A- .
ACS Eagles Soar as they Seize the Crown, but Wanliss and Thornton Steal the Show by:Adam Hearn
After two heartbreaking runner-up finishes in 2008 and 2009, and a grueling third place finish in the 2010 Georgia Olympics, the Eagles of Athens Christian ended their 2011 season on a high note in winning Class A with a final team score of 50 points. The Eagles, sitting pretty going into Saturday with a 26.67 point lead, needed to hang on for dear life as other teams with monster sprinting programs attempted what could have been an epic comeback. It all started in the 4x100 meter relay on Saturday where Dooly County got out to a blazing start out of the blocks and into the first straightaway, but the Eagles of Mitchell County nipped Dooly at the line after being down about five yards at exchange zone three to get the gold with 42.31 in the gutsy race. Up next on the new, resurfaced track at Jefferson High School was the 400 meter dash, where Holy Innocents' stalwart O'Neal Wanliss broke the tape in 47.77, running away from the stiff competition as Marvin London finished second with 49.72, followed by Athens Academy's BJ Speaks who took the bronze in one of the fastest 400 meter races for Class A in years. Mitchell County struck again in the 100, adding ten points to their total with a 1st place finish by Justin Scott-Wesley in 10.76. Ernest Butts left it all on the track, taking the silver in 10.94. The 110 hurdles gold medal went to Warren County's Jabari Wilson as he dominated the race and the clock with14.98. One of the favorites, Phillip Jackson, apparently tripped on the 2nd hurdle and exited the track in strange fashion. Fans were eager to get the 800 underway, as there was apprehension buzzing through the crowd. Two region 5-A rivals, Cameron Thornton and O'Neal Wanliss, lead the pack along with Henry Dwyer going through the 400 at around 52 seconds, then Wanliss made his move. He lead by at most 10 meters on the back straight before Thornton began his counter, closing in with 150 to go. The two were neck and neck in the last 50 meters, but a dramatic dive at the line by Thornton wasn't enough as Wanliss held on for the gold in 1:49.618. The efforts by the two athletes placed them first and second All Time, All Class in Georgia History, and also marked the first and second times anyone has gone under 1:50. Wanliss now holds the all-time record, beating out the previous 1:50.17 record set by Marist's Mahoney in 1999. As the Class A fans were still buzzing about the epic 800, the 200m provided another chance for Mitchell Co. to narrow the lead some more. Jordan Sartor of Our Lady of Mercy came out victorious with a 21.75, then shortly afterwards Joe Neiner of Pinecrest Academy surprised the crowd with a lean at the line for the win in the 300m Hurdles by six hundredths of a second with a blazing 39.776. ACS had clinched the title by the time the 4x400 meter relay had started, but they still brought their A game. Terrell County lead the race for the first three legs, and the favorite Whitefield Academy was sitting in fourth when the baton was passed to Cameron Thornton, looking for a comeback after his second place attempt in the 800. He clocked in a 49.5 split, handing the Wolfpack another state title in the 4x400 in 3:24, with Terrell Co. taking the silver. Darlington also must be commended as they scored points in many events placing pressure on champ ACS and ending up 3rd with 42 points.
ACS Coach, Tim Cummings reflects back on the Meet and State Title: " Three very long, anxiety ridden days, but the kids never stopped believing and the Lord bailed us out of some deep holes we jumped in on Thursday and Friday and it all worked out. On Saturday it felt like Mitchell County and Darlington had machine guns aimed at us all day, and we had a single shot pellet gun. Can't say enough about how some of our kids really stepped up and did some unheard of things: Zack Resop, our Junior, first year high jumper has jumped 6-0/6-2 most of the year, comes in and jumps 6-8. I saw it happen and still don't believe it. Josh and Josiah sealed it with a 1-2 finish in the 3200; Freshman and Sophomores stepped up and got big points. Just really fun. I still say single A is the hardest classification to win, just look at the 800; high jump, pole vault; etc. Proud of my Seniors who went 2008-runner-up; 2009-runner-up; 2010- 3rd place. They never gave up and it finally happened for them as Seniors. Thanks to the staff and our MS coaches, they are the best.. "
State Records Broken
Pole Vault-Wes Ayres, Wesleyan, 14' 7"
Discus-Jeremy Blue, Schley County, 167' 9"
800 Meter Run-O'Neal Wanliss, Holy Innocents', 1:49.618
Saturday's Winner's Circle:
4x100 Meters: Mitchell County- 42.31
400 Meters: O'Neal Wanliss Holy Innocents- 47.77
100 Meters: Justin Scott-Wesley Mitchell County- 10.76
110 Hurdles: Jabari Wilson Warren County- 14.98
800 Meters: O'Neal Wanliss Holy Innocents- 1:49.61
200 Meters: Jordan Sartor Our Lady of Mercy- 21.75
300 Hurdles: Joe Neiner Pinecrest Academy- 39.77
4x400 Meters: Whitefield Academy- 3:24.14
AA- This was a battle between new region rivals (8-AA). Elbert County had enough big scorers qualify for Saturday to sail past North Oconee, but blew a tire with a DQ in the 4 x 100 Finals. The Titans of NOHS were left with just 2 events, but that included Ian Wraga in the 800 and a fast 4 x 400 squad that burned down a 3:24 Friday evening to Q. Elbert got big points from Marquice Dye as he placed 2nd in the 100m at 10.92, followed by Valdon Cooper's Gold in the 110 Hurdles at 14.37.
