By JOHN RAFFEL
Coach Jeremiah Jewell had an excellent team at Charlotte this season.
Jewell has been coach for five varsity, and 11 middle school campaigns.
Charlotte had a record of 6-1 in league duals and were CAAC Conference Championship Meet Champions and finished in a tie for first in the CAAC White with Olivet.
“It was another great season,back-to-back league champions,” Jewell said. “Before last season the last league championship was in 1981. There were four runner-up trophies on the season and one champion in invitationals. The team exceeded expectations and showed up huge in the league championship and did everything they needed to in order to win a share of the title.
“It was a very young team again this year, only graduating four seniors this year. The freshman and sophomore classes are very large and very athletic. We lost a very talented sophomore distance/mid-distance runner before the first meet to a surgery and a lengthy rehab, she wasn’t able to run most of the season and never really got all the way back before the season ended.”
There were many top athletes:
Kayla Ewing – Senior Captain – Hurdler, qualified for states in 100H and 300H. Also part of the 4X100M Relay Team. “Kayla was all conference in all three events,” Jewell noted.
Kallie Nichols – Sophomore high jumper/sprinter/relays. She qualified for states in high jump with a Jump of 5-1. All conference in 4×100 meter and 4×400 meter relays as well as high jump and the 400 meter dash.
McKenna Nichols – Sophomore long jumper/sprinter/relays. Qualified for states in Long Jump with a Jump of 16-6.5. All-conference in 4×100 meter and 4×400 meter relays as well as long jump and the 400-meter dash.
Avery Silvas – Freshman high jumper/800 meter/1600 meter/relays. All conference in high jump, 800 meter, 1600 meters and the 4X400-meter relay.
Elina Byers – Junior sprinter/relays. All-conference in 100-meter dash, 4×100 meter and 4×200 meter Relay. Honorable mention in the 200-meter dash. “Elina came back strong after missing last season with a shoulder injury/surgery that ended her season before it started,” Jewell said.
Helena Goodrich – Freshman distance runner. All conference in the 3,200 meter and honorable mention in the 800 meter and 1600 meter. “Helena is an absolute work horse, and multiple times this season she would PR in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter races all in the same day while many times running in the 4X800M relay.
There will be some key graduates.
“We’re losing Kayla Ewing in the hurdles, no other hurdlers are close to her times yet but they are young and getting better,” Jewell said. “There are a lot of the freshman/sophomores returning that are going to help out next year. Kallie and McKenna Nichols, Avery Silvas, Helena Goodrich, Baylee Moore and Avari Montgomery.
“Next year looks like another strong year with such a large number of underclassmen and only losing a couple seniors. If all goes well we should be in the hunt for a third straight conference championship. We are a young team and continue to improve every day, this group is fun to coach. The core group of kids show up everyday work hard.”