Trio of Warhorses set sights on state championships
Owen track and field program represented in multiple events
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
June 25, 2021
Owen seniors Dequan Boyce (middle, left) and Shavoy Harding (middle, right), head track and field coach Clint McElrath, right, and assistant coach Thomas Mammarelli leave for the NCHSAA 2A Track & Field State Championship, which be held June 26 in Greensboro. Boyce, Harding and junior Charlie Hurt will represent the Warhorses in multiple events. Photo by Fred McCormick
When the top high school track and field athletes in N.C. gather, Saturday, June 26, in Greensboro to compete for the state championship, three Warhorses will represent Western Highlands Conference champion Owen High School.
A pair of seniors, Dequan Boyce and Shavoy Harding, and junior Charlie Hurt will make the 160-mile trip to North Carolina A&T State University’s Irwin Belk Track to compete in a total of five events in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A State Track & Field State Championship.
Each of the three athletes turned in qualifying performances in the June 18 NCHSAA 2A West Regionals in Connelly Springs.
Boyce, a multi-sport athlete in his two years at Owen, placed third in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump in regional competition, qualifying for both state championship events. Clint McElrath, who will coach his final event for the school before transitioning to his new role as assistant principal at North Buncombe, attributes Boyce’s success to his dedication to the sport.
“For a senior this year, when the season is going so far beyond graduation, he has been to every practice and works hard every time,” McElrath said.
Boyce began the season competing in the triple jump before suffering an ankle injury which forced him to switch to the long jump. His qualifying triple jump of 40-feet-4.25-inches at regionals was only his second since the beginning of the season. His 20-foot-1-inch long jump was an inch shy of his personal record.
“He’s added a foot to his long jump since he started, and he’s just now getting his ankle back to where he can do the triple jump,” McElrath said. “He has a lot of potential to improve tomorrow, especially if that ankle holds up.”
Harding will compete against his football teammate in the triple jump state championship after placing second in regionals with a 41-foot-1.5-inch effort. He will also line up for the 200 meter dash, qualifying with a third place finish of 23:36 in regional competition.
“Shavoy is one of the top athletes I’ve ever coached in my 14 years of coaching track and field,” McElrath said. “This year was his first year doing the triple jump, and it turns out he’s not just good at it, he’s one of the best in the state.”
Harding has jumped 45 feet in practice, according to McElrath, which is nearly a foot longer than the top-seeded distance.
“If we can get him to do that tomorrow, he’ll win a state championship,” McElrath said. “Nothing would surprise me with him, he has a way of making running and jumping look so effortless.”
Owen junior Charlie Hurt, who began throwing discus this year, will be one of three Warhorses to compete in the NCHSAA 2A Track & Field State Championships on June 26. Photo courtesy of Chelley Williams
Hurt had not competed in discus until this season, according to his coach, but he was determined to hone his technique.
“He had a lot of work to do at the start of the season,” McElrath said. “But, he put in so much time and is going into the state championship ranked fifth in total distance. To make that kind of improvement in just one year of competing in the sport is very impressive.”
Hurt qualified for the state championship with a throw of 138-feet-11-inches.
“We’ve had quite a season,” said McElrath, who coached the boys and girls track and field teams this year and was named WHC Coach of the Year in the sport. “It was great to see our boys win the conference, but our girls also had an impressive season.”
The Warlassies 4x400 and 4x800 relay team of seniors Hannah Larios and Laila Burk, junior Maddie Swanson and freshman Nevaeh Perkins finished one spot away from qualifying for the state championship.
“Our girls 4x800 team is actually the sixth team in the state, but they only take the top four from the region,” McElrath said. “The first, second, third and fifth seeded teams in the championship are from our region.”
As Boyce, Harding and Hurt prepare for the championship, the trio of athletes have an opportunity to finish what McElrath calls a “fantastic season” for both programs with state titles.
“I’m really proud of the work of all of these athletes this year,” McElrath said. “I’m excited to see these three compete in Greensboro.”