By Jenny Wolfe

If the first meet of the indoor track season is any indication, Polk County will have several athletes representing the Wolverine family at the 2A Indoor Track State Championships in February 2015.  Polk had nine athletes to meet NCHSAA state qualifying standards at the AC Reynolds High “kick-off to the indoor season” meet held Monday, Nov. 24. Polk also had five event wins: men’s and women’s 4×800 meter relays; Jacob Wolfe in the 1,000-meter; Tameeia Brown at shot put; and Emma Wagoner in the triple jump.

With approximately only 50 days of practice and competition combined, a tight window exists for athletes to make it to the state meet. Luckily Polk has several who have laid the groundwork in pre-season, with most completing the intense cross country training season.

Both Polk 4×800 (3200) meter relay teams met qualifying times. The girls team of Savannah Robbins, Leah Hardin, Alli Swope and Emily Kocher ran 11:03 and finished second overall.

The boys team with Sean Doyle, Mitchell Brown, Caleb Brown and Jacob Wolfe ran 8:35 and won the event.

The Polk boys 4×800 finished third overall at the state championships a year ago with a time of 8:31. They are favored as one of the top three teams in the state again this year.

Several students double qualified (in the 4×800) and in an individual event. Jacob Wolfe won the men’s 1,000 meter with a 2:43, crushing the qualifying mark of 2:50. Emily Kocher placed second in 3:30 to meet qualifying (3:30) in the 1,000 meter.  Sean Doyle finished sixth overall in 4:49 to meet the 4:50 mark.

Polk’s field crew was sparked by Tameeia Brown’s state qualifying distance of 30-0 in the women’s shot put. Brown won the event.

Other Polk male performances:

300 meter: Nate Smart 39.6 (fourth), Larry Dyer 42.5 (ninth)

500 meter: Caleb Brown 1:12 (second)

1600 meter: Mitchell Brown 5:04 (eleventh)

Other Polk female performances:

300 meter: Robbins 46.8 (third), Ashton Capozzi 52.2 (fifth), Jennifer Griffin 53.9 (sixth), AnaMarie Gunderson 56.1 (seventh)

500 meter; Emma Wagoner 1:37 (third), Haven Dufford 1:41 (fourth)

1,000 meter; Swope 3:42 (third), Hardin 3:56 (fourth)

1,600 meter: Jessica Bailey and Shelby Wells (no time)

Shot Put: Michaela Nelon 26-11 (second), Capozzi 24-5 (third), Silvers 20-8 (fourth)

Triple Jump: Wagoner 29-04 (first)

Mitchell Brown competed Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Chargers Tune-Up Meet at Providence High in Charlotte.  Brown ran 10:43 in the men’s 3,200 meter, three seconds shy of the (10:40) state qualifying mark.