Under the watchful eye of veteran coaches Nat Carter and Ed Kelly, the Sandhills Track Club wrapped up another successful summer season with strong showings at the USA Track and Field state, Region 3 and national championships.

“We had a fantastic season that was capped off with a national champion and three medals won at the National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships held in Sacramento, Calif.,” said Carter.

Pinecrest sophomore Hannah Hensley won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the event, where she was joined in representing the Sandhills Track Club by recent Union Pines graduate John Minott, Peter Deucher, a home school student from Vass, and David Shaw (St. Paul’s) and Eric Upchurch (Harnett Central).

Hensley brought home a silver medal to accompany her gold, Carter said, while Shaw also brought home a silver medal. Both Minott and Deucher finished 14th in their events, and Upchurch finished 15th.

The event wrapped up an eventfull summer for the Sandhills Track Club, in which Carter said the club had around 50 athletes competing in developmental, invitational, state and regional meets. The athletes’ ages ranged from 7 to 18.

Carter went on to extend a personal thank-you from the Sandhills Track Club to all its sponsors and supporters.

“Coach Kelly and I would like to sincerely thank all the parents, sponsors and supporters on behalf of the Sandhills Track Club for their help,” said Carter. “We are now looking forward to the fall cross-country season.”

For more information, visit the online home of the Sandhills Track Club at sandhillstrackclub.webs.com.

Contact F.W. Manning II at (910) 639-5481 or by e-mail at frankwm2@gmail.com