The Cape Fear Valley Conference indoor track and field championships were recently contested at Union Pines’ Woodrow Wilhoit Stadium.

According to Union Pines head coach Nat Carter, the Vikings had an outstanding day as Union Pines claimed both the boys’ and girls’ MVP awards.

Senior Tashi Whitney, also a starter for the Lady Viking basketball team, walked away from the meet as the 2010-2011 CFVC Most Valuable Female Athlete. On the day, Whitney was first in the long jump, second in the triple jump, second in the 55-meter high hurdles and third in the high jump.

Whitney’s performance tallied 32 points for the Lady Vikings, who finished second overall at the meet. Victoria Davis was the second highest scorer for Union Pines, winning the triple jump, placing second in the high jump.

Other second place finishers for the U.P. girls were Kyanna Dowdy in the shot put, Elena D’Argenio in the 1,600-meter run. Tyler Ross took third in the 55-m dash. Brianna Stengele, Nina Rhoades, Bridget Taylor and Elena D’Argenio placed third in the 3,200-meter relay.

The third-place Viking boys were led by the 2010-2011 CFVC Most Valuable Male Athlete, Spencer Walden.

“Spencer (Walden) had a day to remember,” Carter said, “winning the high jump at 6’2” and the triple jump at 41’2”. He also finished second in the shot put and ran on the 3rd place 1,600-meter relay team.”

Walden achieved personal bests in each event, as he scored 29.5 points to win the individual MVP award.

Other first place finishers for the Vikings were the 3,200-meter relay team of Tre’ Egerton, Trevor Morris, Ira Vanpelt and Saulo Rodriguez.

Second place finishes for the Vikes went to Sumari Poulson in the 55-m hurdles and Lee Goldston in the high jump.Trevor Morris took third in 1,000-m and 3,200-m runs, Tre’ Egerton placed third in the mile and Ben Peterson placed third in the high jump.

The Viking 1,600-meter relay team of Walden, Rodriguez, Dareus White and Lee Goldston also finished third.

PHS Readies for States

Nine Pinecrest individuals and two relay teams have qualified for the NCHSAA Winter Track and Field Championships to be held at Reid Ross Classical School in Fayetteville on Saturday.

Seven Patriot girls made the field individually led by Hannah Hensley in the 55 meter dash, 55-meter hurdles, long jump and high jump. The sophomore was named the girls’ MVP at last year’s championships.

Sophomores Jennie Cunningham and Kelsey Rea both qualified in the 500-meter run. Cunningham also made it in the 1,000-meter run where her entry time of 3:02, achieved during a meet at Virginia Tech two weeks ago, was the second best in the field.

Other individual qualifiers for the Patriot girls are junior Abby Snyder in the 55-meter hurdles, and freshman Jaleigh Jensen, sophomore Sarah Pressley and freshman Mulloy Manning in the 1,600-meter run.

The 3,200 meter relay team of sophomores Hayden Rudd and Pressley, and seniors Beth Hieronymus and Alexa Zoellner qualified as did the 1,600 quartet made up of Rea, Snyder, Jensen and Cunningham.

Three seniors qualified for the Pinecrest boys. Landon Sherwood and Connor Kelly made the cut in the 3,200 meter run. Sherwood’s entry time of 10:00 was the fifth best in the field. Ian Senior qualified in the pole vault.

The meet is scheduled to get under way at 10 a.m.

Contact F.W. Manning II at frankwm2@gmail.com. Contact Charlie Bergmann at cbergmann@nc.rr.com.