Jamee' WardCLEVELAND, Tenn. -- It's been three long years since Jamee' Ward finished a basketball season healthy enough to compete in track and field.
She dislocated her hip late in her freshman basketball season and tore ankle ligaments during the postseason as a sophomore. But this year the Brainerd junior suffered "only" a broken nose -- an injury that, although painful, would not prevent her from running this spring.
By her own admission the only reason she runs track is to stay in condition for basketball, where she is an all-state guard. However, she proved during Friday's annual Optimist Meet at Walker Valley that, when healthy, she's also one of the area's top track athletes as well.
Ward won the 400-meter dash and 100 hurdles, finished second in the 300 hurdles to teammate Ebony Callaway and also anchored the Lady Panthers' second-place 4x400 relay.
"To be honest, I don't really like track," Ward said with a grin. "It's just a good way to stay in shape for basketball. But it does feel good to finally be healthy enough to get to show what I can do out here. My goal is to qualify for the state meet in all four events.
"I've got three brothers who won state championship medals in track, so I'm determined to get at least one of those for myself."
Ward's time in the 400 was more than two seconds faster than second-place Olivia Hoffman of Chattanooga Christian, and she also cruised to a relatively easy win in the 100 hurdles.
McKenzie EthridgeWard was one of only two area athletes to win multiple events Friday, with Signal Mountain sprinter McKenzie Ethridge also proving she's completely healed from a foot injury she suffered at last year's state meet by winning both the 100 and 200 meters. Lady Eagles teammates Mallory Young (1600 meters) and Katie Lingle (triple jump) also won events, and Young finished second in the 800 as well. The 4x400 relay of Lingle, Young, Catherine Drennan and Taylor Luthringer also took first place as the Lady Eagles easily won the team title with 135 total points to Baylor's 69.
"This is the first meet we've run against local competition," said Signal Mountain coach Beverly Blackwell, whose team won the Class A/AA state title last spring. "We don't want to peak too soon, but we've got some athletes that, if they stay healthy, can really help us in a lot of events this year.
"McKenzie is looking stronger and stronger, so it's great to see her healthy, and Katie won the triple jump today in only her third time to ever compete in that event. Our 4x400 relay was a weakness last year that we've really tried to take care of."
Tyner's Vivian Smith won the long jump and finished third in the 100 hurdles, while Baylor's Grace Carlson won the 3200 and Lady Red Raiders freshman Rachel Smith won the pole vault and was second in the 100 hurdles.
Steven Crews gave Baylor the boys' pole vault win as well, while teammates Ryan Parker (discus) and Alex Sumida (1600) also had first-place finishes.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.