SPENCER — LaTasha Pharr may not be at her best, but she’s still unbeatable in the 2A Central Carolina Conference.
Pharr, North Rowan’s senior All-American, completed a four-year sweep in the CCC track and field meet when she won all four events at North’s Eagle Stadium on Thursday.
Battling back from two hamstring pulls and a knee injury during the past seven months, the University of Alabama signee won the long jump, triple jump, 100-meter hurdles and 300 hurdles, leading North to the team championship with 138 points to runner-up Salisbury’s 94.
She’s now 16-for-16 in her four events in four years of conference meets.
North’s boys continued their CCC domination, outscoring High Point Central 139-104 for the championship.
Pharr injured her right hamstring and sustained a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in her left knee while in Santiago, Chile, for the World Junior Championships last fall. She hurt her left hamstring early this season.
“I ran the hurdles pretty good, the 100 and 300,” she said after posting times of 13.98 and 44.85 seconds, respectively. “I didn’t jump as well as I usually jump.”
She long jumped 17 feet, 4 inches and triple jumped 38-1, falling short of her 18-4 and 39-3 performances about two weeks ago.
“I’m just trying to get back where I’m supposed to be, basically. I think all this has happened for a reason. The way it’s going maybe I’ll peak at the right time, because I’m getting better and better and getting my legs back, so I think by the time of the state, I’ll peak.”
The state meet will be May 18 at UNC Charlotte.
Pharr sat out several meets while recovering from her injuries, but didn’t want to miss her last CCC meet.
“I felt like I had to do it to help my team out, and it’s my senior year. I wanted to be four-time conference champ,” she said. “I’m a track and field nut. I don’t want to sit and watch,” she said.
Teammate Garette Hunter was a double winner for coach Brian Mills’ Cavaliers, taking the shot put with a heave of 37-10 and the discus with a toss of 102-6.
Moriah Jones ran the 200 in 26.24 for first place and ran with Elizabeth Alexander, Mauria Turner and Tiffany Mack on the winning 400 relay unit that was timed in 51.84.
North’s boys captured only four first places, but coach Robert Steele’s team racked up points with its depth.
Thomas Mashore was a double winner with times of 10.96 in the 100 and 51.24 in the 400. He also ran with Aundray Russell, Adrian Sloan and Jeremiah Cauthen on the first-place 800 relay team (1:31.22).
Bobby Rhodes high jumped 6 feet for the Cavaliers’ other first place.
Salisbury’s second-place girls and third-place boys combined for four firsts.
Monique Shaver, Tiffany Kennedy, Ashley Clark and Stephanie Morris of Salisbury’s girls won the 800 relay in 1:50.56. Taizia Abel, Christina Worth, Anna Griffis and Morris took the 1600 relay in 4:28.86.
Taurean Johnson of Salisbury’s boys won the discus with a toss of 138-7, and teammate Tyler Vanderslice took the 1600 in 4:47.89 after favorite Matt Whitman dropped out before the final lap with an injury.
North Stanly’s girls captured the 3200 relay with three Noll sisters on the team. Junior Krystal, sophomore Rachel and freshman Samantha teamed up with Amber Burleson for a time of 11:18.79.
The N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 2A Midwest Regional is the scheduled May 12 at Mount Pleasant.
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Contact Ed Dupree at 704-797-4258 or edupree@salisburypost.com
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