PEARISBURG — A pair of local seniors will put a bow on their high school athletic careers this weekend at James Madison University.
Highland’s Jazmine Douglas qualified for the state meet in the 200-meter dash with a fourth-place finish, and Bath County’s Natalie White, who had already met the state standards in both the 800 and 3,200 meters, was second in the 3,200 at the Class 1, Region C championships here last Wednesday.
White ran a 12:38.13 in the two-mile and just missed a region championship, losing to George Wythe’s Emma Faulkner.
“Natalie likes to lead, she doesn’t have enough kick sometimes,” said Bath coach Mark Weiss. “So, we were going to run off her shoulder until about a half lap left.”
But on the seventh lap with Faulkner cramping, the Charger made her move and had a 40-meter lead with 400 meters left.
“The girl worked out that cramp, caught her and beat her,” Weiss said. “It’s one of the craziest things I’ve seen. If you would have asked, I would have bet the pink slip on my house and I would be without a home right now. Natalie was disappointed, but she ran a good race.”
It was a fast start that kept Douglas’ season alive.
The Ram ran a personal best 200 time of 28.75, good for the fourth and final state spot.
“She had a fantastic start,” said Colby Jackson, Highland’s head coach. “We drill block starts over and over and over. It’s the best start I’ve ever seen her get.”
Douglas made the state meet as a freshman two years ago and just missed as a sophomore. She reclassified as a senior for this year.
“We were shocked,” he continued. “The 200 is not her main race. The 100 had always kind of been her bread and butter. But she’s run that 200 better and better every race this year and she ended up peaking at it at the right time. She was able to squeak in and get another shot at competing at the state meet.”
Douglas added a sixth-place finish in the 100 and scored all eight of Highland’s team points.
The Rams’ 4×400 boys’ team placed fifth, missing a state berth by one spot, and the 4×100 team finished sixth.
Patton Hull, John Wagner, Zach Armstrong and Eli Moore ran both relays.
“I thought the 4×400 was the best shot at getting those boys in (to the state meet),” Jackson said. “It was close. It came down to us and Fort Chiswell for that fourth place. It was literally a foot — 12 inches from us getting that. They shaved off nine seconds. The exact same four boys in the exact same order shaved off nine seconds from one week prior. I couldn’t ask anymore from them. It just didn’t work out. The same kids are back next year. I’m pretty pumped for what’s to come.”
The Highland 4×100 girls’ team, who won the Pioneer District title the previous week, wasn’t able to run in the regional meet.
“It was kind of a heartbreaker,” Jackson said. “We didn’t have Annah Moyers to help run that 4×100. I’m positive they would have qualified for the state.”
Bath County senior Abbey Phillips finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles, just missing a state spot.
“Abbey was disappointed,” Weiss said. “She knew she had to finish fourth and she finished fifth. But she did a great job. She doubled up sports, running track and playing tennis.”
The Chargers’ 4×100-meter relay team of Phillips, Zy Coleman, Samantha Horne and Laci Ryder ran a season-best time and finished sixth.
White will only run the 800 meters at the state meet. The 3,200, scheduled for Saturday morning, conflicts with graduation at BCHS. She will jump in the car and head to Harrisonburg for the 800, slated for a 3:20 p.m. start.
“Natalie wants to graduate with her classmates,” Weiss said about his senior. “I respect that decision. She will come down here and run the 800. Our goal is for her to get an all-state spot.”
Douglas’ 200-meter semifinals will be Friday at 3:15 p.m.
“It’s a huge deal for us,” said Jackson. “We were pumped to see her get into that state meet.”
Last Wednesday’s Summary
Girls’ team scores
• 1. Auburn, 189; 2. George Wythe, 87; 3. Giles, 80; 4. Narrows, 64; T5. Galax, 52; T5. Grayson County, 52; 7. Eastern Montgomery, 42; 8. Fort Chiswell, 21; 9. Parry McCluer, 17; 10. Bath County, 15; 11. Highland, 8; 12. Bland County, 6; 13. Craig County, 4
Area girls’ individual results
• 100-meter dash: 6. Jazmine Douglas (H), 13.67; 11. Colleen Adams (H), 14.35
• 200-meter dash: 4. Jazmine Douglas (H), 28.75; 12. Laci Ryder (BC), 31.18
• 3,200-meter run: 2. Natalie White (BC), 12:38.13
• 100-meter hurdles: 5. Abbey Phillips (BC), 19.62
• 4×100-meter relay: 6. BCHS (Abbey Phillips, Zy Coleman, Samantha Horne, Laci Ryder), 58.11
• Long jump: 11. Zalea Good (H), 13-5¾
• HHS girls’ individual points: Jazmine Douglas 8
• BCHS girls’ individual points: Natalie White 8, Abbey Phillips 4, Laci Ryder ¾, Kenley Smith ¾, Zy Coleman ¾, Samantha Horne ¾
Boys’ team scores
• 1. Auburn, 178; 2. Narrows, 104; 3. Parry McCluer, 80; 4. Giles, 77; 5. Fort Chiswell, 61; 6. George Wythe, 53; 7. Eastern Montgomery, 39; 8. Galax, 14; 9. Grayson County, 10; 10. Craig County, 8; 11. Highland, 7; 12. Bland County, 5
Area boys’ individual results
• 4×100-meter relay: 6. HHS (Patton Hull, John Wagner, Zach Armstrong, Eli Moore), 48.62
• 4×400-meter relay: 5. HHS (Eli Moore, John Wagner, Patton Hull, Zach Armstrong), 3:52.06
• Long jump: 9. Eli Moore (H), 19-2½
• Shot put: 14. Cash Chambers (H), 32-4¾
• HHS boys’ individual points: Eli Moore 1¾, Patton Hull 1¾, Zach Armstrong 1¾, John Wagner 1¾