Ian Wraga once again took the Silver in the 800m at 1:56.27 behind defending Champ Jabrelle Crawford of Putnam County (1:55.01) giving the Titans 8 big points, but Ethan Alexander of Elbert ran great placing 4th in 2:00.03 giving the Devils 5 unexpected points heading into the the last 3 events. Davion Shackleford came through big next placing 4th in the 300 Hurdles in 40.11 giving Elbert County an 8 point lead going into the 4x400 that included the Titans. North OC ran tough placing 3rd with a team pr in 3:22.38, but Elbert made sure of their exchanges and ran well enough to lockup the title with a 5th place effort of 3:32.09.
Saturday's Winner's Circle:
4x100 Meters: Appling County- 42.15
400 Meters: Jalil Braxton Lovett- 48.71
100 Meters: CJ Moore Buford- 10.89
110 Hurdles: Valdon Cooper Elbert County- 14.37
800 Meters: Jabrelle Crawford Putnam County- 1:55.04
200 Meters: Karnorris Benson Therrell- 21.88
300 Hurdles: Kerry Mata East Hall- 39.08
4x400 Meters: Putnam County- 3:21.09
AAA- After a balanced effort from the Field, Carrollton was in mighty fine position to pile on the points and the Trojans did not disapoint as they closed the door on 3A after Jonathan Jones 14.02 Carrollton was dominate. Even with one of, if not the fastest guy in the state injured, their win was never in doubt. It also showed what a classy team guy Snoddy is by competing even when he wasn't 100%. No one would have faulted him for not running. They are probably the best team all -class.Gold performance in the 110 Hurdles. The Trojans got a big jumpstart from their 4x100 squad racing to 2nd in 41.68 behind champion Cedar Grove (41.59) Broderick Snoddy scored 9 points in the 100 and 200 meter races. Jonathan Jones then poured on the gravy winning the 300 Hurdles in 37.39 and the victory celebration got in full swing at the Trojan's tent.
Saturday's Winner's Circle:
4x100 Meters: Cedar Grove- 41.59
400 Meters: Tamaric Johnson Stone Mountain- 47.92
100 Meters: Reginald Lewis Westover- 10.67
110 Hurdles: Jonathan Jones Carrollton- 14.02
800 Meters: Zane Coburn Grady- 1:54.73
200 Meters: Tamaric Johnson Stone Mountain- 21.67
300 Hurdles: Jonathan Jones Carrollton- 37.30
4x400 Meters: Cedar Grove- 3:19.65
State Record Broken: 400 METER RELAY Kwenton Womack, Marlon
Coley, Authur Wainwright,
Michael Brooks, Rashard
Ponder, Greg Terell
Cedar Grove (5-AAA) Heat 1 41.19
AAAA- This was anyone's title going into Saturday and the scoreboard reflected that after the 110 hurdles with Clarke Central tied with Pope, Kell only 1 point back and Alcovy within serious striking distance..Kuaniyal Chol scored 8 points for Dunwoody in the 800 in the race of the day thus far in 1:53.61 behind defending Champ Shaquille Walker of Richmond (1:53.27)--
Clarke Central from Athens picked up big ones in the 200 meters behind Quenshaun Watson's Bronze at 21.67 and teamate Jeremy Hughes' 6th in 22.05 putting the Glads' atop the leaderboard with no athletes left but it turned out to enough for the team title!
Saturday's Winner's Circle:
4x100 Meters: Creekside- 41.13
400 Meters: Michael Newton Sprayberry- 47.49
100 Meters: Dequadis Tucker Carver, Atlanta- 10.60
110 Hurdles: Jordan Moore Union Grove- 14.38
800 Meters: Shaquille Walker Richmond Hill- 1:53.27
200 Meters: Dequadis Tucker Carver, Atlanta- 21.35
300 Hurdles: Demetri Sawyer Alcovy- 38.44
4x400 Meters: Morrow- 3:16.96
AAAAA- Peachtree Ridge continued their anticipated march to a State title going into Finals and the Tori Tillman show was going to unfold soon enough to help them pull away...Brookwood made a late rush behind the Paul Beaty's victory in the 110 Hurdles at 14.35 and the 800 duo of Sean Brennan and Jackson Wearn who placed 2nd and 3rd respectively at 1:54.51/1:54.82....But Tillman sealed the deal for the Lions with a 2nd place finish in the 200m (21.33) giving them 61 points. South Gwinnett closed out the Georgia Olympics cruising in 3:16.82 in the 4x400 relay.
Saturday's Winner's Circle:
4x100 Meters: Newton- 41.79
400 Meters: Alexander Reese Lassiter- 48.16
100 Meters: Torri Tillman Peachtree Ridge- 10.69
110 Hurdles: Paul Beaty Brookwood- 14.35
800 Meters: Adel Yoonis Wheeler- 1:54.23
200 Meters: Alexander Reese Lassiter- 21.20
300 Hurdles: Reggie Williams Groves- 38.16
4x400 Meters: South Gwinnett- 3:16.82