Lions Showcase Lives Up to its Billing, Speed, Flying Batons, Westlake Dominate

                                                                                        

                 Lions Showcase Lives Up to its Billing, Speed, Flying Batons, Westlake Dominate

                                       ''Track Season Has Begun: Speed Demons and Demons on the Track'

Boys

The Lions Chick-Fil-A Showcase was hyped to be a fast start to the season with AAAAAA heavy hitters of Westlake and Campbell, AAAAA 2013 state champions McIntosh and strong Northside Columbus, AAAA standout Banneker, AAA 2^nd place Chapel Hill, along with many others. This meet did not disappoint as some athletes jumped right back to where they were last year. Runner up in the long jump at state Denzel Harper of Stephenson started the season out strong with a 22-04 long jump. Westlake’s Joseph Woodbury, 2013 AAAAAA State High Jump Champion, came out with a 6-10 win by almost a foot.  Westlake’s 4x100 state championship team came out with a 41.70 win against a strong Stephenson and Banneker team. Ryan Clark the AAA 400 state champion won the seldom run 300m dash over Josh Willngham of Westlake. Distance wise Taylor Huntley, AAAAA 800m state champion started with a sub 2 minute half mile and a win in the 1600 (4:37) as well.

Isaiah Rogers of Campbell had an impressive start to the season throwing 51-09 in the shotput to win by almost 10 feet. In the 100 Marquett Simmons of Mount Zion ran the 2^nd sub 11 of the season to narrowly edge Rashaad Pollard of Westlake and William Johnson of Lakeside Dekalb. The 4x400 did not disappoint at the end of the meet with Mount Zion edging Westlake with both teams under 3:25. In the end Westlake proved too strong and too fast by beating Mount Zion by 25, and looking poised to make another run at the title this year.

Girls

Westlake came into the meet wanting to prove their dominance last year will continue even with all the graduating seniors from last year. Whitewaters’ Noelle Parker winner of state last year in the shot, won the shot and discus. Bria Matthews of Forest Park (2^nd at state in the triple jump) started the season off with a 37-05 mark to win the meet, along with a 17-06 mark in the long jump.  Then of course Westlake’s stellar 4x100 state championship team and 2^nd place 4x400 team, proved too much for anyone to handle with a 47.26 and 3:55 respectively.

 Northside Columbus threw down an incredible time of 49.11 in the 4x100 to take a solid second place. Westlake’s Ariel Terrell showed she hadn’t lost her form winning the 300 hurdles over teammate Kayla Stinson, who won the 100 hurdles. On the distance side of things Alyssa LeClaire a 5:08 miler last year cruised to victory in the 1600 in a time of 5:43. Aubree Collins fills in nicely in the 800 for Westlake running a 2:23 with her teammate Anrial Howard finishing up basketball before she joins the team.

On the other side of things spectators were able to witness why winter training and practice are important with batons flying through the air, missed exchanges in relays, and multiple falls, spills, and faceplants. But, the athletes stormed through the mishaps to make this meet incredibly fast and exciting!

Video coming Sunday evening!!!

Complete Results

Below are the performances entered for the meet that met the national silver standard.

20 National Elites. 28 Elites.