Northwest runner places 27th at state cross country championships

AURELIAN SPRINGS — In her first year of running cross country, Northwest Halifax sophomore Tyauna Bryant made school history when she became the first Vikings’ runner ever to compete at the state cross country championships.

Her  time of 21:53 was good enough for 27th place and the highest finish by anyone from the Northern Carolina Conference (next best was Megan Medlin from Roanoke Rapids who took 58th). In fact, Tyauna's finish was the best place anyone from our conference has done at the state meet since 2006. (Get results by logging onto: http://nc.milesplit.us/meets/61125/results/108669).

Additionally, a week ago at the regional championship race, Tyauna led the way for the conference and her team, placing 7th at the Mideast Regional Championships. At that meet, her fellow Vikings, Jade Mills and Jeremy Vick, both narrowly missed qualifying for the state meet themselves; missed by only one place.

At the conference meet two weeks ago, the Northwest boys team placed 2nd overall, only losing to Bunn High School. This was the best finish by any Northwest boys cross country team in school history.

Bryant’s performance is even more spectacular when you realize her true talent — sprinting. Last spring Tyauna was one of the best sprinters in the conference in the 100m and 200m dash, as well as a leader on the 4x100m relay team, qualifying for Regionals in the three events. This spring she seeks to move up to a slightly longer distance — the 400m dash — as she becomes a leading member of our growing track team. She is a phenomenal student-athlete who also plays in the band, competes in basketball and most importantly shines in the classroom.

“It is a pleasure to work with Tyauna,” Northwest Head coach Mike Bebe said. “Her willingness to put in the extra hours of hard work at practice and miles of running, combined with her "eye of the tiger" mentality, allows her to run with the best in the state.”