CREEKSVILLE – Jomecka Deloatch tried cross country simply to stay in shape for basketball.

Little did she know that as just a sophomore at Northampton County High School – East, she would be one of the best runners in the Tar-Roanoke Conference, the region and, perhaps, the state.

“I didn’t know much about cross country as a freshman,” said Deloatch. “I just ran to get in shape for basketball. I didn’t know I would be good at it.”

Deloatch has indeed found herself getting steadily better at the sport. She started the season with a time of over 24 minutes and shaved that to 19:23 during the Tar-Roanoke Conference championship meet.

“She has shaved five minutes off her time from the first time she ran this season,” said NCHS-East Head Coach Danny Johnson. “I think she’s done an excellent job. We’ve had meets this year when she finished eight minutes ahead of the field.”

Deloatch was named All-Tar-Roanoke Conference, All 1-A East and was the Medalist in the Tar-Roanoke Conference all just as a sophomore.

When she ran in the 1-A regional event, Deloatch finished third with a time of 21:33. That effort was good enough to get her into the state championship meet this Saturday.

“Right now I want to rank high in the state,” she said. “Next year, hopefully I can win states.”

Deloatch said after her high school career is over she would consider the possibility of running cross country collegiately.

In addition to her cross country success, Deloatch is such an excellent overall athlete, she was named Female Athlete of the Year at Northampton-East for the 2008-09 academic year.