ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES / ANDREW PEARSON • MAY 22, 2010

Presson wins twice, sets record, named most valuable athlete . . .
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES / ANDREW PEARSON • MAY 22, 2010
GREENSBORO — Breathless and a wee bit dazed from his anchor leg, Asheville High senior Zavian Brown came up to coach Chris Stroup following Friday's 1,600-meter relay.
Brown and Stroup hugged.
“We did it,” Stroup said.
Indeed, Brown and the rest of the Cougars began dominating as soon as their spikes hit the blue surface of North Carolina A&T's track to win the NCHSAA 3-A meet with 90 points.
Shelby Crest (63 points) was a distant second to Asheville (90) and Stroup, who up until this year had been a runner-up seven times during his career as the school's cross-country and track coach (the Cougars won the 1-A/2-A/3-A indoor meet last winter to snap the jinx).
“I've always said that being a bridesmaid seven times was more than enough,” Stroup said.
“At some point today, my jaw just stopped dropping. Instead, I was dragging it around. We talked all year about coming down here and throwing the kitchen sink (at the rest of the meet's field). I think we threw the sink and were pulling plumbing out of the wall today.”
In cool, cloudy conditions, North Carolina recruit Isaac Presson had arguably the best performance of his illustrious career at Asheville.
Presson was named the meet's most valuable athlete thanks to a pair of individual wins — the 800 meters (1 minute, 52.07 seconds) and the 1,600 meters (4:15.99). He set a state record in the shorter of the two races.
Presson also earned a silver medal in the 3,200 meters (9:23.25) and ran a split of 1:49 for the second-place 3,200-meter relay (7:49.04).
“It's a dream come true,” Presson said.
“Today couldn't have gone any better for us. After four years, this is perfect.”
Daisaun White was the Cougars' other individual champion Friday, he soared through the air for a personal-best 48 feet, 4 inches in the triple jump.
Later in the meet, the junior who carries a gold backpack at meets (it was a gift from a friend) joined Brown, Calvin Clark and T.J. Davidson to place second in Friday's final event — the 1,600-meter relay (3:23.57).
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“My teammates said I had perfect form (on the winning triple jump). I'll take their word for it,” White said with a grin.

“Knowing I have another year left, it's huge to win my first title. It's a great feeling. I had some good competition today who pushed me.”
Senior distance runner John Harwell improved his personal record by over three seconds to finish second to Presson in the 1,600 meters (4:17.91). He was also third in the 800 (1:56.96) and seventh in the 3,200 (9:50.28).
Harwell, who won the 2008 NCHSAA 3-A cross country meet, is attending N.C. State as a student and has not yet decided whether he will run for the Wolfpack.
“We scored points everywhere today,” Harwell said. “Everyone has been ready for this meet.”
Cougars senior Darius Drummond, who has signed to play college football for South Carolina State, brought home a bronze in the high jump (6-4).
The Cougars also got fourth-place showings from Brown in the individual 400 meters (49.29), senior Patrick Bohan in the pole vault (13-0) and senior Jamil Hawes in the shot put (50-4).
“My teammates said I had perfect form (on the winning triple jump). I'll take their word for it,” White said with a grin.

“Knowing I have another year left, it's huge to win my first title. It's a great feeling. I had some good competition today who pushed me.”
Senior distance runner John Harwell improved his personal record by over three seconds to finish second to Presson in the 1,600 meters (4:17.91). He was also third in the 800 (1:56.96) and seventh in the 3,200 (9:50.28).
Harwell, who won the 2008 NCHSAA 3-A cross country meet, is attending N.C. State as a student and has not yet decided whether he will run for the Wolfpack.
“We scored points everywhere today,” Harwell said. “Everyone has been ready for this meet.”
Cougars senior Darius Drummond, who has signed to play college football for South Carolina State, brought home a bronze in the high jump (6-4).
The Cougars also got fourth-place showings from Brown in the individual 400 meters (49.29), senior Patrick Bohan in the pole vault (13-0) and senior Jamil Hawes in the shot put (50-4).