By Christopher Hunt
all photos by Don Rich and Tim Fulton
Sheroid Evans said he knew. He knew for sure. Which means he either has an excellent internal clock or he should buy a lottery ticket on his 18th birthday.
Evans, a junior at Dulles High in Sugar Land, Tx., ran in the second heat of a two-section final in the 400 meters leading wire-to-wire, breaking free from one runner on the last turn while chasing the time from the previous race. He won in 47.55 seconds at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships, beating Clinton Collins (Keller, Tx.), who won the first section in 47.56.
Evans claims he knew as soon as he crossed the tape that he was the national champ. His strategy, running in the second heat, was simple.
“I knew I had to get that time beat,” he said.
Evans was aggressive early and got a push in the last 100 from Alistar Moona (York Region, Ontario). Evans moved as soon as he felt Moona on his tail.
“He didn’t know I still had a kick,” Evans said. “That’s the strong part of my race. I always have a kick.”
His time is the fastest in the country this season. Evans used the same closing speed an hour later to win the 200 in 21.37, tied for 16th best in the nation all-time. Evans said he was unsure about the short turnaround between events. He remembered attempting the same double at his outdoor state meet last spring. He tanked in the 200 that day.
“Today I felt pretty good coming back,” he said. “I’m happy to take both golds back home.”
Alec Faldermeyer wasn’t as happy. Well, not at first. The Minisink Valley senior won the weight throw on his first attempt, 84 feet, 9.75 inches. But it was the fouled attempts that drew his ire. He popped a huge throw on his fifth attempt, one that he thought was out around 88 feet. But Faldermeyer was called for a foot foul.
“I honestly don’t think I fouled that one,” he said.
On his first attempt, Faldermeyer just wanted to make sure he secured a legal throw and took a three-spin approach. It turned out to be his best of the day.
“I definitely knew I had some big things in me after that,” he said. “I had some good throws. My fouls were pretty big ones.”
Justin Welch of Pemberville, Ohio tossed 83-7.20. Davis Fraker (Peachtree, Ga.), who has throw over 80 feet, was third in 76-02.75.
“This means everything,” Faldermeyer said. “Not just the competition but the guys that were in it. Three guys over 80 feet is unbelievable. The field was just so intense.”
Faldermeyer had already won the weight throw at the Nike Indoor Championships. He was aiming at breaking former St. Anthony’s star Walter Henning’s state record of 86-5.50.
“I knew what I had to do to get it,” he said. “I was so close.”
Georgetown Prep’s Joe Woiwode completed a magical weekend where he led an unknown team to a national championship in the 4x800 Saturday, a bronze in the sprint medley Friday and then Woiwode claimed his own national title Sunday by winning the 800 in 1:52.86.
North Carolina’s John Schilkowsky led most of the way, setting a torrid pace that brought the pack through the 400 mark in 53 seconds. Woiwode was barely holding pace. He started to pull the group back in at the bell lap but a crowd of three forced Woiwode to swing wide into Lane 3 off the last turn. He just caught Schilkowsky at the line.
“During the middle of the race I was getting pretty tired,” Woiwode said. “I was just trying to keep up with them. I did not expect to win. I thought I’d be all-American but I didn’t think that I could win. I felt like I had a chance to come top three.”
Arlington’s Jordan Yamoah was even more surprised to win. After a disappointing effort at the New York State meet, where he fouled out at 14 feet, Yamoah won the pole vault Saturday in a personal best 15-5.75. He beat state champ Cory Duggan of Farrell (Staten Island, NY) on misses.
“I was a nerves wreck in the beginning,” Yamoah said. “My hands were shaking and everything. But after the first couple heights, once I started jumping, I calmed down. It didn’t matter to me what place I came in. I just wanted to get a height. Winning is a big bonus.”
Wallace Spencer of Malvern (Pa.) was also seeking atonement in the hurdles after failing to advance from the prelims at the Pennsylvania state meet. Spencer won the 60 hurdles in 7.87. He was ecstatic when he crossed the line.
“It was possibly the greatest moment of my life,” he said. “I had the worst showing at my state meet. I was telling everyone that I was coming here for redemption.”
Colin Mearns of Jamestown (Williamsburg, Va.) scored a five-second personal best to win the mile in 4:13.08. Mearns led after the first quarter with Eric Dillon (Oshawa, Ontario) sitting on his heels. Dillon moved ahead with 400 left. Mearns covered the surge then took a shot at the lead on the home stretch. Dillion was second in 4:13.50.
“Mentally, he almost broke me when he took the lead,” Mearns said. “I just had to stay with him. On the last lap I just had nothing to lose so I went for it.”
Jeremy Elkaim Livingston (N.J.) won the 2-mile in a personal best 9:08.35. Elkaim drafted off John Raneri’s shoulder for the last mile, looking like he was lining Raneri up for a big move. The surge came with 150 remaining when Elkaim exploded down the backstretch.
“I thought I’d wait until 300-350 to go or wait until the last lap depending on how I felt,” he said. “I figured I was better off waiting. … As soon as Raneri took the lead, I let him take it and I figured I’d just try to go at the end.”
Desmond Lawrence (Durham, N.C.) won the 60 in 6.93. It was Lawrence first time 
competing in the 60 meters. The senior ran his first indoor season last year, figuring that 60 meters was a perfect distance for him since he found himself breaking down at the end of 100-meter races.
“I had a great start today,” he said. “Once I got midway though I didn’t see anyone with me so I knew I had it.”
DeMatha Catholic (Md.) won the 4x400 in 3:17.57 with Jordan Lomax (49.5), Christopher Walker (49.2), Thomas Gaither (50.0) and Michael Williams (48.7). St. Anthony’s came from last place after two legs to finish second in 3:19.15 led by Patrick Farmer’s 47.6 anchor leg and becoming the first New York Catholic high school to break 3:20 in the 4x400.
“I heard him coming,” Williams said of Farmer. “I heard the crowd. I knew I had to get going. That boy is fast.”
Reach Christopher Hunt at chunt@armorytrack.com.
DeMatha Catholic, MD - 3:17.54 4x400m
