Swain County and Cummings were only separated by two points at the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A/2A girls indoor track & field state championship held at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on Saturday.

In the team competition, Swain County narrowly beat Cummings with a score of 73-71, securing their third consecutive state championship and preventing Cummings from claiming its 12th overall title.

Swain County achieved three top positions. In the 1000 meter race, sophomore Annie Lewis finished first with a time of 3:05.56, surpassing second place by almost four seconds. The Maroon Devils were also victorious in the 4×800 meter relay.

Junior Swain County runner Arizona Blankenship claimed victory in the 1600 meter event with a finishing time of 5:06.65, followed by a second place finish in the 3200 meter race.

On Saturday, D’Anna Cotton, a sophomore at Cummings High School, was awarded the title of Most Outstanding Performer at the state championship. This was due to her impressive achievement of winning three gold medals and one silver medal.

Cotton was victorious in the 55 meter hurdles, high jump, and long jump events, and also earned second place in the triple jump. She equaled the 1A/2A state record with a high jump distance of 5-06.00.

The team standings’ top five included Salisbury (47), Christ the King (36), and Elkin (28).

The NCHSAA presented Sportsmanship Awards during the state championship to Angelina Lomelli from Swain County and Taylor Jordan from Cummings, who were selected as the recipients.

1A/2A Girls High Jump

1. D’Anna Cotton (Cummings) – 5-06.00 (R)

2. Rachel Key (Wilson Prep) – 5-04.00

3. Gracie Sutton from Swain County had a height of 5 feet and 2 inches.

Girls’ Pole Vault for 1A and 2A divisions.

Laney Babo from Northwood achieved a score of 10 feet and 6 inches in a specific event.

Alden Thomas from Swain County jumped 9 feet and 6 inches in the event.

3. Claire Morgan (Seaforth) – 9-00.00

Girls Long Jump for Class 1A and 2A

1. D’Anna Cotton (Cummings) – 17-10.25

2. Zoie Shuler (Robbinsville) – 17-09.50

3. Brooke Packingham (Cummings) – 17-05.50

Girls Triple Jump in Divisions 1A and 2A

1. Zoie Shuler (Robbinsville) – 39-01.50

2. D’Anna Cotton (Cummings) – 38-10.50

3. Brooke Packingham (Cummings) – 35-11.50

The wheelchair shot put event for girls in the 1A and 2A categories.

The girls’ shot put competition for wheelchairs in the 1A and 2A divisions.

1. Jordan Oliver (Murphy) – J5-05.25

Shot put event for girls in the 1A and 2A division.

Ella Riggs from North Surry had a distance of 36 feet, 8.50 inches.

2. Marshayla Sutton (Greene Central) – 36-01.50

3. Brittany Ellis (North Rowan) – 34-00.25

1A/2A Girls 55 Meter

1. Aniya Edwards (Elkin) – 7.16

Tynasia Emory from Wilson Prep had a time of 7.26 seconds.

Jada Lloyd from Hertford ran the race in 7.31 seconds.

Girls’ 55 Meter Wheelchair Race for Divisions 1A and 2A

1. Jordan Oliver (Murphy) – J22.06

1A/2A Girls 300 Meter

1. Christyonna Lewis (Salisbury) – 41.00

2. Tai’lah Ward (Salisbury) – 41.27

3. Jada Lloyd (Hertford) – 42.31

Girls 500-meter race for division 1A/2A

1. Aniya Edwards (Elkin) finished with a time of 1:17.19.

2. Shari Jackson (South Granville) – 1:20.09

3. Mille Wymbs (Salisbury) – 1:22.45

1A/2A Girls 1000 Meter

Annie Lewis from Swain County had a finishing time of 3 minutes and 5.56 seconds.

2. Shea Roche (Christ the King) – 3:09.36

3. Emily Myers (Franklin Academy) – 3:13.38

1A/2A Girls 1600 Meter

1. Arizona Blankenship (Swain County) – 5:06.65

2. Catherine Parker (N.C. Science & Math) – 5:07.02

3. Maya Little (Pine Lake Prep) – 5:14.27

Run

The 3200 Meter Run for 1A/2A Girls

Catherine Parker from N.C. Science & Math completed the task in 11 minutes and 3.31 seconds.

2. The time for Arizona Blankenship from Swain County was 11 minutes and 5.77 seconds.

3. Nicole Alfers (Christ the King) – 11:17.44

Girls 55 Meter Hurdles for 1A and 2A divisions.

1. D’Anna Cotton (Cummings) – 8.27

2. Aniya Hawkins (Corvian Community) – 8.47

3. Zaria Holt (Bradford Prep) – 8.48

1A/2A Girls 4×200 Meter Relay

The Salisbury team, consisting of Cora Wymbs, Christyonna Lewis, Mille Wymbs, and Tai’lah Ward, completed the race in 1 minute and 47.62 seconds.

The team from South Granville (consisting of Alayah Flowers, Serenity Jordan, TiaTana Bates, and Shari Jackson) finished with a time of 1 minute and 47.85 seconds.

3. Cummings (Taylor Jordan, Honesti Trollinger, Jamoni Jones, Brooke Packingham) – 1:48.01

Girls’ 4×400 Meter Relay for 1A and 2A divisions.

1. Salisbury (Mille Wymbs, Cora Wymbs, Maddie Crabb, Christyonna Lewis) – 4:15.57

Elkin, composed of Maggie Tomlin, Sophie Welborn, Ragan Speer, and Aniya Edwards, finished with a time of 4 minutes and 17.11 seconds.

3. Christ the King (Madeline Ford, Gabbie Feaster, Kelsey Keegan, Shea Roche) – 4:19.78

Girls’ 4×800 Meter Relay for 1A/2A division

1. Swain County (Angelina Lomelli, Arizona Blankenship, Emily Grey Stargell, Annie Lewis) – 9:52.71

2. Christ the King (Nicole Alfers, Kelsey Keegan, Claire Oglesby, Shea Roche) – 10:11.83

3. Mountain Island Charter (Sullivan Strouse, Rylan Breath, Emma Suchenski, Hope Barwick) – 10:26.62

1. Swain County – 73

2. Cummings – 71

3. Salisbury – 47

4. Christ the King – 36

5. Elkin – 28

“27 students in the North Carolina Science and Math program.”

7. Pine Lake Prep – 23

8. Farmville Central – 21

9. Wilson Prep – 19

10. Robbinsville – 18

Source: highschoolot.com