Showtime! Girls come out smoking in Region meets!

The race for state has started as region meets are taking place around the state. Unbelievable performances abound as the ladies have taken things to a new level in virtually every event. How about these times for starters:
100m-Brittany Long-Therrell 11.67
200m-Brittany Long-Therrell 23.96
400m-Porche Byrd-North Atlanta-54.38
400m-Joanna Atkins-Stephenson-54.13
800m-Brittany Hall-Meadowcreek-2:09.28
800m-Racquel Daly-SW Dekalb-2:14.38
1600m-Emily Reese-Chamblee-4:56
1600m Harriott Kelly-Lovett-5:04.90
1600m-Haley Kolff-Holy Innocents 5:08.75
1600m-Racquel Daly-SW Dekalb-5:10

And then there is this result from Region 5-AAA:
Girls 300m Hurdles Prelims
1 Jasmine Dacus Westlake 43.29Q
2 Quaneshia Cleckley Therrell 43.30Q
3 Caroline Vaughn Blessed Trinity 43.31Q

One of these fine athletes will stay home after region which doesn\'t seem quite right as these represent the top 3 times in the state in the event. A situation similar to last years boys pole vault in AAAA where the 3 best in the state all resided in the same region. The same can be said for the 1600m in Region 7-AAAAA where five of the top 11 girls in the state regardless of classification compete. Competition brings out the best in people and that has definitely been the case so far. In region 5-AA shot put competition, Teannah Holland, of Grady, won the competition with a throw of 39\'2\" while Alexis Rogers, of Holy Innocents, took 2nd with 39\'1.75\". Allison Horner of Lovett, finished a close 3rd in 38\'. In the long jump in Region 5-AAA, 5 girls finished within 4 inches of each other with a mere 1/2 inch separating Mia James Chess of Clakrston from the 3rd place Joy Ferrell of Wesminster. Alecia Hiley of McNair finished another inch back and Santerri Baker of Druid Hills yet another inch off the mark. Brittany Porter of Towers and Mia James will advance to state. Region meets will finish up by Wednesday and then it\'s on to state.

Once again, there will be several stories about deserving athletes that should be at the state meet. The case in Region 5-AAA with the 300 hurdles and the boys pole vault last season make the case that maybe it\'s time to look at the system to ensure that deserving athletes such as these don\'t have to stay home come the state meet. Last year, the argument was made that the situation with the boys pole vault was a once in a lifetime situation and the system should not be overhauled because of it. Now that argument seems invalid and we seriously need to reconsider how we take athletes to state. We owe it to athletes such as Jasmine, Quaneshia and Caroline. Good luck to all at state.