Butler boys, Myers Park girls repeat as SW4A track champions
The Butler boys’ and Myers Park girls’ track teams came into the Southwestern 4A conference championships looking to defend their respective league titles.
Both teams were able to repeat as SW4A track champions with comfortable margins, with Butler taking the boys title by 55 points over Myers Park, while the Mustangs claimed the girls’ crown by 44 points over the Bulldogs.
Senior Chuka Soronnadi led the Bulldogs’ boys team, winning both the 100- and 200-meters dashes, while also helping the 4x100 and 4x200 to conference titles. Soronnadi was named the meet’s most valuable runner for his efforts.
“At the end of the day, we had a job to do and everybody came out and pulled their weight,” said Butler track coach Mark Sanders, who was named SW4A boys’ track coach of the year.
Myers Park’s Chris Wright was the meet’s field athlete MVP after winning the discus and shot titles.
East Mecklenburg’s Eyen Ingram was also a double-event winner, claiming the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles’ championships.
Meanwhile, the Myers Park girls had a balanced effort by Mary Prouty (Georgia Tech signee) who won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter run titles, while helping the 4x800-meter relay to a championship as well.
“It feels good to win back-to-back (SW4A) conference championships,” said Myers Park track coach Lamont Hayes, who was named SW4A girls’ coach of the year. “This wasn’t quite as easy as last year, but our girls stepped up and did what they needed to do. It was a total team effort.”
Independence had two three-event winners in SunSara Williams and Lydajah McLeod.
Williams won the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes; McLeod won in the long jump, triple jump and 300-meter hurdles.
Williams was the SW4A most valuable runner of the meet, while McLeod was the field athlete MVP.
Quote
“This (SW4A) was important to us to win the conference championship. But in some ways, track season doesn’t really start until next weekend (at regionals).” –Sanders
Worth mentioning
Butler coach Mark Sanders said Chuka Soronnadi is just starting to be at 100 percent after suffering from shin injuries earlier this season.
Soronnadi, who Sanders said has drawn a lot of college track interest, hopes to be at his best in the final two meets of his Butler track career (regionals/state).
What’s next?
Southwestern 4A athletes who qualified for regionals will compete at the 4A West Regional meet May 2 at Watauga High in Boone. The top four finishers in each event at regionals move on to the 4A state meet, May 9, at N.C. A&T in Greensboro.
This story was originally published April 23, 2015 at 11:53 PM with the headline "Butler boys, Myers Park girls repeat as SW4A track champions."