The quest for a GHSA AAAA Boys State team title looks 'on paper' to be the the most closely contested meet of every class and gender. Just take a look at the Virtual meet team scores below. But, look again at the 'Season Best Outdoor rankings' and the waters begin to unmuddy. Defending champ Eastside, still has Eric Stokes, but lost a key cog or 2 from 2016. This has opened the door for a new team champion this Saturday afternoon. As far as sand bagging goes (on a golf course), one lures their opponent you are betting with, that you are worse than you actually are, then press bets hard the final hole, play it straight and walk away with all the cash .
Now, Track is not Golf, but any coach worth his salt, has to realize, top ranked Brian Faust of Marist took it easy in the 800m and just Q'd from Sectionals 9th.. Add big points for Marist right away, barring incident. Same goes for the 1600, as Knox Pittman and Leif Andersen have clocked the 2 fastest times in AAAA this Outdoor season. However, no such chicanery in the 3200. So, who from St. Pius (who lost big points as their top thrower possibly got injured before Sectionals), Blessed Trinity, Chapel Hill, Luella and back, are going to rise up and push Marist (who should have a nice lead) during Finals and make it interesting? Any takers?
Top Athletes to Watch:
Eric Stokes of Eastside- 100, 200, 4x400
Jatavious Harris of Baldwin- 100, 200, Relays
Will Stone of West Laurens- 400
Brian Faust of Marist- 400, 800 (photo by Daniel McCauley)
Knox Pittman of Marist- 800, 1600 (photo by Daniel McCauley)
Leif Andersen of Marist (leader)- 1600, 3200 (photo by Daniel McCauley)
Quinn Burden of Marist (L)- 3200 and Ben McCoy
Ben McCoy #4 of Blessed Trinity- 1600, 3200
Latrell Murray of Luella- 110h, 300h, 4x100 (photo Ben Ennis)
Joshua Browning of Salem- 110h, 300h
Marcus Cade of Thomson- HJ, LJ
Jaiquan Earls #20 of North Clayton- TJ, LJ
Jermaine Anderson of Chapel Hill- Shot, Discus
Team Scores
100 Meter Dash
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | TIME | POINTS | |
| 1 | Eric Stokes | 2017 | Eastside | 10.39 | 10 | |
| 2 | Jatavious Harris | 2018 | Baldwin High School | 10.68 | 8 | |
| 3 | Josiah Smith | 2017 | Henry County High School | 10.82 | 5.5 | |
| 3 | Mahmoud Ameen | 2018 | Henry County High School | 10.82 | 5.5 | |
| 5 | Emmanuel Jennings | 2017 | Luella High school | 10.84 | 4 | |
| 6 | Davion Ross | 2019 | Perry High School | 10.93 | 2.5 | |
| 6 | Tyre Shelton | 2018 | Chapel Hill High School | 10.93 | 2.5 | |
| 8 | JaTravious Stewart | 2019 | Cross Creek | 10.94 | 1 | |
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200 Meter Dash
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | TIME | POINTS | |
| 1 | Jatavious Harris | 2018 | Baldwin High School | 21.32 | 10 | |
| 2 | Eric Stokes | 2017 | Eastside | 21.46 | 8 | |
| 3 | Josiah Smith | 2017 | Henry County High School | 22.06 | 6 | |
| 4 | Alec Tanksley | 2017 | Northside Columbus | 22.08 | 5 | |
| 5 | Emmanuel Jennings | 2017 | Luella High school | 22.11 | 4 | |
| 6 | U.s. Beasley | 2017 | G.W. Carver, Columbus | 22.12 | 3 | |
| 7 | Jomari Jackson | 2017 | Mary Persons | 22.20 | 2 | |
| 8 | George Lira | 2017 | West Hall High School | 22.33 | 1 | |
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400 Meter Dash
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | TIME | POINTS | |
| 1 | Le'willdrick Stone | 0 | West Laurens High School | 49.21 | 10 | |
| 2 | Brian Faust | 2017 | Marist | 49.38 | 8 | |
| 3 | Montreal Milton | 2017 | Chapel Hill High School | 49.65 | 6 | |
| 4 | Alphonzo Overstreet | 2019 | Woodward Academy | 49.70 | 5 | |
| 5 | Harrison Weltlich | 2017 | Blessed Trinity | 49.85 | 4 | |
| 6 | Clay Pender | 2018 | Jefferson High School | 50.03 | 3 | |
| 7 | Kwandon Tymes | 2017 | G.W. Carver, Columbus | 50.05 | 2 | |
| 8 | Aj Hale | 2020 | Sandy Creek | 50.10 | 1 | |
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800 Meter Run
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | TIME | POINTS | |
