(By Marijo Simpson, CSN Correspondent)
 
Here are the highlights from the end of the Asheville High 2008 outdoor track season:
 
AHS Women 
The Women's team had undeniably the best season ever recorded.  Under the guidance of head coach Randy Ashley and assistant coach Alvin Pickett, and volunteer Chi Sawyer, the girls came in 3rd at the County Meet, 2nd at the Conference Meet and 2nd at the 3A West Regional Meet at TC Roberson on May 10, 2008.
 
Highlights of the West Regional meet include Sophia Treakle (Jr) taking first place medals in the 100 meter hurdles(14.79) and 300 meter hurdles (45.51) setting regional records in both events.  Emily Egelhoff-Whalen (Jr) ran the 800 meters in 2:20.34 to finish in 3rd place; just missing a win by hundredths of a second. 

Sophomore Tyler Jefferies came in 3rd in the Long Jump (15-05.75) and 4th in the Triple Jump (34-09.00).  Minnie Griffin (Sr) jumped 13-11.00 for 9th place in the Triple Jump.  Cara Hayes took 5th place in the 1600 meter run (5:34.54).  Kelsey Hanger (Sr) (12:28.48), and Eva Humphrey (Jr) (12:45.22) came in 5th and 6th in the 3200 meter run.
 
The relay teams did an outstanding job with every relay qualifying for the state meet. The 4x400 team, composed of Egelhoff-Whalen, Tatisha Lee (Fr), Etopia Logan (Fr), and Treakle came in first place (4:12.07).The 4x800 team (Egelhoff-Whalen, Hanger, Hayes and Humphrey) finished second (10:15.54). The 4x200 team, composed of Aja Cobbs (So), Lee, Logan, and Katherine Silvers (Sr), came in third (1:49.64) while the 4x100 team with the same runners finished fourth (51.83).
 
3A State Championship
 
Fifteen women qualified for the NCHSAA 3A State Meet held at North Carolina A&T University on May16, 2008, the highest number of female athletes from AHS ever to compete. The team placed seventh overall with 31 points.
 
Sophia Treakle defended her 2007 state championships by once again taking the 100 meter hurdles (14.87 ) and the 300 meter hurdles (43.15) - setting a new state record in the latter event. She is now ranked third in the North Carolina Top 25 All Time list in the 300 meter hurdles.
 
Emily Egelhoff-Whalen took third in the 800 meter run (2:19.77), beating all other competitors from the West Region. Tyler Jefferies jumped 15-09.5 for 10th place in the Long Jump and 36-06.00 for 9th place in the Triple Jump.
 
In the relays, the 4x400 team finished 6th (4:10.97); the 4x800 team finished 7th (9:57.63); and the 4x100 team finished 15th (51.86).
 
Cara Hayes will run for UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall.  Kelsey Hanger will run for Appalachian State University.
 
We are just now beginning to compile records for the Women's team. Anyone with knowledge of the history of the team and outstanding athletes, please contact Marijo Simpson at: mjsimpson@charter.net.
 
AHS Men
 
The strength of the Men's team was evident in winning both the Buncombe County and the MAC Conference Meet. Head Coach Chris Stroup and Jumps Coach Todd Hornaday continue to attract both talented athletes as well as volunteer coaches such as Stephanie Jackson, Rocky Cunningham, and Lee Harwell.
 
At the West Regional meet Isaac Presson (So) earned the most points for the team - finishing 1st in the 800 run (1:59.37); second in the 1600 (4:24.84); and 3rd in the 3200 (10:00.53).  Presson also contributed to the 2nd place finish of the 4x800 team (8:14.08) which included Elliot Mills (Sr), John Harwell (So), Tyrell Mauldin (Jr), and Logan Tarleton (Sr). 
 
First place finishes also went to Giovanni McKnight (Jr) in the 100 meter dash (10.81) and Rakeem Morgan (Sr) in the High Jump (6-04).  Antonio Carson (Sr) placed 4th in the 100 meter dash (11.12).  McKnight also placed 5th in the 200 meter dash (23.10).  Harwell finished 3rd in the 1600 (4:32.67) and came over the line with Presson in a virtual tie in the 3200 meter run to earn 4th place (10:00.53).  
 
Logan Tarleton finished 3rd in the 800 meter run (2:02.9).  In the Triple Jump, Daisaun White finished 5th (41-07.00); Rakeem Morgan finished 6th (40-09.00) and Anthony McPhearson finished 7th (40-08.00).  The 4x100 relay team (Carson, Morgan , Darius Drummond [So], and McKnight) took 3rd place (43.86). 
 
The 4x200 team (Carson, McKnight, Drummond, and Jason Thompson [Fr]) took 5th place (1:33.68).
 
3A State Championship
 
The AHS men's team finished a strong 3rd overall in the state meet with 52 points; the third consecutive finish of third place or better at the state meet.  First place finishes went to Isaac Presson in the 800 (1:58.05) and to the 4x800 relay team (7:56.98) composed of Presson, Harwell, Tarleton, and Mauldin.  This performance ranks 25th on the North Carolina All Time list and 16th on the "By School" list.  Presson also finished 2nd in the 1600 run (4:19.09) and 11th in the 3200 (10:20.62).  Harwell took 3rd place finishes in the 1600 (4:22.5) and in the 3200 (9:46.33). 
 
Giovanni McKnight took 3rd place in the 100m dash (11:03) and Rakeem Morgan finished 10th in the high jump (6-02.00).  The 4x100 team of Carson, Morgan, Drummond, and McKnight took 6th place.
 
Congratulations to all the Asheville High Track and Field athletes for an exciting season!!!