South Rowan girls, 4x800 Makenna Barham, Gracie Hinson, Madalynn Gulledge, Hope Julian.

Staff report

CONCORD — Carson’s Rylee Hedrick ran almost exactly the same time on Thursday that she won the 400 meters with in last week’s Robert Steele Rowan County Track and Field Championships — and finished eighth.

Girls track and field is tough in the South Piedmont Conference, with powerful teams representing Robinson, Northwest Cabarrus and Lake Norman Charter.

The conference championship went down to the last event with Robinson (138 points) and Northwest (137) trading punches. Northwest won the traditional finale — the 4×400 — but Robinson took second. That was just enough for the Bulldogs to claim the title.

Lake Norman Charter (106) settled for the bronze.

Eight places were scored, with a 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 system.

Rowan County champion East Rowan was fourth, totaling 90 points.

South Rowan closed with a fourth in the 4×400 and amassed 60 points. Rounding out the field were Carson (52), West Rowan (49), Central Cabarrus (29) and Concord (28).

East standout Sadie Featherstone ran a strong 300 hurdles to win her main event in 43.99 seconds. Featherstone was third in the 100 hurdles and fifth in the 200 meters. She ran with Savannah Wise, Kaylee Rigdon and Maddie Carrico for second place behind Robinson in the 4×200.

East’s Jasmyne Brown, county champ in the pole vault, repeated that success in the conference, winning with a height of 8 feet, 6 inches.

Lelu Hill placed second in the long jump. Miley Carrico placed fourth in both hurdling events. Cameron Ostle came through with a fourth in the high jump, and the Mustangs had enough quality runners to get points in all the relays.

Freshman Hope Julian led South’s effort. Julian won the 1600 (5:16) and 3200 (11:33). She was runner-up in the 800 and anchored the 4×800 team that earned silver behind Northwest Cabarrus in a school-record time of 10:21.

Makenna Barham, Gracie Hinson and Madalynn Gulledge ran with Julian on that brisk 4×800.

South placed fourth in the 4×400 with a mostly different crew. Hinson ran with Hannah Dellinger, Mia Cross and Sadie Siscoe.

Kara Crotts turned in another strong distance day for Carson. She was third in the 1600 and 3200 and fourth in the 800.

Hedrick placed in all three jumps, in addition to getting a point in the 800. Her best finish was fourth in the triple jump.

Cadi Joyner was second in the high jump. Julia Burleson added seven points in the distance races. Renna Linn was fourth in the pole vault.

West Rowan thrower Skyy Ruben had an outstanding day, sweeping the discus and the shot put. Her marks were way beyond her county efforts.

West’s Jayden Carter won the high jump and placed third in the triple jump.

West Lylah Dennis won the 800 in 2:23.89.