March 30, 2018
by Don Livingston
30 teams and 900 athletes descend on the Starr's Mill oval for this year's Friday Night Lights before the majority of Atlanta heads out on spring break. It will be another exciting meet with strong sprint teams, talented field eventers, and deep distance races. The boys' and girls' events are loaded with Georgia teams from all classifications and Auburn, AL
The Men Events
Sprint power houses- Fayette, East Coweta, Sandy will battle it out with distance strong Alexander, Auburn, Starr's Mill. Watch for Carrollton who is deep with field event talent and sprints may win it all.
Sprint Events and Relays
100m - 6 athletes have run 10.7 to 10.9: Javaug Moore from Wheeler brings in the fastest time at 10.76
200m -- 7 athletes have run 22.5 or faster: Trey Johnson from Fayette Co at 21.52 will battle Javaug Moore at 21.96
400m- 10 athletes sub 49.99 making this the deepest of the men's races. Trey Johnson brings in a list leading 47.00
4x100- 4 teams have run in the 42s: Rome, Richmond Hill, Carrollton, and Drew go head to head for #1
4x400: 3 teams have run 3:20-3:35 Fayette Co's list leading 3:20 will be first, while Starr's Mill and Douglas Co chasing
4x100- 4 teams have run in the 42s: Rome, Richmond Hill, Carrollton, and Drew go head to head for #1
4x400: 3 teams have run 3:20-3:35 Fayette Co's list leading 3:20 will be first, while Starr's Mill and Douglas Co chasing
Distance Events
800m -- brings 7 guys under 2 minutes making this the deepest of the distance races including state leading Harrison Fultz of Starr's Mill 1.55.58. Koi Williams of Alexander at 1.56.36 and Kyle Harkabus of East Coweta at 1.56.38
1600m- Kyle Harkabus 4.15.6, Nick Nyman of Starr's Mill 4.19.13, and Zach Jaeger of McIntosh 4.22 are the top 3 .
3200m- 9 athletes are sub 10 minutes & 11 under 10:30. Nick Nyman 9.21.6 and Mek Williams(Alexander) 9.37 top 2.
Hurdles
110m H has 3 athletes in the 14's: Omarian Clemons, Sandy Creek at 14.73 and C'borius Flemister of Pike Co 14.99
300m H has 3 athletes under 40 s: AJ Hale, Sandy Creek at 38.67 faces off with Christian Brandt of Auburn, 39.12
Horizontal Jumps
Long Jump- 11 athletes at 21+ feet: James Brown of Drew at 23'7" and Gabe Brown of Alexander 22'9" are the top2.
Triple Jump- 6 athletes at 43+ feet: Gabe Brown of Alexander 45'8" and Nick Cade, Carrollton at 45'8" go head to head.
Vertical Jumps
High Jump- 15 jumpers over 6 feet. Brayden Carey of East Coweta and Rashan Akins have both jumped 6'6" this year.
Pole Vault- 4 at 13 to 14-9 feet: Joe Street, Carrollton, at 14-9 with Haiden Jacks, Auburn at 14-6 are the 2 to watch.
Throwing Events
Shot Put has 4 throwers at over 50- Jeremiah Pierce of Carrollton at 60'4" is the class of the field.
Discus: Jeremiah Pierce, 181'11" should win gold while Eric Donevant of Starr's Mill 149'6" leads the challengers
The Women's Events
Auburn, AL and Alexander both bring in deep distance teams with strong sprint squads. Watch for Fayette Co's sprinter and deep field events to challenge for the team title. Allatoona, Bradwell Institute, McIntosh and Starr's Mill all have top athletes that will score well in individual events and the relays.
Sprint Events and Relays
100m -- 3 athletes at 11.6-11.8 Vivette Green, Alexander at 11.66, and Bradwell Institute team mates Destiny Nash 11.73 and Kyra Barney 11.86 will square off in the 100m
200m- 10 athletes 24's-25's Vivette Green, Alexander 24.22 will be challenged by Shatara Johnson Drew 24.42 and Kiana Banks, Spalding Co 24.39
400m- 7 athletes 55's-58's making this the deepest sprint race of meet. Drew High school's teammates Shatara Johnson at 55.93 and D. Chambers at 56.35 lead the field with Kahadeesha Crumbley, Auburn challenging
4x100: Auburn 47.99, Bradwell Institute at 48.12 and Fayette Co at 48.34 have posted the top 3 times
4x400: Alexander at 3:54.7 is the clear favorite with Starr's Mill 4:01.3 and Fayette Co at 4:02 battling for 2nd.
Distance Races
800m- 6 athletes under 2:25 Genevieve Ferrara, Druid Hills, 2:24.0 and Zemmie Steger, Starr's Mill 2.24.6 come with the 2 fastest times. A host of challengers will make it tight field, Amaya Anderson, Fayette Kayla Gholar Richmond Hill.
1600m- is loaded with 6 athletes under 5:20: 5A state champ Erin Leonard, Jones Co, 4:59 is returning to form and McIntosh teammates Megan Uszynski and Kayla Rose and Auburn's Sara Pacer give chase.
3200m- 15 athletes under 12:00 make this the deepest distance field. Alexander's Brenda Ayuk is having a break out season (1600 4.59 and 800 2.17) and debuts in the 3200 with Erin Leonard 10:45, Sophia West 11:05, and Auburn teammates Samantha Rogers 11:10 and Harper McGowan 11:16 will be in the lead pack.
Hurdles
100mH Sarah Goins, Starr's Mill 15.28 and Wheeler's Damilola Shodeinde at 15.83 are the top 2.
300m H Auburn's Jordan Yarbrough at 47.28 will be challenged by Wheeler's Damilola Shodeinde
Horizontal Jumps
Long Jump-3 athletes over 19' Douglas Co's Onyinye Chukka at 19'2 and Shatara Johnson of Drew at 19' are top 2
Triple Jump- 3 athlete over 39' Fayette Co's duo of Na'ilah Moore 39'7" and Sidney Sims 39'3" lead the list.
Vertical Jumps
High Jump- 8 jumpers over 5' Jania Hodges of Sandy Creek is the list lead at 5'8"
Pole Vault- Standout Courtney Long of Allatoona is head and shoulders over the field with a jump of 13'0"
Throwing Events
Shot Put has 4 throwers over 36 feet. - Morgan Johnson of Whitewater leads all throwers at 44'2"
Discus- 7 thrower over 110 feet- Jamila Otieno, Wheeler 127'5" and Rikkelle Miller, Fayette Co 121'2" are the favorites