2021 GHSA Class 6A State Meet Preview

GHSA State Championships (5A & 6A )
Bruce Taylor

Watch the LIVE-STREAM from ALL Meets:

6A Boys


Buford's sprinters are going to be tough to run down

One would have to conclude that the 6A boys' meet is going to be a rare treat at Carrollton next week. The Class 6A Sectional B meet in Rome was basically a warmup for what may occur on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as 9 of the top 10 squads per the most recent 6A team power rankings went head to head. No points were scored, but numerous shows of strength were displayed by the title contenders. Some coaches cut their athletes loose and others held back and just made certain to qualify for Carrollton. Athletes from the 'Johns Creek Sectional' are going to face a great challenge to advance on to Saturday finals.

Carrollton definitely has the luxury of competing on their stomping grounds, fans, home-cooking, and sleeping in their own beds every night. The Trojans also are strong in the field events and could go 1-2 in the Pole Vault. Buford simply has blazing speed and as we all know speed kills... They, unfortunately, lost their 6-6.50 high jumper to AAU basketball before the region meet. But, the Wolves will be climbing the scoreboard come finals.  Alexander looks like they may have chosen to play a little possum and lay low, qualifying, and conserving themselves and not risking injury. Westlake is similar to Buford, the Lions will not score a single point until Saturday and shot themselves in the foot in the 4x100 at Sectionals, but will make up some ground on Saturday. Other squads vying for Podium spots could be Shiloh, Richmond Hill, Allatoona.

Top Athletes to Watch 


Malik Mixon of Westlake
100m:
Isaiah Bond  Buford- 10.48
Travis Massey  Brunswick- 10.58
Victor Venn  Buford- 10.64
200m:
Isaiah Bond  Buford- 21.12
Eric Young  Allatoona- 21.30
Travis Maloy- Alexander- 21.52
400m:
Tobi Olewole  Buford- 48.26
Eric Young  Allatoona- 48.28
Xavier Smith  Langston Hughes- 48.52
800m:
Marcus Guidry  Alexander- 1:56.64
Justin Parham  Carrollton- 1:57.06
Ethan Kurilko  Lakeside, Evans-  1:57.93
1600m:
Collin Jones  Carrollton- 4:18.37
Patrick Motes  Rome- 4:18.78
Jonathan Greene  Evans- 4:19.15
Ben Butcher  Dacula- 4:20.48
3200m:
Ethan Curnow  North Atlanta- 9:20.57
Patrick Motes  Rome- 9:22.20
Ben Butcher  Dacula- 9:22.95
Collin Jones  Carrollton- 9:23.31
110 Hurdles:
Malik Mixon  Westlake- 13.78
Bryce Southerland  Westlake- 14.44
Jeremiah Sims  Langston Hughes- 14.45
300 Hurdles:
Malik Mixon  Westlake- 37.60
Christion Barker Shiloh- 38.30
Jasai Taylor  Richmond Hill- 38.41
4x100:
Buford- 40.95
Langston Hughes- 41.65
Carrollton- 41.77
4x400:
Buford- 3:16.30
Westlake- 3:18.09
Langston Hughes- 3:19.02
4x800:
Alexander- 7:57.57
North Atlanta- 8:06.02
Tucker- 8:06.90
Discus:
Adam Watkins- 167-02
Zyler Johnson  Osborne- 147-2
Piers Cameron  Pope- 145-9
Shot Put:
Adam Watkins  Dacula- 60-11
Julian Dailey  Douglas County- 53-7
Montavious Holts  Carrollton- 52-6
High Jump:
Brandon Benton  Alexander- 6-8.25
Riyon Rankin  Brunswick- 6-8
Zach Marinko  Pope- 6-8
Long Jump:
Jeremiah Sims  Langston Hughes- 23-10
Lennie Hall  East Paulding- 23-01
Malik Williams  Buford- 22-10.75
Rashun Fountain  Heritage- 22-10.50
Triple Jump:
Timotheus Johnson  Alexander- 46-02
Jalen Giles  Heritage- 45-08
Zach Marinko  Pope-  45-01
Pole Vault:
Grant Briscoe  Carrollton- 16-0
Kareem Nazim  Carrollton- 15-0
Nick West  Riverwood-  14-10