| 1 | Daniel Grosch | 2017 | St. Pius X | 1:57.86 | 10 | |
| 2 | Knox Pittman | 2018 | Marist | 1:57.89 | 8 | |
| 3 | Chris Turko | 2018 | Blessed Trinity | 1:58.28 | 6 | |
| 4 | Noah Williams | 2018 | Sandy Creek | 1:58.39 | 5 | |
| 5 | Alex Thomas | 2020 | North Oconee | 1:58.50 | 4 | |
| 6 | Jonathan Myrthil | 2019 | Northside Columbus | 1:59.26 | 3 | |
| 7 | Le'willdrick Stone | 0 | West Laurens High School | 2:00.03 | 2 | |
| 8 | Anthony Thomas | 2018 | Eastside | 2:00.12 | 1 | |
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1,600 Meter Run
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | TIME | POINTS | |
| 1 | Knox Pittman | 2018 | Marist | 4:18.08 | 10 | |
| 2 | Ben McCoy | 2017 | Blessed Trinity | 4:19.35 | 8 | |
| 3 | Chris Turko | 2018 | Blessed Trinity | 4:22.54 | 6 | |
| 4 | Wesley John | 2019 | Oconee County High School | 4:24.00 | 5 | |
| 5 | Anthony Potts | 2017 | North Oconee | 4:24.20 | 4 | |
| 6 | Daniel Grosch | 2017 | St. Pius X | 4:24.39 | 3 | |
| 7 | Leif Andersen | 2019 | Marist | 4:25.47 | 2 | |
| 8 | Max Higgins | 2017 | Jefferson High School | 4:27.62 | 1 | |
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3,200 Meter Run
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | TIME | POINTS | |
| 1 | Ben McCoy | 2017 | Blessed Trinity | 9:32.75 | 10 | |
| 2 | Quinn Burden | 2017 | Marist | 9:35.10 | 8 | |
| 3 | Leif Andersen | 2019 | Marist | 9:44.59 | 6 | |
| 4 | Brennan O'Connor | 2018 | Blessed Trinity | 9:45.44 | 5 | |
| 5 | Anthony Potts | 2017 | North Oconee | 9:47.62 | 4 | |
| 6 | Jordan Perez | 2018 | St. Pius X | 9:49.64 | 3 | |
| 7 | Addison Cochran | 2017 | Jefferson High School | 9:50.40 | 2 | |
| 8 | Sean Parker | 2017 | Pickens County | 9:51.23 | 1 | |
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110 Meter Hurdles
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | TIME | POINTS | |
| 1 | Latrell Murray | 2018 | Luella High school | 14.19 | 10 | |
| 2 | Joshua Browning | 2018 | Salem High School | 14.61 | 8 | |
| 3 | Michael Jones | 2017 | Sandy Creek | 14.68 | 6 | |
| 4 | Darius Bradford | 2017 | West Laurens High School | 14.71 | 5 | |
| 5 | Jatori Sims | 2017 | Mary Persons | 15.12 | 4 | |
| 6 | Myles McCoy | 2019 | Westover High School | 15.14 | 3 | |
| 7 | Courtland Dixon | 2018 | Hardaway | 15.21 | 2 | |
| 8 | Jay Hamil | 2019 | North Oconee | 15.43 | 1 | |
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300 Meter Hurdles
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | TIME | POINTS | |
| 1 | Joshua Browning | 2018 | Salem High School | 38.25 | 10 | |
| 2 | Latrell Murray | 2018 | Luella High school | 38.32 | 8 | |
| 3 | Alec Tanksley | 2017 | Northside Columbus | 39.59 | 6 | |
| 4 | Matthew Harris | 2019 | St. Pius X | 39.72 | 5 | |
| 5 | Dequanta Jones | 2019 | Thomson High School/ Middle School | 40.08 | 3.5 | |
| 5 | Devon Brooks | 2017 | Henry County High School | 40.08 | 3.5 | |
| 7 | Courtland Dixon | 2018 | Hardaway | 40.11 | 2 | |
| 8 | Farron Edmonds | 2019 | Woodward Academy | 40.19 | 1 | |
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4x100 Meter Relay
| PLACE | TEAM | TIME | POINTS | |||
| 1 | Luella High school | 42.18 | 10 | |||
| 2 | Eastside | 42.36 | 8 | |||
| 3 | St. Pius X | 42.64 | 6 | |||
| 4 | Spalding High School | 42.89 | 5 | |||
| 5 | Americus -Sumter High School | 43.13 | 4 | |||
| 6 | Upson Lee High School | 43.18 | 3 | |||
| 7 | Woodward Academy | 43.20 | 2 | |||
| 8 | Burke County | 43.23 | 1 | |||
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4x400 Meter Relay
| PLACE | TEAM | TIME | POINTS | |||
| 1 | Baldwin High School | 3:20.95 | 10 | |||
| 2 | Eastside | 3:21.41 | 8 | |||
| 3 | Chapel Hill High School | 3:22.44 | 6 | |||
| 4 | White County High School | 3:24.26 | 5 | |||
| 5 | Jefferson High School | 3:25.45 | 4 | |||
| 6 | Cross Creek | 3:25.48 | 3 | |||
| 7 | G.W. Carver, Columbus | 3:25.51 | 2 | |||
| 8 | St. Pius X | 3:25.87 | 1 | |||
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High Jump
