WAXHAW — Competing in seven total events at the NCHSAA 7A Central regional championship meet Saturday, the Richmond Senior High School girls’ track and field team qualified for states in one of them.
The Lady Raiders were one of 20 teams participating at the 7A regional title event held at Cuthbertson High School.
Needing to place in the top four spots in order to automatically advance to this week’s state championship meet, the Lady Raiders will be represented by sophomore Zarriahnna Ray.
Entering Saturday’s regional meet, Ray was ranked No. 1 in the region in the shot put. She finished as the regional runner-up in the event.
Ray’s furthest attempt in the shot put landed at 36 feet, 4.25 inches. That mark was just behind regional champion Mishael Armstrong from Fuquay-Varina High School (36 feet, 7.5 inches).
The Lady Raiders’ next closest qualifier in two different events was senior Ka’mora Watkins. She placed seventh overall in the triple jump (34 feet, 3 inches) and was eighth overall in the 100-meter hurdles (16.53 seconds).
Also just missing out on going to states were freshman Shamia Williams (long jump) and the 4x100-meter relay team.
Williams was ninth in the long jump (16 feet, 0 inches) and the 4x100 relay team was also ninth overall (50.12 seconds).
The NCHSAA 7A state championship meet will be held Friday, May 15, at North Carolina A&T State University. Ray and the other 7A shot putters will compete around 10 a.m. at Pit A.
