Caitie Faust of Marist reaches for the win at the finish line in the 4A 400 Meters (pics by Dan McCauley)
Josie Wirtz and Morgan Ilse rang up 36 points for Marist in the 1600 and 3200 meter races (pic by Daniel MCauley)
Marist's Girls had racked up some serious points coming into Thursday, 36 points from Morgan Ilse and Josie Wirtz alone in the 16/32 and they weren't finished... It would take a herculean effort and a miscue to bring anyone close by the 4x400 in which they failed to Q' a team. The War Eagles had 4 chances to score Saturday and senior Caitie Faust was not to be denied as she swept the 400/800 races. In a great 400m race 4 athletes crossed the line in a split of .56 as she literally dove across the line for the win tearing the skin off both knees in a winning time of 55.22. Later, in the 800m Faust was just too fast recording the best time of the day in 2:11.19. Frosh kendall Nelson chipped in with a 7th place finish of 2:24 and team mate Tammy Gitonga's 4th (44.39) in the 300 hurdles slammed the door shut clinching the 3-Peat.
Super Finish in the AAAA 200 Meters (l-r)- Amecia Pennamon of Mary Persons, Daloria Boone and Zykeria Williams of Baldwin. WOW! (pic by Daniel McCauley)
Meanwhile, Baldwin began with 23 points and were on fire Saturday making it interesting. First by setting a new Class State Meet record in the 4x100 in a torrid 45.91. Then they struck like a bolt of lightning scoring 16 in the 100m as Daloria Boone (4A High Point) sped to an 11.71 100m with Brittany Trawick going 3rd in 12.14. Zykeria Williams added a 7th in the 110h keeping their title hopes alive. Prospects really grew when the duo of Williams and Boone crossed the line together sweeping the 200m clocking 24.21 (.003) Marist however clinched in the 300h and Baldwin ran out of gas finishing 8th in the 4x400.
The Final 3 4A team Podium spots were at stake involving Redan, Monroe-Alb and Fayette Co. Redan pulled a rabbit out their hat in the 4x400 (3:51) winning the event propelling them by Fayette (5th) and Monroe ALB (6th)
Redan scored 46 points in Finals to capture 3rd overall. They got 17 in the Relays, Promise Clark scored a Silver in the 400m at 55.29 and Shequilla McLain added a pair of 2nd's in the Hurdles (14.41/43.38) and Mya Golden added a 6th in the 300h.
Monroe Albany racing in the 4x400 Relay (pic by Daniel McCauley)
Monroe began Finals with 18 points having home turf and a partisan crowd boost them to the final team Podium spot 2.5 points behind Redan. Their Relay teams picked up 11 points. Leading individually were Deaundria Jackson placing 3rd in the 800 (2:18) and Jahari Williams nabbed a pair of 5ths in the 100/200.
Fayette County's Chinyere Njoku had the top performance of the Day in the 100 Hurdles at 13.84 (pic by Daniel McCauley)
Fayette scored very well and was in it till the end for the final 4A Team Podium slot by fell shy by 1.5 points. The Tigers began the day in good position 3rd with 24.5 points. Fayette rang up 19 points in the Hurdles behind Chinyere Njoku who won Gold in the 100h at 13.84 (top performance) and Jessica Watkins as she placed 3rd in the 300h (43.36) and 6th in the 100h. The Relay squads added 9 points.
Erin Marsh from Buford HS came in the best 300 hurdler in AAAA and she departed from Albany #1 in a quick time of 42.91