By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY ó The Salisbury girls track team has something to motivate it in todayís 2A state championship meet at N.C. A&T in Greensboro:
The boys team.
The Romar Morris-led Hornet boys won the state title last year while the girls came in second.
This time, the roles are reversed. The girls, who cruised to a regional championship last week, are the prohibitive favorite. The boys, on the other hand, are facing ultra-talented Berry Academy, who beat the Hornets by 53 points in the regional.
ěThey have so much talent over so many events,î Salisbury boys coach Darius Bryson said of Berry. ěWhen theyíre at full strength, they probably have the top four relays in 2A. When youíve got that, thatís tough to beat.î

Salisburyís girls should start strong with the field events and take an early lead, thanks to senior Alisha Bradshaw. She is the No. 1 seed in the shot and discus.
ěShe has thrown the shot 42 feet, which is four or five feet better than the next,î said girls coach David Johnson. ěSheís thrown the discus 140 and thatís about 20 feet over the next competitor. Iím really expecting her to do well.î
Emily Shields is the No. 1 seed in the 800 meters and is also a member of the fourth-seeded 4×400 relay team, along with Summer Taylor, Ayanna Holmes and Talina Ross.
Taylor is also ranked second in the 400 meters and sixth in the long jump.
Johnson likes his team when the pressureís on.
ěWhen it comes to big meets, weíve never really had too many issues of not performing or stepping up,î he said. ěItís simple. The girls have to go out and run the race theyíve run all year.î
Carrboro, with excellent distance people, and Bunn, with the sprinters, should give the girls their toughest tests. But the Salisbury boys will also be in the back of the Hornetsí minds.
ěTheyíve been sitting behind the boys for two years,î Johnson said. ěThey get more motivation from our boys winning and getting the limelight. They want to be successful like they are.î

Fans were shocked to see that Morris didnít win the 100 or 200 in the regional last week. The defending state champ has nursing a hamstring tweak.
How is Morris going into the state meet?
ěWeíll find out (today),î Bryson smiled. ěWhen you ask him how heís doing, he always says great.
ěItís his last meet. Heís had a great week of practice. Heís the defending champ. So weíll see what happens.î
Morris will run the 100 and 200 and compete on the 4×100 relay team (along with Justin Ruffin, Hansen Saryee and Dominique Dismuke) and 4×400 relay (with Marqui Ross, Tyler Downs and William Brown).
Darien Rankin won the regional in the high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 6 inches, but he has hit 6-8. He is the No. 1 seed.
Sophomore Keion Adams has been a surprise in the shot. Heís seeded third, despite this being his first season of track.
ěHe has come out of nowhere,î Bryson said. ěHe has improved every meet.î
Bryson said his team would be motivated in the 4×100.
ěTheyíve come in third for two years,î he said. ěMy guys would really like to move up.î
Berry will be waiting.
ěTheyíre loaded,î Bryson said.