Greater Atlanta Christian Speeds Away Saturday, Taking 2A Crown

May 08, 2016

Amassing 84 points, the Spartans won by 14 points over region rival Wesleyan with Lovett 18 back. GAC began racking up points first in the Field events beginning in the HJ as Danielle Shipp won Silver with a bar of 5-2, follwed by Stephanie Reynolds at 5-2 (on a JD), Maria Harris took 5th in the Shot, and Joelle Gregory 7th in the LJ. Abby Kettle came through in the distance events scoring 7 points (6th in the 800 in Finals & 5th in the 1600.

GAC began Finals winning Gold in the 4x100.

GAC began Saturday Finals blowing down a 47.53 taking Gold upsetting Washington-Wilkes and added a point as their B squad took 8th. In the 100m dash they added 14 points as Nia Brown raced to 2nd in 12.38 (also was 3rd in the 200m) and Jada Jones sped to a Bronze at 12.43. Then, lightning struck as GAC swept the top 2 medals in the 100h as Stephanie Reynolds took Gold in 14.79 just edging team mate Jada Jones who clocked a 14.87 for 18 HUGE points! Shipp added a 5th place effort in the 300h before GAC closed out their meet cruising to Silver in the 4x400 @ 4:01.33.

Wesleyan's 4x400 squad ran up to their ranking, taking 1st in the 4x400 (photo by Daniel McCauley)

Wesleyan took 2nd place team honors scoring 70 points nipping Lovett by 2 points. Leading the Lasdy Wolves efforts were their 4x400 squad taking Gold at 3:55.05 and their 4x100 squad scored Bronze at 49.70. Racking up individual points were a pair of Wolves in the 400m including Cairo Booker's 3rd at 56.99 and Sheridan Davenport 4th (57.34) Wesleyan grabbed 14 points in the distance events behind Ellie Bradach's Bronze in the 3200m at 11:56 (7th in 1600), Beck Coxhead placed 4th in the 3200. Kylie Reed seized a Bronze in the 800m finals going 2:22.93. Scoring 9 points in the 300h were Megan Lynch 4th & Sutton West 5th. Also adding points were Bailey Edwards (800m) and Georgia Kuehn (PV)

Serena Tripodi of Lovett swept the 1600/3200 having 2 of her top races this season (photo by Pinion Photography)

Victoria Powell got some payback in 2016, taking the 400m crown.

Lovett's top athletes cranked up some points for 3rd Overall led by Serena Tripodi's sweep of the distance events as she clocked fine times despite some struggles this Outdoor season of 5:04.00 (1600) and 11:00 (3200) Emma Sidman scored in both events as well taking Bronze in the 3200 @ 12:06 and 6th in the 1600. Victoria Powell got some payback in the 400m Saturday taking the Gold in 53.94 and took Silver in the 200m at 24.23. Nicole Teague picked up 18 in the zontals' leaping to Gold in the TJ w/ a mark of 39-8.50 and settled for Silver in the LJ with a great 19-6.50 behind DeLoach of SVA.

Jeff Davis, as predicted finished a strong 4th behind 3 perennial private school powers led by Morgan Carelock's 25.25 points as she earned 3 medals, a Gold in the HJ with a bar of 5-04, Silver in the 300h at 45.00 and Bronze in the 100h clocking a 15:06. JD scored 4th in the 4x400 posting a 4:05.37, Hannah Mason added 7 points in the HJ/400m. Jeff picked up huge points in throws as Tristan Herndon won Silver in the Discus with a mark of 124-05 (6th in Shot) followed by Mariah Gibbs in 3rd at 116-8 (5th in Shot) and Melissa Jordan vaulted to a 4th place tie.

What can one say about St.Vincent Academy's Taylor DeLoach (above) as she once again, tripled in her events. Taylor has to go down as one of the greatest 2A athletes in recent history, as she will takes her talents to 'OSU Buckeye Land' next Fall. She had an incredible LJ mark of 20-5.25w, and swept the sprints in 12.05 & 23.88. Having good team efforts as well were Holy innocents, NE Macon and Gordon Lee (as well as SVA behind DeLoach. Madelyn Lee of Gordon Lee doubled in the Throws going 44-9 in the Shot and 132-5 in the Discus.