CHEROKEE, WNC – The track teams competed in the 1A Western Regional Championships this past Saturday. Cherokee hosted the regional event with over 15 schools represented. For Swain it was a chance for individuals to advance to this week’s State 1A Championship Meet. A pair of Swain athletes took top honors at the Regional Championships and put themselves in the picture for a state title.
Senior Morgan Lowe won the high jump. Lowe had the best day of what has been an illustrious career. Competing against the defending State 1A Champion Stephanie Johnson of Andrews Lowe cleared her personal best of 5’4”. In doing so Lowe broke the school record of 5’3” and scored a major win over the defending champion. Now Lowe will set her sites on doing the same at the State Championships this Saturday.
Junior Greg Tisho took the other top prize of the day. Tisho took first place in the shot put. His toss covered 43’6”, and bested second place by two inches. Tisho also qualified in the 400-meter run, by finishing fourth. Joining Tisho in qualifying was Austin Curtice in the 300-meter hurdles with a fourth place finish.
The other men’s qualifiers were the 4×800 and 4×400 relay teams. Tyler Bowman, Austin Curtice, Alex Cook, and Tyler Wike made up the 4×800 team who finished fourth. The 4×400 team was made up of Colby Hyatt, Cody Ellis, Lee Pattillo, and Greg Tisho.
On the women’s side Stevie Sutton turned in an impressive second place finish in the shot put to qualify. Joining Lowe and Sutton at state will be Maddie Wike in the pole vault, Blair Allman in 800-meter run, and the 4×100 relay team of Lydia Sale, Alyssa Robinson, Janea Bentivogili, Brittany Shuler, and Mary Shell as an alternate.
The State 1A Championship Meet will be held Saturday at NC A&T in Greensboro.