The Daily Record
Jaguars’ 4×400 Finishes Season Victorious
By AL MYATT
Sports Editor
The Overhills 4×400-meter relay team saved its best for last in the NCHSAA 4-A meet in Greensboro at North Carolina A& T.
In the concluding event of the final class state meet, the Jaguars held off a closing push by Hoke County for first place in 3 minutes, 19.10 seconds.
The team consisted of seniors Anthony Faraimo, Andrew Faraimo and Antoine Ewell as well as sophomore Zachary Ray.
The Jaguars had been after the gold medal for quite some time.
“We’ve been chasing it for three years,” Anthony Faraimo said. “Last year, we got second in outdoor and indoor season.
“There’s always been little things that happened that messed us up. I was kind of worried this year like another thing would happen but it just came through all together like perfectly. … Meant to be.”
Anthony ran the first leg at the state meet and passed the baton to Ray. Andrew, Anthony’s twin brother, ran the third and Ewell had the anchor lap.
Initially Andrew ran the second leg, following his brother. Ewell ran the third segment and Ray finished the race.
“We decided to switch it up after regionals because the second leg — other teams usually put like taller runners there,” Andrew Faraimo said. “We decided Zachary would probably match up better with the other teams’ second legs. It worked out.”
Ray didn’t have the same sense of history as the seniors, who had been nipped by Southeast Raleigh indoors and outdoors as juniors.
He had a different mountain to climb.
“I went from being somebody that was just there last year to this year being one of the top runners on the team, which is amazing,” Ray said.
Ray worked to develop his speed.
“Weekends, weekdays, after practice,” he said.
Ray took the spot on the team that Quincy Ridley held last year. Ridley has moved on to the track program at UNC Pembroke.
Storm Creates Anxiety
Overhills coach Wendy Ray was afraid her elite team wouldn’t get a shot at a state title.
“We almost didn’t have it because there was a big storm that came in to A& T and they evacuated the entire stadium,” she said. “It was close to two hours, we were underneath the bleachers.
“We didn’t know if the state meet was going to get canceled because of the storm. … I just kept praying that they would keep the meet and they did.
“We had to wait for a long time and it was really hard on them. They had to stay focused and they had to stay warmed-up. … One thing that I told them was ‘Anything good is worth waiting for.’” Every runner was intent on providing a lead for Ewell on the final lap.
“I did have a lead,” Ewell said. “I was running against faster legs, like 48s and 47s. I had just run a 49 so I was depending on them to give me a lead — just enough where I could just finish. That’s how it worked out. They were gaining on me at the end.”
Hoke County junior Jalen Jones ran a 48.45 but it wasn’t enough to catch Ewell, who ran a 49.74.
The Overhills quartet was rewarded.
“The boys have been working hard all season to perfect their handoffs, make them really smooth,” Vance said. “They’ve worked on their ending sprints.
“They run other relays, too. This one is their favorite one. They’ve just been working really hard.
“They challenge each other. Each of them helps to motivate the other to work. … It all paid off.”
From left are assistant coach Russell Ewell, Antoine Ewell, Anthony Faraimo, Andrew Faraimo, Zachary Ray and coach Wendy Vance.
Daily Record Photo/Al Myatt
