Owen trio to make a run at NCAA D-I

State champion Warhorses sign with college programs

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
April 22, 2023

A trio of Owen seniors - Elijah Jones, Jaheem O’Hara and Tad Sloan-Westmoreland - signed letters of intent to continue their running careers at NCAA D-I colleges, April 21, in a ceremony at the school. Photo by Fred McCormick

In the world of intercollegiate athletics, there is no higher level of competition than NCAA Division I. Following a special signing ceremony, April 21, in the Owen High School media center, a trio of Warhorse athletes will test their distance running skills on the big stage.

Seniors Elijah Jones, Jaheem O’Hara and Tad Sloan-Westmoreland, each of whom played key roles in leading the Owen cross country team to a state championship last fall, signed letters of intent to continue their careers in the state. Jones will head east to compete for UNC-Charlotte, while Sloan-Westmoreland will suit up nearby for Queens University of Charlotte. O’Hara will keep running in the mountains, as he joins the Bulldogs of UNC-Asheville.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been a part of something where three cross country runners from the same team earned Division I scholarships,” Owen Athletic Director Kim Mason said, as the runners’ family members, coaches, teammates and supporters gathered to celebrate the occasion. “It’s an awesome feat you guys have accomplished, and you should all be very proud. This is a day you won’t forget.”

The moment represented the latest in a long list of special memories shared by the teammates, who preferred a group ceremony over individual signings.

“I’ve known Elijah since sixth grade and Tad since ninth, so it’s pretty cool to be here signing right next to them,” O’Hara said. “We’ve all spent so much time together hanging out and running, and we all enjoy doing things together.”

Owen runners Elijah Jones (left) and Jaheem O’Hara will continue their athletic careers at NCAA D-I programs. Jones will attend UNC-Charlotte, while O’Hara signed with UNC-Asheville. Photo by Fred McCormick

O’Hara and Jones, both of whom earned All-State Cross Country honors as seniors, first became teammates on the Warcolts at Owen Middle School, long before either fully realized where the sport could take them.

“I never really thought about college until last year,” O’Hara said. “I just knew I enjoyed this experience in high school and that we had a core group of guys who would motivate each other to keep getting better.”

Jones, who finished third in the NCHSAA 2A Cross Country State Championship last November, embraced that team dynamic.

“A big piece for me has been the social aspect of running with other people,” he said. “I like running, but sometimes it’s hard for me to push myself alone. So, having Jaheem and Tad to help push me really helped me get to the next level.”

Sloan-Westmoreland, who became part of the Warhorse running community as a member of the track and field program before joining the cross country team as a junior, was proud to share the moment with his teammates.

“I’ve been running and training with these guys really hard for a while,” he said. “Doing this together really just emphasizes that bond we all have.”

Owen senior Tad Sloan-Westmoreland is one of three Warhorses who signed with an NCAA D-I program in an April 21 signing ceremony at the school. Photo by Fred McCormick

Although the relationship was forged over years, it was fortified as the cross country team became the first Owen athletic program to win a state championship in 15 years.

“All of our individual work ethics really complemented each other,” said Sloan-Westmoreland, who will study engineering physics at Queens University. “It took us, and the team, to a whole new level, and that really helped me feel like the sky is the limit for this sport.”

The trio has incredible potential at the next level, according to Warhorse cross country and track and field coach Bob Sadlemire.

“This is a group of driven kids,” he said. “But, I’m more proud of the fact that they’re strong, academically, as well as athletically. They didn’t get into these schools just because they’re good runners, they’re all the complete package: smart, talented and focused.”

Each of them, Sadlemire added, will bring something different to their respective college teams.

“Elijah is such a distance threat, and he competes with the top runners in the state, regardless of level, from 2A to 4A,” the coach said. “Tad and Jaheem are both intermediate guys, but what makes them great is that they can both step up. They can compete at 800 and 1,600 meters, but I believe each of them could run at 3,200 meters if they were asked to do it.”

Left to right: Tad Sloan-Westmoreland, Jaheem O’Hara, Bob Sadlemire and Elijah Jones gather as the trio of Owen seniors sign letters of intent with NCAAA D-I programs. Photo by Fred McCormick

The group’s impact on the Owen program is immense, according to Sadlemire.

“These three guys basically won that state championship,” he said. “But, their success has also helped give the sport more traction here. They’re such a key part of this energy we’re seeing around our running programs, which is great for the sport and the kids who follow them.”

As the school program strives to build off of this year’s success, Jones, O’Hara and Sloan-Westmoreland are eager to continue their development at the collegiate level.

“I love this sport, and I’m really looking forward to getting faster,” Jones said. “UNC-Charlotte is a good team, and they have some good athletes right now. I look forward to being at the bottom of the team now and working my way up.”

Queens University will allow Sloan-Westmoreland to continue pushing himself, athletically and academically.

“I’m already surrounded by fast guys, but it’s going to be amazing to be running with these incredible athletes all of the time,” he said. “I think this will be a real opportunity to see how much I can grow in this sport.”

While the runners will begin their collegiate careers next fall, they remain focused on the current Owen track and field season. O’Hara established a school record in the 800 meter race earlier this year, while Jones set the standard in 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs.

“They’re all good kids, and each of them are motivated in different ways,” Sadlemire said. “These programs wouldn’t be where they are without them.”