6A Girls


Colleen Branch of Westlake

The 6A girls sectional in Rome was equally as sick as the boy's side. These girls produced 110 MileSplit 2nd team National Elite performances (the boys had 106) It seems like 6A is now just as talented (if not more) than the huge schools in Class 7A. This is difficult to believe, but Westlake's girls have not won a state title since 2017. However, it will be a monumental task for any of the schools chasing the Lions to make them sweat on Saturday. Nearly everyone got through sectionals for them. The Lions also might pick up some points in the field events, but the onslaught will begin with the 4x800 finals on Friday.

Look for Alexander and Pope to do very well and duke it out for 2nd overall. Carrollton will have the home track advantage which could be a factor in making the team Podium and perhaps overachieving and challenging for 3rd. Buford's streak of 3 titles will end, but the ascension of a new star in Sydney Harris of Buford is imminent and could gain national attention. 

Top Athletes to Watch 


Freshman Adaejah Hodge of Alexander

100m:
Colleen Branch  Westlake- 11.61
Adaejah Hodge  Alexander- 11.70
Mallory Hodge  Tucker- 11.78
200m:
Adaejah Hodge  Alexander- 23.64
Colleen Branch  Westlake- 23.95
Sydney Harris  Buford- 23.98
400m:
Sydney Harris  Buford- 54.17
Tyler Lowe  Chattahoochee- 55.93
Madyson Wilson  Westlake- 55.98
800m:
Kieley Gayle  Westlake- 2:15.09
Nina Ouellette  Riverwood- 2:16.42
Lauren Lewis  Langston Hughes- 2:16.97
1600m:
Sophie Boice  Pope- 4:59.25
Simone Rojas  Evans- 5:11.23
Elle Mezzio  Riverwood- 5:13.27
3200m:
Sophie Boice  Pope- 10:58.70
Makena Gates  Creekview- 11:08.91
Alexa Hoppenfeld  Riverwood- 11:10.25
100 Hurdles:
Jah'Lia Evans  Rome- 14.20
Jania Joseph  Statesboro- 14.42
Allyria McBride  Wheeler- 14.53
300 Hurdles:
Madyson Wilson  Westlake- 43.37
Tia Williams  Lovejoy- 43.94
Allyria McBride  Wheeler- 44.35
4x100:
Westlake -  46.81
Buford - 47.51
Tucker - 47.58
4x400:
Westlake - 3:52.17
Buford - 3:52.31
Alexander - 3:56.37
4x800:
Pope - 9:39.89
River Ridge - 9:52.61
Richmond Hill - 9:52.71
Discus:
Jada Marsh  Carrollton- 142-10
Noelle Igberaese  Dacula- 123-04
Cyan Green  South Cobb- 123-03
Shot Put:
O'Niece Roberts  Allatoona- 41-07
Cyan Green  South Cobb- 41-3.25
Skylar Soli  Douglas County- 40-05
High Jump:
Jania Joseph  Statesboro- 5-08
Jazzmin Taylor  Alexander- 5-08
Paris Ivery  Grovetown- 5-06
Danah Nembhard  Dacula- 5-06
Long Jump:
Adaejah Hodge  Alexander- 19-5.75
Allyria McBride  Wheeler- 19-05
Madyson Wilson  Westlake- 19-3.50
Triple Jump:
Kayla Pinkard  Carrollton-  41-0
Jah'Lia Evans  Rome- 39-08
Toni Eason  Douglas County- 38-11
Pole Vault:
Payton Phillips  Carrollton- 13-4.25
Olivia Bollenbacher  Cambridge- 12-01
Jolee Northrop  Pope- 11-0