Randleman’s Chase Farlow became the Class 2-A state champion in the high jump. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record)
High jumper takes calm approach to victory
GREENSBORO – Randleman’s Chase Farlow had a good feeling when he prepared to leave home Friday morning for the Class 2-A state track and field championships.
That mood turned to elation by the time the high jump competition concluded. He was a state champion.
“You just want to feel it with the big meets,” Farlow said.
And he sure did. Farlow’s leap of 6 feet, 8 inches made him a winner at North Carolina A&T’s stadium.
At 6-8, Farlow was matched by East Burke senior Kenneth Byrd, but Farlow won the competition because it took him only two attempts at that height compared to Byrd’s three tries. Avery Fraley of East Burke was third at 6-6.
Farlow, a junior, made it over the bar without a miss through 6-6.
“I had a good warm-up and I kind of had a feeling,” he said.
He said his focus was good because he knew Byrd and Fraley would be contenders.
“I’m usually more nervous, but I was very calm,” Farlow said. “When it went up to 6-8, my heartbeat went up a little bit.”
William Poole, who coaches Randleman’s jumpers, said Farlow had the right demeanor during the long competition. There were gaps when Farlow made attempts as other entrants were summoned to compete in other events.
“He really just kept it together,” Poole said. “He was so anxious. Just had to calm down.”
Farlow had successful jumps at 6-8 three times this season. He really wanted to eclipse 6-10 on Friday.
He said his first two of the three attempts at that height gave him good chances.
Farlow began competing in track and field as a freshman. He said he tried various events before locking in on the jumps.
“I kind of experienced everything and that was what I was best at,” he said.
Farlow, a defensive back for Randleman’s football team and a wing on the boys’ basketball team, was the best in Class 2-A on Friday.
“Everything he has done worked up to (this),” Poole said.
Southwestern Randolph senior Caleb Shelton cleared 6 feet, placing 11th.
Farlow also qualified for the long jump, but he didn’t advance to the finals. His top mark was at 20-1¾ for 11th place.
Randleman junior Jay Richards was sixth in the pole vault at 11 feet.
Wheatmore senior Zach Hazelwood placed 10th in the 3,200 meters in 10 minutes, 13.86 seconds. Junior Ty Moton of Randleman threw the discus 124-10, placing 11th.
In the 110 hurdles, Providence Grove junior Jackson Rhyne was 12th in 16.0 seconds.
Beane places in high jump
Gracie Beane of Randleman was the third-place finisher in the high jump, clearing 5-4.
That left her behind Burlington Cummings’ D’Anna Cotton, who set a Class 2-A state meet record at 5-8, and runner-up Jasmine Felton (5-6) of Northeastern.
Beane said it was another valuable experience.
“High jump is normally my main event,” she said. “I’m not mad about it.”
Beane suffered an elbow injury in the fall that kept her out of most of the basketball season. It also prevented her from participating in indoor track and field.
She said she hopes to have a smoother senior year.
“You have to build up to the jumps,” she said.
Beane was the 2023 runner-up behind Cotton. Beane also cleared 5-4 last year.
Later Friday, Beane ended up seventh in the triple jump at 35-3¼. That was a one spot improvement from last year’s state meet.
The triple jump was interrupted by a late-afternoon storm when the competition was suspended and the stadium was evacuated.
Cotton won the triple jump at 39-½.
Trinity shot putter Kensley Fox, a senior, had a toss of 30-6 for 14th place.
