By Ryan Bisesi
rbisesi@salisburypost.com
LANDIS — The three-way tie between most girls’ county track championships was broken Tuesday.
South Rowan, Salisbury and North Rowan all had 10 county crowns coming into Tuesday’s county meet.
South grabbed its 11th and its first since 2007 as the scores that finally compiled about 45 minutes after the meet ended said the Raiders were worthy of 138 points, ahead of North Rowan (114) and West Rowan (106).
South was anchored by distance MVP Hannah Houston, who was a winner in the 1600 and 800 meter runs and was the fourth leg in the 4×800 relay that won.
“I feel pretty good,” Houston said. “My 4×800 wasn’t the greatest but everything else I feel pretty good about.”
Talvanisha Lawing was strong as well for South, winning the 100 hurdles (15.19) and was second in the triple jump (34-3) and third in the long jump (15-7).
“We’ve been very excited to have such a strong team this year,” South coach Angie Chrismon said. “It’s a young team but they all work hard and get along very well. They’re very coachable.”
Houston, Nicole Mauldin and Lauren Register were the top three finishers in the 800.
Jaquasha Littlejohn threw the shot put 33-01.5 to win another first-place for South. The Raiders remained unbeaten for the season with the win.
“We expected Hannah to do quite well today,” Chrismon said. “She’s dominated in all her events today and we’re quite proud of her.”
North Rowan’s Tinka Bush was named field MVP after winning the triple jump with a leap of 36-04. Sabrina Vann was big for the Cavaliers, winning the discus with a 109-10 throw. North won the 4×200 relay in 1:49.38, edging West’s 1:49.41.
Bush and teammate Teaunna Cuthbertson finished 1-2 in the long jump. Bush jumped 17-3 and Cuthbertson did 17-5.
West Rowan’s Christa Landy won the 100 and 200 dashes and helped the 4×400 relay team win first. Landy set personal records in the in 100 (12.44) and 200 (26.12) and that quickly put away any jitters.
“At first I was a bit nervous and after I got done with the first event, everything started going well for me,” Landy said. “Those felt like my best runs.”
West’s Amber Holloway won the 300 hurdles in 48.19. Salisbury’s Jaleesa Smoot was the 400 winner (1:01). Jesse Troutman of Carson won the pole vault (9-6).
East Rowan’s Casey Gullett (14:07) and Leah Bumby (14:46) were the top two finishers in the 3200. Carson found success in the high jump with Jan Sitterson and Aliyah Newson tying for first with a five-foot jump.
Kasey Newton of South took third in the 1600 and Dakotah Lambert and Shakiya Moore were 3-4 in the 300 hurdles to rack up points for the Raiders.
Carson was fourth with 81 points with East (56) and Salisbury (46) following.