Charlotte girls track and field had successful, conference winning season

Ben Murphy
Contributing Writer

(Photo provided – 2023 Girls track and field.)

It had been a long time since the Charlotte girls track and field team won a league championship. A really long time. However, thanks to the Lady Orioles impressive 2023 season, they were able to accomplish just that, winning the Capital Area Activities Conference White; their first league title since 1981.

“The girls worked hard all season, improving times, heights and distances almost every week,” head coach Jeremiah Jewell said. “We talked a lot early in the season about how sad the banner in the Dome looked with the only conference title being in 1981.”

The league championship meet was held back on May 24. Some top placers included Annabelle Densmore winning the 100 meter dash in a time of 12.69, Antonia Ketih was fourth in the 200, Baylee Moore was second in the 400, Avari Montgomery was fourth in the 800 and Isabelle Goodrich was fourth in both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs.
Bailey Mack took second in the 100 hurdles and Densmore won the 300 hurdles in a time of 45.97.

The Orioles won two relay events, those being the 4×100 with runs by McKenna Nichols, Kayla Ewing, Kallie Nichols and Densmore and the 4×200 runs of M. Nichols, Hailey Alward, K. Nichols and Baylee Moore. They won these in times of 52.75 and 1:54.

Allison Slanker was second in the shot put and second in the discus. Keith was second in the high jump, Grace Wells placed third in the pole vault and Keith won the long jump at 15-09.

“I knew going into the season we would be really strong across the board this year,” Jewell said. “The freshman class really filled in all of the gaps we had last year and added some much needed depth.”

The Orioles’ success didn’t stop within the conference either. They qualified for the MITCA Division 2 state track meet, where they took seventh place out of 14 teams. They also took second at the regional meet, and sent five to the state finals.

At the finals, Densmore was able to become the program’s first ever state champion, winning the 300 hurdles in a time of 45.06. She was also able to make all state in the 100 meter dash, with a sixth place finish.

With such a strong showing this year, Jewell is hoping that it paves the way for success heading into next spring as well.

“Next season we are looking to stay at the top of the CAAC White,” he said. “With Olivet and Lakewood joining the conference next year it is going to be a lot tougher. We are losing a very good senior class this year but the incoming freshman class is another strong one.”