Owen track and field sweeps Western Highlands Conference Championship

Warhorses and Warlassies race to victory at home

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
May 2, 2024

Sixteen teams representing eight schools in the Western Highlands Conference descended upon Owen High School, May 1, to compete in the conference championship meet.

As the last runner crossed the finish line, the Warhorses and Warlassies emerged as the leader of the pack.

Owen outlasted Avery to sweep the competition, as the Warhorses captured their fourth consecutive WHC title in a 161.5-129 victory. The Warlassies edged the Vikings, 148-146.

The Warhorses, led by senior sprinter and hurdler Trevae Woodyard and distance runners Harding Kinnaird and Craig Webb, posted seven first-place finishes in the meet. Woodyard took gold in the 100 meter dash and 300 meter hurdles, while Kinnaird claimed the top spot in the 1,600 meter run. Webb outpaced Kinnaird and teammate Leo Parmenter in the 3,200 meter run.

Warhorse relay teams traced to victory in the 4X100, 4X200 and 4X400 meter events, as the team finished with 16 medals.

The Warlassies were led by sophomore runner Jordan Robertson, who took first place in the 1,600 meter and 3,200 meter runs.

The team was boosted by sprinter Ashley Currie, school record-holder in the 100 and 200 meter dash, and senior Nevaeh Perkins, who holds the Owen mark in the 800 meter run. Currie claimed a conference championship in the 200 meter dash, while Perkins, who has medaled in every conference championship event she has entered in her four-year career, finished first in the 800 meter run.

The Warlassies relay teams added to the gold medal county with a victory in the 4X800.

The Owen women’s team finished the contest with 13 finishes in the top three.

Both teams will travel to Connelly Springs, Friday, May 10, to compete in the NCHSAA 2A West Regional meet.

Photos of the 2024 Western Highlands Conference Track & Field Championship can viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.