Will Sumner anchoring the winning 4x800m relay team at the 7A state meet. Photo by Alex Brust
Will Sumner, the graduated senior from Woodstock, is one of the four finalists in the vote for the best performance from the 2022 Georgia Outdoor Track and Field Season. We will be running a piece today on each athlete detailing why you should vote for them. Here is the case to be made for Sumner.
Sumner ran a state record in the 800m this year, but it was so much more than just a state record. His time of 1:46.53 is 0.08 seconds off of the national record in the 800 as well. We are talking about a time that may never be beaten by anybody in Georgia. It's certainly possible to make the argument that it's the greatest state record in all of Georgia track and field. That alone is enough to give him your vote.
But if you want to take it a step further, he also broke the state 400m record. He ran 45.78 in the finals of the 7A state meet this spring and broke a record that had been around since 1982. That was the oldest individual record in Georgia. It was truly an iconic record. So to take the record from one of the best runners (and best 400/4x4 coaches) ever in Georgia to go along with another state record means Sumner really had one of the best seasons in state history.
The 800 isn't even his favorite event, as he clearly prefers the 400. But that didn't stop him from anchoring his 4x800m relay team to the win at the state meet, the 4th fastest time ever in Georgia. And to cap it all off he helped his 4x400 team place 5th which gave them enough points to finish on the podium in the team battle. And he did it all without wearing the new "super shoes" for his races.
