Sports
Oxford's Drayton Wins National Championship
Thrower tosses personal best by six feet in discus.
The Oxford High School athletic program can add one more accolade to its tremendous list of accomplishments in the spring of 2013: junior Taylor Drayton is now a national champion.
The discus thrower heaved a personal best - by an astounding six feet - to throw 132 feet, 10 inches, which was good for first out of 35 girls in the Emerging Elite Division at the New Balance Outdoor Track and Field High School National Championships at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. Friday.
The Emerging Elite Division is one step below the top performers nationwide - it's equivalent to the top division of the minor leagues in baseball.
"The goal is to prepare these athletes for the elite division by the time they are seniors," Coach Ed Lucas said.
He said Drayton has proven she can compete among the best in the country and in all likelihood will be competing in the elite championships next year.
"For her to have her personal best by six feet is just amazing," he said. "She really stepped up. She has been hurt all season, but she is feeling well, the weather was right and everything came into place for her."
Drayton was busy Friday night competing in another event, the javelin. The discus is her best event.
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