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The largest group ever of Polk County qualifiers for the state indoor track championships received its largest sendoff ever on Friday afternoon.
Polk County Sheriff Donald Hill and Polk County school board chairman and former Columbus fire chief Geoff Tennant led the Polk County team bus – dubbed the ‘Wolverine Limousine’ for the trip – on a parade through Columbus as the group left for Winston-Salem and Saturday’s state 2A/1A indoor meet at the JDL Fast Track facility.
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With horn-honking parents in tow, the 14 qualifiers enjoyed a day in the sun en route to a competition for which head coach Alan Peoples has high expectations.
“We’ve had 13 qualifiers before, but this is the biggest group we’ve had,” Peoples said. “The best part about it is that it happened last Saturday (at Polk’s WNC Polar Bear Championships) when we finally got a pretty day. We had four qualify then.”
The timing for such a large contingent couldn’t be better. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association decided earlier this year to hold a separate indoor final for 3A schools, who previously competed with 2A and 1A schools in a single meet. That move should give Polk County competitors a chance to fare well when competition begins Saturday morning.
“In 2A/1A we’re probably going to be seeded in the top 10,” Peoples said. “I’ve scratched (Jacob) Collins from the 1000 and (Matthew) Darden from the 300 so that I can keep both of them fresh for the (4×400-meter relay).
“All three of our relay teams should do well, both 4×800 relays and the 4×4. I expect them all to score. Hopefully, I expect everyone we have to score.”
Based on qualifying times, Polk County’s 4×800 squad enters with the fourth best time among qualifiers, with the girls 4×800 team entering with the fifth fastest time. The 4×400 team has the third fastest time, just six seconds off the mark set by Northeastern.
- Polk County indoor track athletes, coaches and parents prepare to leave Friday for the state indoor meet in Winston-Salem.
