After winning a 1A state championship in the 200-meter dash last year, Lamar Whidbee had to come up with something special to top that his senior season. Whidbee almost did just that as a legitimate threat to win three gold medals, but an injury kept him from pulling off the triple in just his second year of competitive track.

Still, Whidbee's performance on the track in 2008 was unparalleled in the area as he earned his second consecutive Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

File photo (ENLARGE)

Lamar Whidbee is the Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row.

"He definitely had a great year," Perquimans coach Mike Horwat said. "It's a shame he only came out his junior year. He could have been more of an impact throughout his four years in high school. We were fortunate to get him out for two years and he's going to leave with a state championship and a couple runnerups in the state. He's done a fine job."

Whidbee won both the 100 and the 200 at the 1A East Regional at LeJeune High School this year and anchored the 4x100 relay team to a second-place run. Those totals helped the Pirates amass enough points to rank third at the meet.

At the state meet at North Carolina A&T University, Whidbee came up just short in the 100, getting edged by just .2 seconds. Then, while running in the 4x100 relay with the Pirates leading the race, Whidbee pulled a hamstring and had to slow up and the team finished second. He was unable to run in the 200, where he was the top qualifier.

Those finishes, coupled with other strong showings, had Perquimans finish 11th in the state.

"I'm very proud of L.J.," Horwat said. "We're definitely going to miss him. Hopefully, this is an opportunity for the younger guys to come off of his example and pick up where he left off."

Despite being one of the top runners the area has seen in recent years, Whidbee will be playing football in college. He accepted a scholarship to play wide receiver for Winston-Salem State in the fall. Whidbee, who also played basketball and helped the Pirates reach the regionals, also considered football scholarship offers from Navy and North Carolina Central.

"If he does decide to (run track in college), he definitely has the capability to be help them be a contender too," Horwat said. "He's blazing fast and has a good work ethic. We wish him the best in everything he does."

2008 All-Area Team

Tyrell Beasley Pasquotank

William Armstrong Pasquotank

Eric Darden Pasquotank

Devonte Cummings Pasquotank

Carl Boone Northeastern

Jabari Bryant Northeastern

Dougie Forbes Currituck

Brandon Collier Currituck

Anthony James Edenton

Graham Mills Edenton

Johnny Reinhold Edenton

Robert Witzigman Edenton

Perry Owens Edenton

Andre Sturges Edenton

Niko Capehart Edenton

Thomas Vaughan Edenton

Kendale Leary Edenton

Darnel Spears Edenton

John Chestnutt Perquimans

Ron Harrell Perquimans

Bashawn Thatch Perquimans

Jamyrius Miller Perquimans

Chris Billingsley Perquimans

Doug Frierson Perquimans

Marcori Ingram Perquimans

Joseph Clark Camden

Kevin King Camden

Doug Reese Camden