
The last time West Forsyth girls’ track won the county championship in 2010, it did so not with elite times or performances but with superior depth. Lady Wolverines coach Clayton Tillery calls it “nickel-and-diming them,” valuing consistently strong performances that accumulate points rather than relying on wins to carry the team. But West won the 2014 Forsyth County Track and Field Championships in convincing fashion on Thursday at Lambert by doing both. The Lady Wolverines finished with 173 points, well ahead of runner-up South Forsyth (111). Lambert (97.5), North Forsyth (64.5), Forsyth Central (44) and Pinecrest Academy (4) rounded out the team standings.“I don’t think it’s indicative that we’re that much better than any other team,” Tillery said. “I think it’s indicative that we’re deeper, and that adds up in a hurry.“And when you start sprinkling in a win here, a win there, then all of a sudden it really starts to open up.” The points poured down for West. The Wolverines got wins in the 100-meter dash (Lauren Fletcher, 13.01), 200 (Chandler Randall, 26.87), 400 (Haley Anderson, 59.43), 800 (Anderson, 2:23.08), 400 relay (50.63), 1,600 relay (4:11.57) and 300 hurdles (Courtney Canady, 49.35). South Forsyth distance runner Savannah Carnahan put the state on notice with an impressive performance in sweeping the 1,600 (5:20.39) and 3,200 runs (11:08.08). But West offset Carnahan’s sweep with solid runs by freshmen Liz Galarza and Julie Ericson. The freshmen duo finish third and fourth in the 1,600 and second and third in the 3,200. West was shut out of wins in the field events. North’s Jessica Johnson swept the long jump (17 feet 1 inch) and triple jump (33-11). Central’s Neo Wilde won the high jump (10-10). Lambert’s Victoria Hamby won the discus (89-11) while South’s Ally Welch won the shot put (33-5.5). But even then, West managed 52 points in field events.“To me what was more impressive was the seconds and thirds and fourth and fifths and sixths,” Tillery said. “At that point it becomes a true team effort.” It was an effort that gave Tillery cause for optimism heading into this week’s Region 6-AAAAAA meet at Johns Creek.“It’s a good springboard heading into next week,” Tillery said.