NCHSAAIndoorTrack

The Robbinsville Black Knights capped a strong showing at Feb. 11's state indoor track meet by winning their third championship of the day in the 4x400 relay. From left are head coach Dale Farr, Austin Bohn, Nathan Frederick, Benjamin Frederick, Colton McCoy and assistant coach Jeremy Lunsford. Photos courtesy of Robbinsville Indoor Track and Field

The Robbinsville Black Knights capped a strong showing at Feb. 11's state indoor track meet by winning their third championship of the day in the 4x400 relay. From left are head coach Dale Farr, Austin Bohn, Nathan Frederick, Benjamin Frederick, Colton McCoy and assistant coach Jeremy Lunsford. Photos courtesy of Robbinsville Indoor Track and Field

Boys win 3 indoor track championships

Isiac Collins won the shot-put state title at Feb. 11's meet, recording a distance of 53' 11 ½.” Winston-Salem – The Robbinsville Black Knights indoor track and field team reported to the JDL Fast Track on Feb. 11 with purpose.
Robbinsville's Nathan Frederick leads a pack of runners during the 1,000-meter run at Jan. 28's meet in Mill Spring. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville's Nathan Frederick leads a pack of runners during the 1,000-meter run at Jan. 28's meet in Mill Spring. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Tryin' on a new championship

Mill Spring – Leave it to Robbinsville to carve out a new chapter in its long-standing lineage of sports dominance. For the first time in school history, the Black Knights were named Smoky Mountain Conference Indoor Track champions, besting Swain County 112-105 at Jan.
Chloe Adams, long jump. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Chloe Adams, long jump. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights trio compete at state meet

Winston-Salem – The final tune-up before outdoor track & field begins featured three of Robbinsville’s finest athletes.
Lady Knights senior Zoie Shuler takes flight during the finals of Saturday’s state indoor track triple jump  competition. Shuler claimed her 4th triple jump state championship on her final attempt. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights senior Zoie Shuler takes flight during the finals of Saturday’s state indoor track triple jump competition. Shuler claimed her 4th triple jump state championship on her final attempt. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Best for last

Zoie Shuler stands atop the awards podium at the conclusion of Saturday's 1A/2A state indoor track meet, proudly displaying the gold (triple jump) and silver (long jump) medals she collected during the competition. Winston-Salem – Zoie Shuler earned every bit of her ninth state championship.

Last hurrahs; 1st time greetings

*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.
Lady Knights junior Zoie Shuler leapt to a pair of 1A indoor-track state titles Saturday, collecting gold in both the long and triple jumps. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights junior Zoie Shuler leapt to a pair of 1A indoor-track state titles Saturday, collecting gold in both the long and triple jumps. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

By leaps and bounds

Winston-Salem – In the last 15 months, Zoie Shuler has won five individual state championships. Titles eluded her freshman season, but Shuler finally broke through the barrier with an indoor, long-jump crown attained in February 2022 and a pair of outdoor titles (long and triple jump) in May 2022.
Lady Knights junior Zoie Shuler takes flight during an indoor track meet at Swain County on Jan. 11. Shuler is the favorite to win at least two state championships for Robbinsville this weekend. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights junior Zoie Shuler takes flight during an indoor track meet at Swain County on Jan. 11. Shuler is the favorite to win at least two state championships for Robbinsville this weekend. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Golden opportunity

* State indoor track preview Cherokee – No matter what, state championships seemed to elude Zoie Shuler’s freshman season. It did not take long for the redheaded super-athlete to grow tired of the trend.
The Lady Knights’ collaboration of Katie-Lyn Gross, Kensley Phillips, Zoie Shuler and Delaney Brooms (from left) broke the 4x400, indoor-track school record Jan. 11 at Swain County, clocking in with a time of 4:34.98. The previous mark was 4:45.20, set by Ashlyn Waldroup, current coach Kaitlyn Carringer, Meghan Myler and Shawnda Martin during the 2015-16 season. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Lady Knights’ collaboration of Katie-Lyn Gross, Kensley Phillips, Zoie Shuler and Delaney Brooms (from left) broke the 4x400, indoor-track school record Jan. 11 at Swain County, clocking in with a time of 4:34.98. The previous mark was 4:45.20, set by Ashlyn Waldroup, current coach Kaitlyn Carringer, Meghan Myler and Shawnda Martin during the 2015-16 season. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

400 meters, 4 segments: 1 record obliterated

I’ve often called the 4x400 relay the “most exciting five minutes in sports.”  Maybe it is because after three-plus hours, the competition draws a track meet to a close. Maybe it is because it comes after the single-longest track event of the day: the 2-mile run.
Members of the 2022-23 Robbinsville High School indoor track team. All names are listed from left. Front row: Tia Hall, Naomi Taylor, Kadence Howell, Katie-Lyn Gross, Anna Wehr, Taelyr Jackson, Delaney Brooms and Zoie Shuler. Back row: Colton  Satterfield, Zeb Stewart, Albert Avella, Bruce Helms, Caleb Draper, Fala Welch, William Cable, Eden Orr, Logan Hooper, Kensley Phillips, Donovin Hall, Cooper Adams, Caden Lail and Tytan Teesateskie. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of the 2022-23 Robbinsville High School indoor track team. All names are listed from left. Front row: Tia Hall, Naomi Taylor, Kadence Howell, Katie-Lyn Gross, Anna Wehr, Taelyr Jackson, Delaney Brooms and Zoie Shuler. Back row: Colton Satterfield, Zeb Stewart, Albert Avella, Bruce Helms, Caleb Draper, Fala Welch, William Cable, Eden Orr, Logan Hooper, Kensley Phillips, Donovin Hall, Cooper Adams, Caden Lail and Tytan Teesateskie. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cold weather, hot talent

* Robbinsville indoor track season preview Robbinsville W ith success come widespread intrigue. To say the least, the Robbinsville indoor track program made quite the splash during the first indoor track season in the history of the Smoky Mountain Conference last year.