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
| 1 | Marcus Cade | 2018 | Thomson High School/ Middle School | 6-6 | 9 | |
| 1 | Sultan Simms | 2018 | Woodward Academy | 6-6 | 9 | |
| 3 | Caleb Slaughter | 2017 | Sandy Creek | 6-2 | 2.625 | |
| 3 | Davion Willis | 2017 | Upson Lee High School | 6-2 | 2.625 | |
| 3 | Devon Brooks | 2017 | Henry County High School | 6-2 | 2.625 | |
| 3 | Dymon Green | 2018 | Burke County | 6-2 | 2.625 | |
| 3 | Keonte Jackson | 2017 | Cartersville High School | 6-2 | 2.625 | |
| 3 | Rodney Walker | 2018 | Baldwin High School | 6-2 | 2.625 | |
| 3 | Samuel Sherman | 2018 | Marist | 6-2 | 2.625 | |
| 3 | Trevon Wofford | 2018 | Cedartown | 6-2 | 2.625 | |
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Long Jump
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
| 1 | Marcus Cade | 2018 | Thomson High School/ Middle School | 22-5 | 10 | |
| 2 | Matthew Harris | 2019 | St. Pius X | 22-1 | 8 | |
| 3 | Jaiquan Earls | 2017 | North Clayton High School | 22-0 | 6 | |
| 4 | Alec Tanksley | 2017 | Northside Columbus | 21-8.5 | 5 | |
| 5 | Kobe Lewis | 2018 | Americus -Sumter High School | 21-7.5 | 3.5 | |
| 5 | Milton Adams | 2019 | Baldwin High School | 21-7.5 | 3.5 | |
| 7 | Damari Kelly | 2018 | Burke County | 21-6.5 | 2 | |
| 8 | Bryan Smith | 2017 | Oconee County High School | 21-3.75 | 1 | |
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Triple Jump
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
| 1 | Matthew Musey | 2018 | St. Pius X | 45-0.5 | 10 | |
| 2 | Jordan Simons | 2017 | Salem High School | 44-10 | 8 | |
| 3 | Bryan Smith | 2017 | Oconee County High School | 44-8 | 6 | |
| 4 | Jaiquan Earls | 2017 | North Clayton High School | 44-7.5 | 5 | |
| 5 | Latrail Mcclinic | 2017 | LaFayette High School | 43-4 | 4 | |
| 6 | Jamarcus Strange | 2018 | Central High School | 43-3.75 | 3 | |
| 7 | Damari Kelly | 2018 | Burke County | 42-6 | 2 | |
| 8 | Noah Rapert | 2019 | White County High School | 42-5 | 1 | |
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Pole Vault
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
| 1 | Kyle Tidwell | 2017 | Pickens County | 13-6 | 10 | |
| 2 | Thomas Martin | 2018 | Jefferson High School | 13-0 | 8 | |
| 3 | Zack Mathis | 2016 | Southeast Whitfield High School | 12-0 | 6 | |
| 4 | Austin Helton | 2017 | West Laurens High School | 11-6 | 2.5 | |
| 4 | Austin Masenthin | 2017 | Gilmer High | 11-6 | 2.5 | |
| 4 | Carter Daniels | 2018 | Marist | 11-6 | 2.5 | |
| 4 | Nick Bebko | 2020 | Cartersville High School | 11-6 | 2.5 | |
| 4 | Sidney Stone | 2019 | Central High School | 11-6 | 2.5 | |
| 4 | Tripp Bullock | 2020 | Jefferson High School | 11-6 | 2.5 | |
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Shot Put
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
| 1 | Jermaine Anderson | 2018 | Chapel Hill High School | 60-1.5 | 10 | |
| 2 | Tyler Blalock | 2017 | Cedartown | 58-3 | 8 | |
| 3 | Joshua Jackson | 2017 | Chapel Hill High School | 52-7 | 6 | |
| 4 | Griffin Gilder | 2017 | Blessed Trinity | 49-2 | 5 | |
| 5 | Kyle Poole | 2019 | North Oconee | 47-6.75 | 4 | |
| 6 | Lavarius Hood | 2018 | Heritage HS, Catoosa | 46-11 | 3 | |
| 7 | David Overton | 2018 | Cross Creek | 46-6.75 | 2 | |
| 8 | Willie Williams | 2017 | Baldwin High School | 46-6.25 | 1 | |
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Discus
| PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
| 1 | Jermaine Anderson | 2018 | Chapel Hill High School | 165-2 | 10 | |
| 2 | Jacorey Gates | 2018 | Thomson High School/ Middle School | 146-8 | 8 | |
| 3 | Kyle Poole | 2019 | North Oconee | 144-5 | 6 | |
| 4 | Jonathan Paolozzi | 2017 | Jefferson High School | 143-10 | 5 | |
| 5 | Dontae Wilson | 2017 | Jefferson High School | 143-8 | 4 | |
| 6 | Josh Armstrong | 2018 | Woodward Academy | 142-4 | 2.5 | |
| 6 | Tyler Blalock | 2017 | Cedartown | 142-4 | 2.5 | |
| 8 | Duke Haslam | 2017 | Northside Columbus | 141-1 | 1 |