Kinston’s Niejel Wilkins not only qualified for the NCHSAA 2A state championships Friday in the triple jump, but the New Balance Nationals next month. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

WILSON | Greensboro will see an influx of Eastern Carolina Conference track and field participants Friday.

The NCHSAA 2A Eastern Regionals were held at Wilson Fike High School Saturday, with the top four competitors punching their tickets to Irwin Park at N.C. A&T in Greensboro for the state championships Friday. Overall, the ECC had 23 individual placings and 11 relay teams competing in the final event of the season.

Among those who qualified was Kinston’s Niejel Wilkins, who posted a school-record 47 feet, 5.75 inches in the triple jump, putting 4 feet, 3.75 inches of separation between him and second place in the process.

“I just stayed focused and didn’t get discouraged about my first two jumps,” Wilkins said. “I was really able to execute my last jump, which also helped me qualify for the New Balance Nationals in Greensboro next month.”

Kinston’s Mekaylind Kilpatrick also won the triple jump in the girls’ race by a significant margin with a mark of 34-5, 2 feet, 7 inches ahead of the closest competitor.

“It was just a lot of practice and a lot of drills,” Kilpatrick said. “It means a lot being able to go so early in my career as a sophomore.”

Greene Central’s Aaliyah Davis will be another first-time competitor after finishing third in the triple jump, an event the junior didn’t try until this year.

“I remember Coach (Semeria) Byner asked me to be a part of it and I just went with it,” Davis said. “It means the world being able to compete at states.”

The second time was the charm for North Lenoir’s Kanijah Taylor, who placed third in the discus throw to qualify.

“Last year I was really bummed out because I couldn’t go to States, even though it was my first time throwing the discus,” Taylor said. “This year, I worked even harder and stayed in shape with volleyball and basketball, and it worked out.”

For South Lenoir, Sara Beth Stroud made it to states for the second year in a row. Despite not practicing regularly due to obligations with softball, Stroud finished second in the 100 meter dash Saturday to qualify.

“All I can say is that God blessed me,” Stroud said. “My biggest focus is softball, and when I have the opportunity I’ll get out and run.”

Ayden-Grifton’s Zy’kierah Andrews will have several chances to showcase her skills at states after winning the high jump and long jump events while finishing fourth in the 200 meter dash and helping her team place third in the 4x100 meter relay.

“There’s a lot of practice involved and you’ve got to want it,” Andrews said. “I also think positive a lot and know that I’m capable of winning.”

South Lenoir’s 4x800 Meter Relay teams qualified after finishing fourth in both events. In the boys’ race, Ethan Garris, Ian Ireland, Gavin Sexton and Bryan Zeagler made up the team, with Garris also qualifying for the 800 meter run.

“We lost one senior from last year’s team, so we had to make some changes,” Garris said. “We started off pretty slow, but we worked our way to where we’re at now, cutting about 30 seconds off of our time.”

South Lenoir’s girls’ team consisted of Nathalie Ayala, Marina Castillo, Toni Foster and Alyssa Kopanski. Foster, who recently committed to run at N.C. Wesleyan, said the team’s resolve has been strong all season.

“It wasn’t easy getting here and I’ve been dealing with shin splints for the past month,” Foster said. “We’ve been practicing hard and we knew that anything is possible through Christ — we’ve done well all year, were able to win our conference in this event, and now we’re heading to States.”

Marshall Leonard, head coach at N.C. Wesleyan, came out to the event and had high praise for Foster.

“She’s a solid 800 meter runner and believe she will be a wonderful addition to our program,” Leonard said. “Having her running cross-country will also help out with her 800 times, and overall she’s just a very nice person and great student-athlete.”

Jones Senior will also send two runners to states, as Nykeia Hagins and Tanayja Green qualified in Friday’s 1A Eastern Regional in Edenton. Nykeia Hagins won the 200 meter dash with a time of 26.10 and finished fourth in the 100 meter dash at 12.76, while Tanayja Greene was third in the 100 meter hurdles (18.00) and 300 meter hurdles (53.31).

The NCHSAA 1A State Championships will be held Saturday at N.C. A&T.

