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Pace Academy's 4x800 relay squad
2A Boys
It has been a nice ride for Class 2A for the past 5 years. The GHSA moved all of the private schools that had dominated 2A XC/Track either up to 3A or down to A Private (with the exception of all-girls school St. Vincent's (SVA) 2A was a 'public school' class which opened the gates for the mostly rural schools to be on a more level 'playing field' against each other. Then, ouch... Lovett and Pace are back in 2A again.
Edward Blaha of PacePace Academy has been on a tear this season, a strong distance squad including the Blaha twins Edward & George who could sweep the top 2 spots in the 1600/3200m. John Catherman is a very swift sprinter who also will attempt a double in the 100/200m races. Expect the Knights to contend in all the relays. Alexander Swann is a threat to sweep the hurdles. They control their own destiny at McEachern this weekend. Simple, do what got you here and the title goes back home to Pace.
Towers HS is loaded in the jumps, hurdles, and especially the relays. The question is can 4 guys score enough points to... hold off a Lovett squad that has one of the top hurdlers in 2A, distance strength, and relay power. Washington County is a definite threat, very talented, with speed in sprints, relays, and horizontal jumps. Model, Washington, Oglethorpe County, Vidalia, and Banks County all could score 30 points or more.
Top Athletes to Watch
John Catherman of Pace100m:
John Catherman Pace Academy - 10.71
Tey Johnson KIPP Atlanta Collegiate - 10.80
Dontavios Braswell Washington County - 10.81
200m:
Michael Madison Vidalia - 21.42
John Catherman Pace Academy - 21.60
Tray Johnson KIPP Atlanta Collegiate - 21.72
400m:
Malyk Walker Washington County - 49.90
Yazeed Richardson South Atlanta - 50.66
Brayden Hamilton Coosa - 50.89
800m:
Simon Schaebort Model - 1:58.17
Hunt Shirling Lovett - 1:59.00
Patrick Pitts Lovett - 1:59.03
1600m:
Edward Blaha Pace Academy - 4:15.30
Simon Schaebort Model - 4:18.93
George Blaha Pace Academy - 4:22.02
3200m:
Edward Blaha Pace Academy - 9:15.51
Buck Ledford Banks County - 9:35.35
George Blaha Pace Academy - 9:37.30
110h:
Michael Fleming Oglethorpe County - 14.82
Austin Wood Jeff Davis - 15.07
Quentin Hill Elbert County - 15.30
300h:
Aaron McFadden Lovett - 39.63
Alexander Swann Pace Academy - 39.81
Ju'Corie Zellner Lamar County - 40.42
4x100:
Towers HS - 42.26
Pace Academy - 42.81
Washington - 42.90
4x400:
Washington - 3:21.84
Towers HS - 3:21.97
Pace Academy - 3:24.42
4x800:
Lovett - 8:06.20
Banks County - 8:33.22
Pace Academy -8:36.39
Discus:
Jake Thompson Bremen - 147-06
Michael Swiger Model - 135-08
KB Bonds Oglethorpe County - 128-05
Shot Put:
JaKwon Bishop Fitzgerald - 47-10
Tony Rountree Josey - 47-04
Cam Bates Thomasville - 44-11.50
High Jump:
Daeshawn Logan Towers HS - 6-08
Cash Allen Chattooga - 6-06
Long Jump:
Elijah Hobson Towers HS - 22-6.25
Gerald Kilgore Putnam County - 22-06
Malyk Walker Washington County - 22-06
Triple Jump:
Jayden Kemp Washington County - 44-08
Michael Fleming Oglethorpe County - 44-07
Jaurice Hardrick Columbia - 44-04
Pole Vault:
Thomas Vaughn Elbert County - 15-0
Hunter Manning Vidalia - 13-06
Aidan Frias Rabun County - 13-052A Girls
Laura Arenth of Pace
Just like the boys, the public school's reign over Class 2A might be ending this weekend. But, it has been a long time coming for Pace Academy which hasn't won a girls state title in nearly 30 years (1992) The Lady Knights are going to put a hurt on the squads early as they can pour it on and build a huge lead thru Friday, and clinch the title after the 800m finals. Laura Arenth should sweep the 1600/3200m, and the Lady Knights 3 qualifiers could ring up another 12 points. Pace could go 2,3,4 in the 800m run.
Ella Stoudenmire of Oglethorpe County- Berry 2019 State
What is refreshing is that 4 public schools will be fighting hard to keep 'pace' - pun intended and stay within hailing distance of the Lady Knights if they falter. Oglethorpe County finished as team runner-ups back in 2019 and returns nearly everyone from that squad. The Patriots are loaded in the 800/1600, short sprints, and relay squads. Vidalia - home of the best sweet onions in the world - may have their best squad in recent history. The Lady Indians are strong on the field, hurdles, and sport a distance runner. Towers HS as expected has speed and horizontal jumps. KIPP Atlanta Collegiate loaded in both hurdles events, led by Elite athlete Shakiera Woods. Lovett has a strong hurdler themselves with Kayleigh Stargell and XC champ Sydney Lamberson who could bring it at state.
Top Athletes to Watch
100m:
Sanna Searles Dodge County - 12.33
Nakoe Burkes Calloway - 12.43
Jayda Jones Oglethorpe County - 12.46
200m:
Jayda Jones Oglethorpe County - 25.52
Catherine Forbes Towers HS - 25.68
Jamelia Simmons Towers HS - 25.69
400m:
Jamelia Simmons Towers HS - 57.50
Kayleigh Stargell Lovett - 58.30
Alyvia Matthews Bremen - 58.70
800m:
Hannah Vincent Pace Academy - 2:23.98
Laura Romig Pace Academy - 2:24.88
Ella Stoudenmire Oglethorpe County - 2:25.80
1600m:
Laura Arenth Pace Academy - 5:10.99
Sydney Lamberson Lovett - 5:24.11
Caroline Hood Pace Academy - 5:26.53
3200m:
Laura Arenth Pace Academy - 11:11.77
Kate Jonas Pace Academy - 11:35.61
Caroline Hood Pace Academy - 11:44.66
110h:
Shakiera Woods KIPP Atlanta - 15.15
Ikeria Hamilton East Laurens - 15.19
Kyleigh Johnson Vidalia - 15.61
300h:
Skakiera Woods KIPP Atlanta - 47.41
Kayleigh Stargell Lovett - 47.50
Stella Henry Dade County - 47.51
4x100:
KIPP Atlanta - 50.16
Oglethorpe County - 50.27
Towers HS - 50.34
4x400:
Pace Academy - 4:12.11
Oglethorpe County - 4:12.18
Bremen HS - 4:14.88
4x800:
Pace Academy - 10:05.96
Oglethorpe County - 10:13.06
Bleckley County -10:30.84
Discus:
Shelby Speed Bleckley County - 123-0
Jasmine Smith Vidalia - 113-01
Beth Taylor Heard County - 111-06
Shot Put:
Daiyanna Cooper Temple - 40-9.25
Yasmine Chambers South Atlanta - 38-09
Sinclaire Fryer Laney - 38-05
High Jump:
Hayden Williamson Vidalia - 5-02
Long Jump:
Myesha Hall Vidalia - 18-06
Niakoe Burkes Callaway - 18-06
Zekylah Boyd Heard County - 18-2.50
Triple Jump:
Ikeria Hamilton East Laurens - 38-4.50
Myesha Hall Vidalia - 36-08
Jamelia Simmons Towers HS - 36-06
Pole Vault:
Brooklyn Kierbow Bremen - 11-0
Ellie Getchell Model - 11-0
Madison Brown Jeff Davis - 9-06
