Mallard Creek takes the NCHSAA 4A state track title

GREENSBORO – It took a few years, but Mallard Creek can now claim a state championship in another sport.

The Mavericks’ boys’ track team, behind jumper Keon Howe and a strong showing in the sprint relay events, won its first N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state title Saturday.

Mallard Creek won four events and finished second in a fifth, and finished the daylong meet with 56 points, beating Durham Hillside by 18 points.

That makes the Mavericks the first Mecklenburg County boys’ team to claim a NCHSAA state outdoors track title since Vance High won the 4A championship in 2010.

“Honestly, when I saw our team’s performance at the (MECKA 4A) conference meet, I knew it was possible,” Mallard Creek boys’ coach Donald Littlejohn said.

“They really wanted it. They were at practice on time, and they always wanted to stay a little bit later, working on handoffs and things like that.”

Howe, a Charlotte signee in track, was named the meet’s most outstanding male athlete after he won two individual events. The Mavericks also won the 400- and 800-meter relay events, and Cravont Charleston finished second in the 100-meter dash.

Howe tied the state all-classifications record of 16 feet, first set in 2008, in winning the pole vault, and took the high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 10 inches.

To add to the degree of complexity, Howe was competing in both events at the same time, moving from one side of N.C. A&T’s Irwin Belk Track to the other.

“It was very difficult,” Howe said. “I had to really focus and keep my mind right. But I was not expecting this at all – this is as much as surprise to me as everyone else. It’s a great way to end my high school career.”

Worth mentioning

Mallard Creek’s girls finished fifth in the 4A state meet, won by Winston-Salem Parkland for the second straight year. The Mavericks finished two points behind High Point Central. Cary was second, 35.5 points behind Parkland and 1.5 points ahead of Apex. … Mallard Creek’s girls won two events – Alycia Springs in the discus, and the Mavericks’ 400-meter relay team set a state record. … Olympic’s Khayla Dawson won the girls shot put. … North Mecklenburg’s Vincent Crisp won the boys 800-meter run.

This story was originally published May 9, 2015 at 7:03 PM with the headline "Mallard Creek takes the NCHSAA 4A state track title."