Shuler, Lady Knights make impact at state meet
Winston-Salem – Zoie Shuler leapt into the record books Friday.
After leaving Greensboro with a pair of silver medals in both the long and triple jumps at the 1A state outdoor track meet June 25, the sophomore Lady Knight continued to refine her craft and in her state indoor-track debut, posted a distance of 17 feet, 7 ½ inches – 2 ½ feet better that Cummings’ Tamesia Pinnix – to win not only her first state championship, but Robbinsville’s first female indoor title as well.
“My teammates are my biggest supporters,” Shuler said. “Whether I am running or jumping, they all are right by my side, pumping me up, and I’m so thankful for them.”
A senior, Pinnix recorded a leap of 37 feet, 5 inches in the triple jump, which bested second-place Shuler by a mere 1 ½ feet. She also collaborated with sophomore Delaney Brooms, junior Kensley Phillips and senior Caylin Lunsford for a 1:54.01 effort in the 4x200 relay – good for third in the state – and placed fifth in the 55-meter dash, where she crossed the finish line in 7.45.
“We all have a very close bond,” Shuler said of her relay unit. “I think that helps with our success; we couldn’t think of better teammates.”
Lunsford also competed in both jumps, finishing ninth in the triple (32 feet, 8 ½ inches) and 12th in the long (15 feet, 5 inches).
But the work is not done. Outdoor track practice began Monday.
“We are in great shape, so we won’t have to take a step back,” Shuler said. “We can just keep adding and progressing our relay and handoffs. We are eyeing a state championship this spring.”
“We’ve had athletes improve tremendously during the indoor season, gain more experience competing and are in great shape for this outdoor season,” Robbinsville head coach Kaitlyn Carringer-Adams said. “However, we have about a month break before the first outdoor meet to let these athletes recuperate some from the winter season.
Collectively, Robbinsville’s quartet tallied 28 team points, placing fifth overall. Shuler’s individual work and the relay contingent each earned its own All-State accolade as well.
“On top of that, you also have to take into consideration how there wasn’t just 1A schools at state, but also 2A – and our girls not only held their own against them, but were extremely competitive, which earned them the podium amongst 1A/2A schools combined,” Carringer-Adams said.