Draughn’s Knox signs offer from Montreat College

Draughn senior Audrey Knox in a special May 8 on-campus ceremony officially signed her national letter of intent to participate in women’s track and field at Montreat College starting in the 2026-27 indoor and outdoor seasons.

Knox, whose spring senior season was highlighted by one win and pair of second-place finishes in jumping events, said she visited the mountain campus last fall with her mom.

“I just talked to some of the coaches and got to see the environment,” Knox said. “It’s a gorgeous campus, and the people are really nice there. I like that when you commit with Montreat, you’re obviously committed and it’s your sport. But it doesn’t consume your whole life.”

Knox said she finalized her decision to attend Montreat in January just before the outdoor season “after talking it over with my family and making sure it was the right decision for me.”

Knox started track in her eighth-grade year at Heritage Middle School and participated in outdoor track all four years at DHS as well as competing in indoor track in each of her last three years.

She first qualified for the NCHSAA West Regional in the triple jump during her outdoor season as a junior, then qualified for the indoor state championship meet in triple jump and as part of the 4x200-meter relay team as a senior.

This spring, she had qualified for regionals in the triple jump, long jump, and 200 meters before having to sit out last weekend after a hamstring pull late in the regular season.

“I want to thank (Draughn assistant) coach (Sarai) Hayes,” Knox said. “She helped me grow and progress with everything that I did, helped me if I had anxiety before meets, she was just a really good role model.

“And then Anna Cape, she’s my teammate and best friend, and she helped me a lot too. And then, of course, my parents for supporting me through everything. My dad did track in high school and had a chance to run track in college, so it means a lot to him.”

Wildcats head coach Jonathan Winkler said Knox “works at her craft and really enjoys it, and Montreat’s a good school to do it at.”

“She competed up there a couple years ago when we had regionals there,” Winkler added, “so she kinda knows the track and the campus a little bit. It’s an awesome opportunity for her. I know she’s really excited about it. She’s been talking about it for a few years.”

Knox, who plans to major in business administration at Montreat, said her favorite DHS memories come from her time with the track program.

“Just hanging out with my team at practices and at meets,” she said, “on the bus rides to and from meets, getting stuff to eat, and making friendships as a team.”

The Montreat women placed third out of 12 indoor teams and fourth out of 13 outdoor teams in this year’s NAIA Appalachian Athletic Conference championship meets.