Ella Gibbs from Bleckley County is the real deal in the 3200m run. (photo by Alex Brust)
2021 Meet Schedule REVISED FRIDAY and SUNDAY
MS Girls Outlook
The talent pool of the middle school girls athletes that will be competing is just as strong as the boy's side, if not more talented... Let the games begin Friday afternoon, and the weather is going to be very favorable for fast times and for field events as well. Saturday's events have been postponed due to heavy rain moving in and moved to Sunday. There are no restrictions to my knowledge or a governing body for middle school athletics that could ban Sunday competitions. However, county and city schools may have restrictions in place that block Sunday competitions. There hasn't been a drop of rain for weeks now, and now we get a deluge coming this Saturday. Unfortunately, this could water down the level on the scholastic side, as we can't expect every athlete to be able to race on a Sunday. However, keep in mind, it should not affect the 'Club' athletes as they usually compete on Sundays at 'Track Lab' and other competitions all spring and during the Summer at USATF GA and AAU meets. On paper, it could be very tight for the school team title as three squads are strong contenders, including Landmark Christian, Buford MS, and Rome MS. Carrollton Junior High and Athens Academy could score up to 30 points or more. Jackrabbit Track is easily the top 'Club' squad...
On another note, I'm not a big fan of 'unverified' seed times/marks and am wary of them. Middle school track has few restrictions as it has no governing body as the GHSA does for high schools. Most home-schoolers and unattached athletes are welcome at MS invites and have the opportunity to record FAT performances and certifiable field event marks.
Back at the 2019 state meet, there were 2 separate divisions, a 'Club' division and a scholastic division for team points. Not this year, as below are the scoring parameters:
Point Scoring: Only the top 8 middle school competitors score points toward the state championship. Club athletes do not earn school championship points. However, all competitors are eligible for advancement to the finals and individual awards, even if not competing on behalf of a school. The point schedule is 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.
Medals: Medals are awarded to the top 8 competitors regardless of affiliation with a school or club (or unattached). Medals are awarded at the conclusion of the individual event, in the awards area.
Trophies are awarded to the following:
Top female athlete - field events
Top male athlete - field events
Top female athlete - track events
Top male athlete - track events
Team Awards:
First, second, and third place girls' teams
First, second, and third place boys' team
Overall middle school state champion - combined girls' and boys' team.
Top Club Point Champion Trophy ( Club Only)
Top MS Girls Contenders Based on Entries/Seed Times
Janai Jones of Jackrabbit Track (photo Rich Castro)
100 Meter Dash
| Jones, Janai | Jackrabbit Track and Field | 12.04 | |
| Gullatte, Taylor | Drive Phase, Inc. | 12.34 | |
| Fraser, Anaya | Peak Perfomance South | 12.39 | |
| Lewis, Monroe | Jackrabbit Track and Field | 12.64 |
200 Meter Dash
Olivia Harris of Jackrabbit Track (Kimberly Harris' little sis')- photo Rich Castro
400 Meter Dash
800 Meter Run
| Awoleye, Oluwatosin | Peak Perfomance South | 2:18.00 | |
| Brown, Shari | Landmark Christian School | 2:22.68 | |
| Gibbs, Ella | Bleckley Co. MS | 2:24.00h UN | |
| Moore, Ansley | Team Fusion | 2:26.02 UN | |
| O'Bryant, Clodagh | North Hall | 2:26.52 UN |
Clodagh O'Bryant from North Hall MS (MileSplit photo)
1600 Meter Run
| Gibbs, Ella | Bleckley Co. MS | 5:19.00 | |
| O'Bryant, Clodagh | North Hall | 5:21.38 UN | |
| Moore, Ansley | Team Fusion | 5:21.59 | |
| Hotard, Audrey | Team Fusion | 5:23.00 | |
| Brown, Shari | Landmark Christian School | 5:25 |
3200 Meter Run
100 Hurdles
| Guy, Dallas | Unattached | 15.99 | |
| Cooper, Madeline | Sapphire-Ruff Riders TC | 16.64 | |
| Winston, Miya | Rome MS | 16.80 | |
| Hackett, Naomi | Atlanta International School | 17.01 | |
| Flowers, Emma | Hebron Christian | 17.57 |
300 Hurdles
| Wright, Marianna | Sapphire-Ruff Riders TC | 48.00 UN | |
| Boyd, Kiyah | Unattached | 49.12 UN | |
| Glee, Sydney | Galloway | 49.62 | |
| Nesbitt, Caitlyn | West Laurens Middle School | 51.20 | |
| Boyd, Noelle | Flat Rock MS | 51.70h UN |
4x100 Meter Relay
| Relay Team A | Jackrabbit Track and Field | 49.00 UN | |
| Relay Team B | Jackrabbit Track and Field | 50.00 UN | |
| Relay Team A | Buford MS | 50.67 | |
| Relay Team A | Landmark Christian School | 51.47 | |
| Relay Team A | Rome MS | 52.11 | |
| Relay Team A | Jefferson Middle School | 52.27 |
4x400 Meter Relay
| Relay Team A | Sapphire-Ruff Riders TC | 4:10.00h UN | |
| Relay Team A | Jackrabbit Track and Field | 4:11.22 | |
| Relay Team B | Jackrabbit Track and Field | 4:11.88 UN | |
| Relay Team A | Buford MS | 4:19.99 | |
| Relay Team A | Landmark Christian School | 4:20.00 UN |
Abigail and Audrey Hotard will help fuel Team Fusion's 4x800 squad. (MileSplit photo)
4x800 Meter Relay
| Relay Team A | Team Fusion | 10:20.00 UN | |
| Relay Team A | Bleckley Co. MS | 10:50.51 UN | |
| Relay Team A | JR Hawks | 11:00.00 UN | |
| Relay Team A | George Walton Academy | 11:00.91 | |
| Relay Team A | Woodstock/Freedom MS | 11:05.00 UN | |
| Relay Team A | Buford MS | 11:10.58 |
Triple Jump
High Jump
| Henderson, Kenzie | Oglethorpe County MS | 5-4 | |
| Webb, Aiya | ATL Zoom Athletics | 5-4 | |
| Carden, Halle | North Cobb Christian | 5-2 | |
| Collins, Josie | Athens Academy | 5-2 | |
| Patton, Violet | Jefferson Middle School | 5-2 |
Long Jump
| Winston, Miya | Rome MS | 17-7 | |
| Hassell, Alana | Jackrabbit Track and Field | 16-5 | |
| Townsend, Madison | Westminster School | 16-5 | |
| Hitt, Peyton | Unattached | 16-3 | |
| Scott, Janiya | Thomson High School/ Middle School | 16-2UN |
Adair Carlin of Galloway has cleared 11 feet in the pole vault! (photo by Team Carlin)
Pole Vault
Discus
Shot Put
| Babbitt, Veronika | Athens Academy | 42-5.25 | |
| BOWEN, ZARRIAN | Unattached | 36-6 | |
| Daniel, Mariah | Carrollton Junior High School | 36-4 | |
| Bates, Briseis | Dalton Middle School | 34-8.5 | |
| Langley, Annabelle | Bremen MS | 33-10 |
Ella Gibbs from Bleckley County is the real deal in the 3200m run. (photo by Alex Brust)