Robbinsville set to make 1A/2A splash
*State indoor track preview
A nice balance of newcomers and veterans will make the trek to Winston-Salem on Saturday for the 1A/2A state indoor track championship meet.
Seniors Delaney Brooms and Zoie Shuler will return to the JDL Fast Track for their final crack at state titles; classmate Donovin Hall will join the fray in his debut at the facility.
Rounding out the quartet is junior Cooper Adams, who has emerged as a prime competitor during the chilly season.
Brooms is back for her second try at a championship in pole vault; last year, the versatile athlete placed third after clearing an even 8 feet in the event.
Plenty has already been written about Shuler; one could argue she is the most successful athlete in Robbinsville history. Between outdoor and indoor track, a hefty eight gold medals already hang in her home. Most recently, she leapt 39’ 2” in the triple jump at Jan. 31’s conference-title meet to set a new standard in the record books – and place in the top 20, nationwide. She also reset the marks in the high (5’ 4”) and long (17’ 6 ½”).
“Zoie feeds off competition,” Farr noted.
Hall finished second in the shot put at Jan. 31’s meet – posting a distance of 41’ 11” – and Adams cemented his claim as the standard for long jump in the conference, measuring 19’ 10 ½” on his best attempt.
“He’s only been doing this for a few weeks, since he played football,” Farr said of Adams. “I’m really pleased with that.”
Also at the conference meet, Kasen Buchanan placed third in the long jump (16’ 6 ½”) and fourth in the triple (34’ 10”). Senior Zeb Stewart concluded his indoor career with Robbinsville in the 1,000-meter run, taking fifth with a time of 3:20.87.
“I’m really proud of all the kids,” said Farr.
Indoor track continues to grow as a official conference sport in North Carolina and interest draws closer to Graham County each day. Polk County (Columbus) is constructing an indoor facility at its equestrian center.
“This sport is a blessing for those that run outdoor, because you have an extra 3 ½ months practice before outdoor starts,” Farr concluded.