Against the wind

Adams, Shuler retain ‘Most Outstanding’ status

Brock Adams and Zoie Shuler were named the respective Male and Female Most Outstanding athletes of the 2023 Smoky Mountain Conference championship meet, which was held May 3 at Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cherokee – Between just two Robbinsville High athletes, five total Most Outstanding Athlete of the Smoky Mountain Conference Track & Field Championship Meet distinctions exist.

There was really no need to have a coaches poll at the conclusion of May 3’s meet: their results spoke for themselves.

Brock Adams repeated as the Most Outstanding Male Athlete for the second-consecutive year, thanks to victories in both the 110 (15.48 seconds)

and 300-meter (41.57) hurdles. He also finished third in the high jump (5 feet, 10 inches) and joined the 4x200 relay contingent that placed second, with a time of 1:35.24.

Meanwhile, Shuler did what Shuler does: leapt her way to success. Her mark of 16 feet, 10 inches in the long jump conquered the field; while she set a new championship-meet standard in the triple jump (39 feet, 7 ¾ inches). She also attained first place in both the 100 (13.15) and 200-meter (26.76) hurdles.

Another combined honor for the duo? Seven state titles; Adams has three in the hurdles (two in the 110-meter competition), while Shuler has brought home four gold medals, divided evenly between indoor and outdoor track.

“I didn’t do what I can do in high jump, but in the 110 hurdles I ran consistent and I actually got a little faster in the 300 hurdles,” Adams noted of his May 3 performances. “We might have finished second in the 4x200 relay, but our handoffs were the best they’ve been all year. It was a great day.”

“I was ready to compete, but I didn’t feel as confident because of the wind,” Shuler added.

Now, both look ahead to the 1A Western Regional Meet, which will be held Friday at Draughn High School in Valdese. Robbinsville has several athletes who have qualified for the final stop on the road to the state competition, set for May 20 at N.C. A&T University in Greensboro.

“I feel really good,” said Adams of his chances in the hurdles. “I try not to look at other people’s times; I want to focus on what I can control, which is making myself better. The times that you run at these meets is not the same at what you see on the big stage at state, but Austin Jenkins from Swain County has stayed really close to me in the hurdles this year. It really made me up my game and put in more work to win what I want to win.

“As far as high jump, I have yet to jump my best. I have to get my steps and my rhythm down; I never get to fully get going, because I’m always having to leave high jump and go run hurdles. But at state, they let you fully jump before you go run. I’m hoping I can get it all put together.”

“I feel pretty confident going into regionals and state this year,” Shuler explained. “My jumps have been pretty consistent for the most part and if I just handle my business, I should come back with two more state championships.”

Other qualifiers

All told, Robbinsville will send 18 to the 1A Western Regional Meet.

The following Knights have punched their ticket to the regional finals:

* Brock Adams: Boys high jump, 110- and 300-meter hurdles, 4x200 relay;

* Cooper Adams: Boys long jump, 4x200, 4x100 relays, 400-meter dash;

* Cuttler Adams: Boys long jump, 100-meter dash, 4x200, 4x100 relays;

* Tillman Adams: Boys pole vault;

* Albert Avella: Boys 4x800 relay;

* Claire Barlow: Girls long jump, triple jump;

* William Cable: Boys 4x800 relay, 1,600-meter, 800-meter runs;

* Caleb Draper: Boys long jump, triple jump;

* Donovin Hall: Boys shot put;