gabby saw more competitors this meet than last year’s indoor state event. Gabby was very close to being in the top nine. Where throws were just inches from seventh place,” Kristie Oliver said.
“Gabby also missed a few meets at the beginning of indoor due to a shoulder injury so to qualify and make it to state was an accomplishment in itself.”
This was Cotton’s first trip to the state championship, Kristie Oliver said.
“I’ve watched her for two seasons now grow as a runner. Last year, she was so close to qualifying and this year, she qualified for state on the first meet of the season. She’s been a dominant force in the 500m all season,” Kristie Oliver said.
“She came into the state event battling a cold, which I believe that really affected her performance. I am so proud of how hard she has worked all season, and even more proud that she battled through and finished her event at state.”
Kristie Oliver added, “I have no doubt we will see Gabby and Corrine back at the indoor state championships next February. As for Jordan, I am extremely proud of her (as her mother and coach) and all she has put forth for the Murphy track team over the last four years. She finished her indoor track career on top.”
Kristie Oliver said her team worked hard this season, and each athletic showed improvement.
“Both coach Ward and myself threw a lot at these athletes such as having distance runners run sprint relays. They all excelled and so many came close to qualifying for state,” Kristie Oliver said.
“I’m excited to see each of them continue to grow during the spring season and see how many are in Greensboro in May for the outdoor state championship.”
On Jan. 31, local teams competed in the Smoky Mountain Conference Indoor Track Championship, with a trip to the state championship on the line. The meet was held at Swain County High School.
Murphy sent three athletes to the state championship after their performance at the conference championship. Jordan Oliver, who competed in wheelchair shot put and wheelchair 55m dash; Lloyd, who competed in shot put; and Cotton, who competed in the 500m dash.
At the conference championship, the Murphy girls team tied for third place with Robbinsville at 43 points overall.
Oliver got first place in wheelchair shot put and wheelchair 55m dash. Her 55m dash time earned her the new conference record. Lloyd got third place in shot put.
Cotton got first place in the 500m dash. Her time set the new conference record.
Also on the girls team, Rylee Tabor got seventh place in the 55m dash and fifth place in the 300-meter run. Alyssa Trantham got sixth place in the 300m run. Anna Leatherwood got seventh place in the 300m run and fourth place in the 1,600-meter run.
The Murphy boys team got third place overall with 37 points. Two boys got second place in their events.
Camden Breazeale for 55m hurdles and Jake Miller for the 3,200-meter run. Miller also got third place in the 1,600m run.
Murphy had three boys in the 55m dash, with Jerry Bui getting seventh place, Jonathan Lamb getting ninth and Kamdyn Koop getting 10th. Bui also got third place in the 55m hurdles.
Koop got fourth place in the 300m dash, while Michael Brown got fifth place. Caeden Chastain got fifth place in shot put.
The Andrews girls team finished fifth overall with 16 points.
Allie Gibson and Beth Shook competed in the 55m dash. Gibson got first and Shook placed fourth. Madison Queen competed in shot put and earned eighth place.
The Andrews boys team finished seventh overall with four points. Isaac Patrick, the sole boys competitor from the Wildcats, placed fifth in the 55m dash.
The Tri-County Early College indoor track team, which only had a boys team compete in the conference championship, finished fifth overall with 18 points.
Sebastian Clevez got sixth place in the 55m dash and third place in the 500m dash. Gabriel Baerreis got eleventh place in the 55m dash and sixth place in the 300m dash. Nathan Downs earned eighth place in the 55m dash and fourth place in the 1,000-meter run.
With the conclusion of the indoor track season, outdoor track and field is set to begin practice this week.