At A Glance
Marvin Ridge High
Coach: Cameron Starr
Between The Lines: The Marvin Ridge boys won the Class 3A Indoor Track and Field Championships back in February. The boys indoor track team has won three of the last four indoor state titles. … The Marvin Ridge girls indoor track team finished fourth in Class 3A this past February.
Depth and tradition seems to be a winning combination for the Marvin Ridge boys and girls track teams as the Mavericks set their sights on the upcoming regional and state outdoor track meets.
The Mavericks boys won the Class 3A Indoor Track and Field Championships earlier this year while the Mavericks girls’ team finished a strong fourth in Class 3A. Both squads are loaded with depth and talent and coach Cameron Starr hopes that combination will prove to be a winning one at the upcoming regional track meet.
“I think we have got off to a good start,” Starr said. “This is one of the largest teams that we have had. I think we have right around 140 athletes. We had more athletes tryout than we ever had. I think it is great to have a lot of numbers.
“The boys won the indoor state championship and I think they are highly motivated to do well this spring season. The girls, we probably have the best senior leadership that we have ever had. Both boys and girls, they are both great groups to work with.”
Distance runner Mason Bhatia is one of the Mavericks anchors as the senior has posted top times in the Southern Carolina Conference in the 800 and 1600-meter runs. Bhatia recently committed to run track at Charlotte.
Bhatia also runs on the 4×800 relay with Luke Wolaver, Jacob Lipsey, and Mack Despard. They have run the event so far this year with an SCC best time of 8:08.21.
“Mason set the new school record in the 1600 in mid-March and he has his sights set on our school 800-meter school record,” Starr said. “He is excited about this season and also his future. He is definitely one of our team leaders.”
Ben Shelley has been equally dominating in the hurdles as senior has the best SCC times in the 110 and 300-meter hurdles. Shelly has a best of 14.61 in the 110-meter hurdles and has clocked a 40.18 in the 300-meter hurdles. Shelley will run track at Yale next season.
D’mitri Emmanuel has given the Mavericks key points in the shot and discus. Emmanuel leads the SCC in the shot (50.4) and the discus (143.10.5) and his discus throw is one of the best in all classes in North Carolina. Emmanuel has signed to play football at Charlotte.
“He is doing well in the shot and discus,” Starr said. “Dmitri’s discus has come a long way and he is coming along in the shot put, too. We have a very talented core of senior boys.”
Junior Peter Shelley leads the SCC in the pole vault while senior Emeka Emezie has posted solid marks in the long jump and triple jump. Junior Myles Hunt is also jumping well while senior Liam Florian is one of the top high jumpers in the SCC with an SCC best of 6-foot-3.
“Peter is getting more and more confident, which is great,” Starr said. “Emezie is also a football player and he is going to N.C. State.”
The Marvin Ridge girls are also loaded with experience and talent.
Senior Elizabeth Reidy leads the SCC in the 100 with a 12.84 and she has the second best time behind teammate and junior Jorja Medders in the 200. Medders also leads the conference in the 400 with a 59.35 and the 300-meter hurdles with a 45.35.
“Elizabeth is a highly-motivated senior,” Starr said. “She is, obviously, our team leader. She is the heart and soul of our team. She just works and works. Her mom was a very talented high school runner. Jorja is extremely talented and she is extremely strong. There are five or six events that she can compete in.”
The pole vault is another strong event for the Marvin Ridge girls as eight of the 11 top spots in the SCC are occupied by Mavericks. Morgan Hampton, Ryleigh Burns and Isabel Crandall are all tied for second in the SCC with vaults of 9-foot-6.
“We have to trim our vaulters down to three at the end of the season, but that is a good problem to have,” Starr said.