Here are the results of each race where at least one member of the Eastern Carolina Conference qualified for states:

BOYS

200 Meter Dash

Tamarius Ramsey (Dixon) 22.53, Leonard Smith (Dixon) 22.59, Isaya Brooks (South Lenoir) 22.80, B.J. Jordan (Southwest Onslow) 22.97

400 Meter Dash

Emmanuel Fisher (Kinston) 49.38, Noah Bibus (Croatan) 50.06, Henry Stecher (First Flight) 50.47, Larry Jones (Southwest Edgecombe) 50.73

800 Meter Run

Zach Hughes (First Flight) 1:58, Thomas McCabe (Croatan) 1:59, Ethan Garris (South Lenoir) 2:05, Jalen Davis (Richlands) 2:06

110 Meter Hurdles

Byron Hawkins (Nash Central) 14.85, Brendon Hodge (Croatan) 14.96, Michael Reid (Washington) 15.07, Michael Walker (Heide Trask) 15.10

300 Meter Hurdles

Brendon Hodge (Croatan) 39.87, Michael Reid (Washington) 40.52, Niejel Wilkins (Kinston) 41.57, Michael Walker (Heide Trask) 41.81

4x100 Meter Relay

West Craven 43.22, Northeastern 43.54, Goldsboro 43.66, Southwest Edgecombe 43.68

4x200 Meter Relay

Northeastern 1:30.84, Southwest Edgecombe 1:31.17, Ayden-Grifton 1:31.21, Goldsboro 1:31.67

4x400 Meter Relay

Croatan 3:22.51, First Flight 3:29.15, Ayden-Grifton 3:31.51, Southwest Edgecombe 3:31.79

4x800 Meter Relay

First Flight 8:15, Richlands 8:21, Croatan 8:42, South Lenoir 8:46

Long Jump

Hakeem Coley (Goldsboro) 21-5, Joseph Wright (West Craven) 21-1, Niejel Wilkins (Kinston) 20-9, Saquan Connor (Greene Central) 20-8

Triple Jump

Niejel Wilkins (Kinston) 47-5.75, Tylon Whitehurst (North Pitt) 43-2, Wonderful Banks (Northeastern) 43-1, Jordan Moore (Hertford County) 42-6.5

Shot Put

Keziah Everett (Farmville Central) 52-10.5, Nathan Waltrip (Croatan) 49-2, Gregory Daniels (Greene Central) 48-3.5, Isaac Anderson (Southwest Onslow) 47-1

GIRLS

100 Meter Dash

Tahalia Fairman (Southwest Onslow) 12.43, Sara Beth Stroud (South Lenoir) 12.83, Alexiyana Brumley (Hertford County) 12.94, Destiny Clark (Bertie) 13.03

200 Meter Dash

Tahalia Fairman (Southwest Onslow) 25.74, Alexiyana Brumley (Hertford County) 26.27, Kiara Williams (Northeastern) 26.55, Zy’kierah Andrews (Ayden-Grifton) 26.59

100 Meter Hurdles

Nautika Newton (North Pitt) 16.05, Mkya Hedgepeth (Nash Central) 16.69, Candace Barclift (Northeastern) 16.85, Alexia Bryant (Ayden-Grifton) 17.09

300 Meter Hurdles

Lesley Sutton (Kinston) 46.91, Ihjanae Cooper (Wilson Beddingfield) 48.48, Brianna Howard (Hertford County) 50.68, Emma Morton (Croatan) 51.78

4x100 Meter Relay

Bertie 49.84, Northeastern 50.13, Ayden-Grifton 50.63, Washington 51.37

4x200 Meter Relay

Washington 1:45, Northeastern 1:47, Ayden-Grifton 1:48, Bertie 1:49

4x400 Meter Relay

Croatan 4:14, Ayden-Grifton 4:23, Kinston 4:24, Currituck County 4:29

4x800 Meter Relay

Croatan 10:44, Currituck County 10:56, Richlands 10:59, South Lenoir 11:00

High Jump

Zy’kierah Andrews (Ayden-Grifton) 5-2, Aaleyah Garris (Ayden-Grifton) 5-0, Dashear Hill (Bertie) 5-0, Jessica Jenkins (Northeastern) 5-0

Long Jump

Zy’kierah Andrews (Ayden-Grifton) 17-6.75, Anna Vann (Roanoke Rapids) 16-3.25, Kimaja Spencer (Washington) 16-0, Nautika Newton (North Pitt) 15-10

Triple Jump

Mekaylind Kilpatrick (Kinston) 34-5, Kizoria Redmond (Washington) 31-10, Aaliyah Davis (Greene Central) 31-6.5, Destine Moore (Pasquotank County) 31-5

Discus

Destiny Ferebee (Currituck County) 117-1, Makayla Everett (Wilson Beddingfield) 114-7, Kanijah Taylor (North Lenoir) 99-11, Diana Futrell (Hertford County) 97-8