Highland Tech athlete wins state track championship

CHAPEL HILL — Saturday’s state 1A/2A/3A indoor track championships were like another daily workout for Aaron Tribble.

The Highland Tech senior won the 500 meters, crossing the line in one minute, 6.44 seconds for his first state title.

“I’ve done this every day since practice started,” Tribble said. “So when I woke up this morning, it was routine.”

Tribble said he started strong for the first 200 meters, then held on to edge Patton’s John Schilkowsky by 33 hundredths of a second at Eddie Smith Indoor Arena on the campus of the University of North Carolina.

Tribble also took seventh in the 300 meters, posting a time of 37.93 seconds. Tribble plans to run track collegiately next season but is undecided on his college destination. UNC Wilmington and Western Carolina have offered track scholarships, he said.

Also at the meet, Forestview’s Tatyana Brewton finished fifth in the girls 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.83. Ashbrook’s Destinie Sykes placed sixth in the girls 500 meters at 1:21.81.

Forestview’s Kathryn Crawford ran 43.84 seconds in the girls 300 meters for ninth place.

Ashbrook’s Michael Rogers placed 11th in the boys 3,200 meters with a time of 10:25.12.