ROCKINGHAM — More than a dozen student-athletes at Richmond Senior High School were recently named to their spring sports’ All-Sandhills Athletic Conference team.
With the season winding down, and some programs now officially finished, Sandhills Athletic Conference president Dr. Chad Hill released the rosters for the boys’ golf, boys’ tennis and boys’ and girls’ track and field All-Conference teams.
The Raider tennis team had two selections, the Raider golf team had three players named and the track and field program had 14 student-athletes chosen across seven events. One coach was also named the SAC’s leading coach.
Coleman, Rich take top awards for track and field
The largest group of All-Conference members went to the Richmond track and field program.
Senior Aaron Coleman was named the SAC’s “Runner of the Year.” Primarily a hurdler, Coleman won the SAC championship in the 110-meter (14.20 seconds) and the 300-meter (39.47 seconds) races.
Also earning a top recognition was John Rich, who was tabbed the SAC’s “Coach of the Year” for the first time in his career.
Other individuals to make the All-Conference team were junior Domonic Tillman (high jump) and sophomore Elijah Ingram (shot put). Both Raiders finished second overall in their respective event at the SAC championship.
Junior Ka’mora Watkins was the lone Lady Raider to qualify for her team in her event, the long jump. Her distance of 16’-3.5” put her second at the SAC championship.
Three different relay teams from Richmond were also named All-Conference — the boys’ 4x100 and 4x200-meter teams and the girls’ 4x100-meter relay team.
The boys’ 4x200-meter relay team won the SAC championship with a time of 1:28.20. Those All-Conference runners were senior Deshaun Ingram, juniors Amer Morrison and Christian Surgent and freshman Ty Covington.
Both the Raiders’ (41.61 seconds) and Lady Raiders’ (50.98 seconds) 4x100-meter relay teams clinched second place at the conference championship.
Representing those groups were Coleman, Covington and juniors Jayden Hamilton and Keonta Pegues (Raiders), and senior Amariah Gibson, junior Taylor Newton, sophomore Janie Walden and freshman Amonie McNeil (Lady Raiders).
Richmond’s track and field teams will compete in the NCHSAA 4A Mideast regional meet Saturday at Green Hope High School.
Trio of Raiders named to first All-Conference team
Following the regular season, the Richmond golf team had its largest representation in recent memory on the All-Conference roster.
Three Raiders made it for the first time in their respective careers — junior Kevin Tabacolde and sophomores Graham Odom and CJ Turner.
Using the average score of each golfer while combining their five best nine-hole scores, Odom, Tabacolde and Turner were three of the 13 golfers named to the team.
Turner had the leading score for the team and was 11th overall in the conference with a nine-hole average score of 40.6.
Just behind him were Odom in 12th place (40.8) and Tabacolde in 13th place (41.0).
All three golfers competed in the NCHSAA 4A Mideast regional tournament Monday at Longleaf Golf and Family Club. The Richmond Observer will publish those results when they’re made available.
Jacobs, Leggett end careers with first accolade
Senior tennis players Jordan Jacobs and Matthew Leggett rounded out the recent All-Conference team selections.
As the No. 1 and No. 2 singles players on Richmond’s roster, Jacobs and Leggett each earned his first respective postseason accolade.
While tough solo competitors on the court, Jacobs and Leggett were most effective as Richmond’s No. 1 doubles pairing.
The two Raiders finished second overall in the SAC championship tournament and qualified for the NCHSAA 4A Mideast regional, which was played last week.
As the leading players on the team, both Jacobs and Leggett also helped the Raiders make the NCHSAA 4A dual team playoffs for the third straight season.
