By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — It may be the spring but everyone was talking about Summer on Wednesday at the Salisbury High track.
As in Summer Taylor.
Taylor led the Hornet girls to another CCC championship as Salisbury won by 96 points over runnerup Central Davidson (196-100). And Taylor was the leader.
“She does all the jumps for us, she’s a really good 400 runner and she is on the 4×400 relay team that has really improved,” Salisbury coach David Johnson said.
Taylor then backed up Johnson’s claims. The junior won the triple jump (33-41/2), the long jump (16-41/2) and the 400 (1:03.7). She was a member of the 4×400 relay team that also won (4:35).
“She’s just a versatile athlete,” Johnson said.
“I tell the girls we run against times,” Johnson said. “We run against our (personal bests). Our girls have a lot of motivation to get better on their own.”
Alisha Bradshaw won the shot (40-2) and the discus (118-2). Ayanna Holmes won the high jump (4-8). Katherine Shields won the 1600 (5:28) and the 3200 (12:17), while twin Emily took the 800 (2:25.20).
Other big scorers for Salisbury included Najwa Allison and Briuanna Gibbs. Katelyn Storey, Bryce Ford, Talina Ross, Patrece Latimore, Jessica Heilig and Jericho Rippy.
“Our overall performance was great,” said Johnson.
And his Hornets are peaking.
“We’ve got a good amount of girls who have qualified (for the regionals at Cuthbertson in two weeks). So we’re happy to down there. We’ve won the last two. We’re looking to go down there and do a 3-peat.”