By Tommy Fleming
Morganton News Herald

- Patton sophomore John Schilkowsky

GREENSBORO - John Schilkowsky etched his name into the record books as Robert L. Patton High School's first state champion.

Schilkowsky, a sophomore, ran to perfection during the 800-meter race at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2A State Championships held Saturday at Irvin Belk Track on the campus of N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro.

"It's a great honor to be the first state champion at Patton High School. We have a lot of great athletes at the school," said Schilkowsky. "It's an awesome feeling to be able to represent my school like this."

Schilkowsky entered the state finals seeded first (2:00.10) but knew that West Henderson's Alex Cremer had posted a better time during the spring season.

"There was no pressure because I knew that the No. 2 guy had run a faster time than me coming in," said Schilkowsky. "He didn't have the greatest race in his regional so that is why I got the number one seed. I was trying to go out and run a great race."

Schilkowsky won the 800-meter run with a time of 1:57.28. Cremer finished second (1:58.23) while Durham School of the Arts' Kwame Boatwright placed third (1:58.72).

The talented sophomore ran a well-paced first lap but became tangled in a log jam near the beginning of lap two. Schilkowsky managed to break through two runners to join Cremer and Boatwright heading into the final 300 meters. The athletic strides took shape in the final 100 meters as Schilkowsky passed both runners en route to the finish line and a place in history for himself, family and Patton High School.

"I got caught in a pack on the first lap and had to dodge and dip my way through," said Schilkowsky. "I was just following the leader. I knew that I could out-kick him at the end. I waited until 120 meters to go and then brought it down the home stretch."

Schilkowsky is a straight-A student, president of the sophomore class and a captain on the Panthers' lacrosse team which qualified for the state playoffs for the first time.

Julia Singley also had a tremendous day. The freshman, seeded No. 10 in the 1600 meters, passed three runners in the final 200 meters to claim a sixth-place finish with a time of 5:36.32. Singley's time was more than six seconds faster that her previous best. Cardinal Gibbons' Heather Beichner set a new state record with a mark of 4:57.05 to capture first place.

"This is great. I just tried to stay with a group of girls in the front pack," Singley said. "Then I passed three on the last lap with a strong sprint to the finish line."