CARY — The 2009 Wake County Track and Field Championships held at Panther Creek High School on Saturday was not the place a person would have expected to see several meet records toppled.

The eighteen county schools, including athletes from the Tri-Eight, Cap-7 and Greater Neuse conferences, were forced to compete in temperatures exceeding 90 degrees for most of the afternoon.

Despite the intense heat, records were broken, including both of the grueling 3,200 meter relays.

The Cary girls 3,200-meter relay team posted both a new school and meet record as the team of Jenna Christensen, Deanna Foshee, Erin Foshee and Sheridan Jordan finished in 9:32.58 seconds. This was nearly three seconds better than their previous season-best of 9:35.40, set a couple weeks ago at the Apex Bojangle’s Relays. The quartet finished 26 seconds faster than the next best team.

“After the first lap there was no one around them,” said Cary coach Jerry Dotson, whose Imps finished in fourth with 62.5 points. “They handled it really well considering there was no other team pushing them.” In a strange coincidence, each of the four girls ran the exact same split time (2:23).

“In 29 years of coaching I’ve never had a relay team do that,” Dotson said. “We’re really progressing well with that relay. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Sara Sexton, Jordan and the Foshees also improved their best time in the 1,600 meter relay by four seconds, finishing in 4:06.24, second behind meet champion Southeast Raleigh (105). Especially impressive was that for the Foshee’s and Jordan it was their third event of the scorching-hot day. Deanna Foshee also placed in the 800 meter run (2:20.09).

The Cary boys team (48) captured sixth place, and were led by long distance runner Mohammed Abushouk, who won both the 1,600 meter (4:27.51) and the 3,200 meter (9:35.83). Abushouk outdistanced a different Green Hope runner in each event with Bryan Spreitzer (4:30.56) and Zak Roshdy (9:51.72) each taking runner-up in their respective races.

“Mohammed was very impressive to run both of those events,” Dotson said. “He was a man on a mission because he didn’t have his best day at the Apex relays, but to step up in that kind of heat is pretty special.”

Kelsey Campbell of Cary had the top girls high jump of the day (5-feet, 4-inches), while Imp Fre’Shad Hunter had a shot put throw of 47-04.00 in the boys competition.

Green Hope athletes also broke and tied meet records.

The Falcon boys 3,200 meter relay posted a meet record in 7:57.70, edging the previous mark by two seconds. Patrick Moakley, Scott Hefner, Doug Black and Roshdy led the charge for Green Hope (47), who finished the meet in eight place, just behind the Imps.

Falcon Pete Rehder tied the pole vault record of 14-06.00.

Both the Apex girls and boys teams placed well. The boys finished in third with 52.75 points, behind Broughton (59) and three-time champ Southeast Raleigh (61). The girls came in fifth (48), just ahead of host Panther Creek (45).

Josh Powell captured the 100 meter dash (10.78), while Powell, Corey Carr, Brandon Carr and Kevin Fogg improved their time in the 800 meter relay (1:29.84), finishing just one second behind the Capitals.

The Cougar 400 meter relay team of Joey and Josh Powell, Fogg and Corey Carr also finished behind Broughton in 42.63 seconds.

Kelsie Jhabvala of Apex surprised the field by easily winning the grueling 3,200 meter run (11:05.00). Despite the heat, Jhabvala kept the same pace she usually runs, while most of the others in the long races finished far off their normal times.

The Cougar girls 400 (51.59) and 800 (1:45.17) meter relays also posted solid times. Monique Dixon, Shannon Thomas, Lexie Robinson and Jazmine Brown led the 400, while Thomas, Dixon, Janay Moore and Brown paced the 800 team. Mary Theresa Montgomery posted a high jump of 5-02.00.

Cassie Crawford led Panther Creek in the pole vault (11-01), while teammate Chaunda Wilson had a shot put throw of 32-04.50 and Emily Whitfield finished second in the 300 hurdles (46.43). Brett Larson also paced the Catamounts in the 300 hurdles (40.52).

Alexis Murphy represented Holly Springs (35) in both the 100 meter dash (11 seconds) and the 200 meter dash (24.30), winning both events. The Golden Hawks boys were paced by Justin Thomas in the 100 meter dash (10.91) and Josh McClam in the long jump (21-10.50).

Fuquay-Varina’s Jocelyn Keen won the 800 meter in 2:19.70.

Green Hope’s girls 3,200 relay of Sarah Alexander, Lauren Colberg, Cameron Inglis and Carly Roos finished in 10:00.02.

Other area performers included Middle Creek’s Jessica VanHulst in the high jump (5-00), Athens Drive long jumper Phillip Barren (22-00), and 800 meter runners Derrick Hudson (2:01.19) and Matthias Montgomery (2:02.47).