BEAUFORT — Andralyn Livingston had quite a career in athletics at East Carteret.
She holds five school records, was on two state finalist teams and a regional championship team, won a state title as a member of a relay team and won the track and field athlete most notable in a conference championship encounter and sportsmanship. Reward in a state championship encounter.
She will now take that impressive resume with her to East Carolina.
“I will miss the track and the encouragement the most, and my coaches for sure,” Livingston said of his time in the Mariners uniform. “I started thinking about it seriously at the outdoor spring meet, realizing that was the last time I was going to be with these people, so it was sad. But I’m really excited for the experience. university, because I think it will be 10 times better.
Livingston accepted a prime spot with the Pirates after considering UNC Wilmington and schools in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The decision was up to ECU and UNCW, and she went with her instincts.
“I had considered a bunch of other schools, and I was having a hard time deciding where I wanted to go, because I wanted to make sure I was going to the right place,” she said. “But after my visit I knew and I was really excited about it. I just wanted to feel at home and love the coaches and the environment. I didn’t have to think about it. It was just where I wanted to go, I just knew.
His chosen major played a part in his decision. She plans to study marketing with a key minor in fashion merchandising and consumer studies.
“Not every school has fashion merchandising, so I had to go to a school with that major,” she said.
Udon Cheek played an important role in her decision-making process, as the laid-back East Carolina assistant coach assured her that she would have fun in the Greenville program while learning a lot.
Cheek also walked to ECU in 1987 and was a volunteer coach in the mid-1990s when former East Carteret star Amanda Johnson shone in sprints and jumps.
Livingston set records at East Carteret in the 55 yards, 100 yards, 200 yards, 300 yards, and 400 yards, some of which were held by Johnson. Others were owned by Cora Johnson, who later competed at South Carolina State.
“It’s a very rare and unique talent that we were fortunate to have at East Carteret,” Mariners coach BJ Frazier said. “Rewriting the record books is impressive, especially when you put your name to Amanda Johnson and Cora Johnson, two elite Division I athletes. Those two are pretty hard to track. Those records have been there since the 1990s. , and we’re sitting in 2022 and they’re just hit, so that’s a huge achievement.
Frazier attributed her explosiveness to her ability to set those records — she set three as a senior, including 7.10 in the 55 meters, 11.9 in the 100 meters and 25.09 in the 200 meters. Pound for pound, he called her the strongest athlete in East Carteret.
“She was 105 pounds and squatting 235, so that’s more than double her weight, which is crazy,” he said. “You look at her and think there’s no way she could put 235 pounds on her back, but she did.”
He also paid tribute to his work ethic. In addition to training with the Mariners, she trained with former high school athletics coach and administrator Ralph Holloway and CrossFit coach Tabatha Mann. She was also a member of the Durham Striders club team.
“She covered a lot of ground in preparation,” Frazier said. “His preparation will help him make a smoother transition to college. I think putting it all in one frame instead of going all over the place to get it is going to be hugely beneficial for her. ECU has a lot more resources, just in terms of trainers, equipment, and tools they can use to help him use his power.
Livingston used his work ethic and power to create many memorable moments for the Mariners, but none quite as memorable as the spring outdoor track meet.
She joined Cece Johnson in nearly winning the 2A state title as a two-athlete team. The two scored 42.5 points to close within 5.5 points of RS Central, which won its first state crown in program history with 48 points. Four Hilltoppers reached the podium to post the bulk of their tally.
Johnson and Livingston have combined for five podiums.
“I was very excited about it,” she said. “The crazy thing is that we could have won everything. We tried our best, but I still think we could have achieved a bit more.
Oddly enough, East also came painfully close to a state championship when Johnson and Livingston were freshmen, dropping two points from Murphy in the 1A encounter. She was part of a state championship 400-meter relay team at that meet.
Livingston finished second in the long jump as a senior with a jump of 17 feet, 08.25 inches.
She might have left the competition with two state crowns if it weren’t for RS Central’s Joyasia Smith, who claimed the competition’s MVP title with victories in the 100 meters and 200 meters.
Smith beat Livingston 12.04-12.14 in the 100 and 25.19-25.72 in the 200.
“In the 100, I was so close to winning it, just lost by a body part,” she said. “But I always say, ‘What’s for us is what’s for us’, which means whatever we do, that’s what was meant to be. I never get depressed about the result, because I see it as a way to improve myself, to learn from it.
Livingston received the Sportsmanship Award at the encounter. She also showed that kind of spirit as a cheerleader at East Carteret. She took the sport as seriously as athletics and worked in it almost as much.
“I had a tough decision when I was a freshman, trying to decide if I wanted to go to college to cheer or follow, because I like both,” she said. “Ironically the ECU cheer coach wanted me to come and try out for their team this year, and I had to tell him I was going for the track. I will always love joy. I plan to coach the joy one day in the future.
