Wolverine track and field set state championship records

Published 10:53 pm Wednesday, July 1, 2015

What a year for Polk County High School track and field! Following a stellar, record-breaking indoor track season where the Wolverines set a new NCHSAA 2A indoor track state record in the men’s 4×800 meter relay (Caleb Brown, Mitchell Brown, Sean Doyle and Jacob Wolfe) and became the only relay team in history to win both the 4×800 and the 4×400 meter relays (C. Brown, Doyle, Eli Hall, Wolfe) on the same day, the Wolverine state championship winning streak would not stop there.

 The Wolverines mid-distance domination culminated with a third relay state championship title on May 18 at the Outdoor State Championships where C. Brown, Doyle, Nate Smart and Wolfe ran 8:03.06 and became Polk’s first ever relay team to qualify for nationals.

 Representing Polk County at the New Balance Outdoor Track National Meet hosted by NC A&T University in Greensboro on June 19, team members raced in the emerging elite category on day one of the three-day meet. Though two of the four members of the squad were suffering illness and injury, that did not detract from the experience. You are, after all, only as strong as your weakest member. The two healthy members, Doyle and the only senior, C. Brown, had their time to shine, while Wolfe and Smart will look to future opportunities.

 The team made a valiant effort maintaining a second place position through five laps of the eight lap race, before Wolfe, plagued for weeks with mononucleosis and unable to pass to Smart who was not eligible due to a concussion, stepped in to the infield after his first 400 meters registering the team its official standing of DNF (did not finish). With family and friends cheering them on, coupled with the generous financial support of many community members, the Wolverines had a history-making day they will never forget. Though their race was cut short, their experience will be long lasting, and their season remains forever record-breaking.

 Sincerest thanks to all who contributed to these athletes and their pursuit of excellence: Eric and JJ Waddell, Sheriff Donald Hill, Tony and Julee Waldrop, John and Diane Cash – Nature’s Storehouse, G.S. Sweet, Don and Lynne Christiansen, Robert Tobey, Bonnie Wood, Sandra Halbkat, Tyrone Martin, Terry Glynn, Ray McCless, Stephen King, The Greensfelders, Fred May, Robert and Deb Williamson, Jim Wolfe-Keystone Investors and Bright’s Creek.