Devils Make It Three of Four!
Tifton, GA – The Tift County Blue Devils Track and Field team won the region championship in dramatic fashion Wednesday night, earning their third title in four years. The Devils finished just three points ahead of Lowndes County as the Vikings made a late charge at the title.
The first two athletes in each event earned the right to compete at the Georgia Olympics in Jefferson, Georgia May 5-7. The Track Devils will take thirteen athletes to the competition this year.
The competition began at 10:30 a.m., but the outcome was not determined until Wednesday evening with the final race, the 1600 meter relay. The Blue Devils struck early, with Hunter Honeycutt and Zabreon Mack taking the top two spots in the 1600 meter run (4:36 and 4:42) during the morning events. Honeycutt and Mack would go on to earn two more victories, with Honeycutt winning his third consecutive 3200 meter region title (10:15) and Mack winning the 800 meter run (2:04). The Devils took five of six qualifying spots in the distance events. Junior Darian Rivera was second in the 800.
The Devils also amassed points in the field events. Shaq Bryant won both the shot put (43’ 5.5”) and discus (152’ 11.5”). Austin West and Tevin Smith earned the two top spots in the pole vault (10’ and 9’ 6”), and Jakevin Jackson jumped his personal best in the high jump (6’ 2”) to place second.
“As always, our field and distance events were a key to our success. All of our young men worked extremely hard to get themselves in this position, and they truly deserve this region title,” commented Head Coach Ben Simmons.
Other state qualifiers include Kynarji Tolbert (2nd, 300 m. hurdles) and the second place 1600 meter relay team consisting of Demetrius McCray, Corey Moore, Erin Young, Asante Parker, and alternates Gerald Pledger and Zabreon Mack.
Other point winners on the day were Romaz Jones (6th-100 m dash and 7th-200 m dash), Erin Young (5th-200 m dash and 5th-400 dash), Asante Parker (3rd-400 m dash and 4th-300 m hurdles even after a fall), Tolbert and Jackson (4th and 5th-110 m hurdles), Daniel Cordova (8th-3200 m run), Jones, Young, Pledger, and Parker (4th-4 x 100 m relay), Devin Lane, Jackson, Trevin Taylor, and Trey Ludden (6th-4 x 100 m relay), Jabrielle Barnes, Patrick Atwater, Jones and Tolbert (4th-4 x 400 m relay), McCray (7th-high jump), Josh Banks and Pledger (7th and 8th- long jump), McCray and Parker (6th and 8th-triple jump), Rashad Parks (7th-shot put), and Patrick Atwater (3rd-discus).
This season marks Coach Simmons’ last with the Devils. He will move on to McIntosh County at the conclusion of the track season. Seniors had a lot to say about their coach. “He is definitely one of the best coaches I have ever had,” said Asante Parker. He not only taught me a lot about track and football but also about life. He kept me and my friends on a positive track. I love him and I’m going to miss him.”
Trevin Taylor remarked, “Coach Simmons is a wonderful coach who taught us more than track. He instilled qualities and character in us to help us become great young men. He is a great role model.”
Parker’s father, Randy Parker, Sr., had this to say about Simmons: “I am proud to see that Tift County Track, like the New England Patriots, has won three of four championships and were runners up the other year. The Patriots were known as a dynasty, so I think it’s fair to say that Tift County track has built a dynasty. I would like to thank Coach Simmons for building a great program. I am proud that my kids got to be part of it, and I was proud to support it.”
Said Simmons, “I want to thank my assistant coaches, Tim Alligood, Anthony Bateman, and Laurie Mullen as well as Girls Coach Jason Slimp. Without them, none of this would have been possible. Although I am very excited for our state qualifiers, it took a total team effort to win this championship. All of my athletes deserve credit for this title. I would also like to thank Rusty Smith for his support of our program and Orlando Fudge for his hard work as our team manager.”
The first two athletes in each event earned the right to compete at the Georgia Olympics in Jefferson, Georgia May 5-7. The Track Devils will take thirteen athletes to the competition this year.
The competition began at 10:30 a.m., but the outcome was not determined until Wednesday evening with the final race, the 1600 meter relay. The Blue Devils struck early, with Hunter Honeycutt and Zabreon Mack taking the top two spots in the 1600 meter run (4:36 and 4:42) during the morning events. Honeycutt and Mack would go on to earn two more victories, with Honeycutt winning his third consecutive 3200 meter region title (10:15) and Mack winning the 800 meter run (2:04). The Devils took five of six qualifying spots in the distance events. Junior Darian Rivera was second in the 800.
The Devils also amassed points in the field events. Shaq Bryant won both the shot put (43’ 5.5”) and discus (152’ 11.5”). Austin West and Tevin Smith earned the two top spots in the pole vault (10’ and 9’ 6”), and Jakevin Jackson jumped his personal best in the high jump (6’ 2”) to place second.
“As always, our field and distance events were a key to our success. All of our young men worked extremely hard to get themselves in this position, and they truly deserve this region title,” commented Head Coach Ben Simmons.
Other state qualifiers include Kynarji Tolbert (2nd, 300 m. hurdles) and the second place 1600 meter relay team consisting of Demetrius McCray, Corey Moore, Erin Young, Asante Parker, and alternates Gerald Pledger and Zabreon Mack.
Other point winners on the day were Romaz Jones (6th-100 m dash and 7th-200 m dash), Erin Young (5th-200 m dash and 5th-400 dash), Asante Parker (3rd-400 m dash and 4th-300 m hurdles even after a fall), Tolbert and Jackson (4th and 5th-110 m hurdles), Daniel Cordova (8th-3200 m run), Jones, Young, Pledger, and Parker (4th-4 x 100 m relay), Devin Lane, Jackson, Trevin Taylor, and Trey Ludden (6th-4 x 100 m relay), Jabrielle Barnes, Patrick Atwater, Jones and Tolbert (4th-4 x 400 m relay), McCray (7th-high jump), Josh Banks and Pledger (7th and 8th- long jump), McCray and Parker (6th and 8th-triple jump), Rashad Parks (7th-shot put), and Patrick Atwater (3rd-discus).
This season marks Coach Simmons’ last with the Devils. He will move on to McIntosh County at the conclusion of the track season. Seniors had a lot to say about their coach. “He is definitely one of the best coaches I have ever had,” said Asante Parker. He not only taught me a lot about track and football but also about life. He kept me and my friends on a positive track. I love him and I’m going to miss him.”
Trevin Taylor remarked, “Coach Simmons is a wonderful coach who taught us more than track. He instilled qualities and character in us to help us become great young men. He is a great role model.”
Parker’s father, Randy Parker, Sr., had this to say about Simmons: “I am proud to see that Tift County Track, like the New England Patriots, has won three of four championships and were runners up the other year. The Patriots were known as a dynasty, so I think it’s fair to say that Tift County track has built a dynasty. I would like to thank Coach Simmons for building a great program. I am proud that my kids got to be part of it, and I was proud to support it.”
Said Simmons, “I want to thank my assistant coaches, Tim Alligood, Anthony Bateman, and Laurie Mullen as well as Girls Coach Jason Slimp. Without them, none of this would have been possible. Although I am very excited for our state qualifiers, it took a total team effort to win this championship. All of my athletes deserve credit for this title. I would also like to thank Rusty Smith for his support of our program and Orlando Fudge for his hard work as our team manager.”
