Stephenson Wins on Final Event, Marist Girls Too Strong

Bruce Taylor


Jordan Fick exalts in his 110 hurdles win for North Oconee)

(all photos by Linda Fick)

4A Boys


Bradley Favors ends the season undefeated in the 400m

I'm not sure if anyone anticipated the 4A boy's state championship to go all the way down to the final event, but that's exactly what occurred. Speedy Stephenson catapulted by Jefferson and North Oconee in the 4x400 seizing the title. North Oconee could not have outdone themselves if they had to do it over again as the Titans maximized on nearly every opportunity. Jefferson slipped a gear a couple of times, and Marist had a tremendous meet. But, elite athletes win state meets and that's what Stephenson possessed. They struck for 60 points on finals Saturday climbing the ladder 2-3 rungs every time they scored, including the final rung. 20 points in the 4x100 (42.23) and 4x400 (3:19.47) in a battle to the wire with non-factor Dougherty County. Bradley Favors did as expected and swept the 400m (46.74) and later the 200m (21.65) Jace Coleman was runner-up in the 100m dash at 10.90. 


Jordan Fick on the way to the 300 hurdles win putting North OC in the lead

North Oconee's Jordan Fick led the Titans ringing up 30 points winning the pole vault with a bar of 14-06 (teammates Drew Chambers was 2nd along with John Harris tied for 4th) Fick swept the hurdles taking the 110h first going 14.56 and later the 300h at 38.07 pushing North OC into the lead, but without an entry in the 4x400. Chance Cross ran well placing 3rd in the 100m (10.93) 5th in the 200m and placed 4th in the high jump.Davis Potts took 3rd in the 3200 and 5th in the 1600m.


Long Jump champ Malaki Starks of Jefferson launches a big jump out on the field

Jefferson busted out for 18 big points in the long jump behind Malaki Starks winning leap of 23-07 and Jordan Perry's mark of 22-11. Griffin Carson placed 3rd in the pole vault, Andrew Paolozzi took 3rd in the shot put. On the track, the Dragons raced to 2nd in the 4x100 relay going 42.50, Carter Stephenson placed 3rd in the 110h at 14.73 and later 2nd in the 300h (40.05), and Matthew Schroder took 4th in the 800m. 


Colin O'Rielly of Marist nearly tripled!

Marist as expected went all-in on the distance events amassing  51 points. Colin O'Rielly led the attack as he swept the 1600/3200m races in times of 4:14/9:09 and went 'Ironman' taking 3rd place in the 800m race at 1:55.36. Marist's 4x800 squad logged a winning time of 8:15.26. Jaylen Mallett was runner-up in the 800m run in 1:54.25 while placing 4th in the 1600m run. 


Bradley Favors and Jordan Fick

4A Girls


Johna Grisik of Marist scored 25 individual points for the War Eagles.

This was one of the bigger blowouts in the girl's classifications excluding 6A where Westlake ran away from the field on Saturday. Marist put on a show in all the distance events the first 2 days although Jefferson was clearly a strong second as a team. The War Eagles scored 20 points in the field events led by pole vaulter Lauren Henderson who cleared 10-0. The distance machine cranked out a grand total of 71 points. Ruby Little won the 3200m in a time of 10:58 with Nicole Pizzo 2nd at 11:04. Johna Grisik won the 800m race at 2:14.17, with Kate Selover 3rd and Little 4th. Grisik doubled in the 1600m clocking an impressive 4:59.88 with Little 3rd (5:07) and Selover 3rd (5:08) Their 4x800 squad had to settle for 2nd posting a time of 9:59 behind a fired up Jefferson squad.


Katherine Law led the Dragons to a 2nd place team finish

Jefferson had a good state meet easily separating themselves from 3rd place Fayette County by 24.5 points. Katherine Law was a workhorse for the Dragons as she was the only distance runner to break up clean Marist 1-3 sweeps in the 800/1600 races. Law won 2 silver medals in those events with times of 2:19, 5:06, and she also was 4th in the 3200m. The Dragons 4x800 squad beat Marist handily in that event clocking a winning time of 9:48. 


Imani Moore of Fayette County doubled in the horizontal jumps

Fayette County and Thomas County Central captured the last 2 team podium spots in class 4A. Amara Nwajagu of Fayette placed 2nd in the 400m run at 57.44, Jasmine Harmon won gold in the 100h clocking a winning time of 14.12. Fayette County's 4x400 squad took first place at 3:55.40, Imani Moore was victorious in the triple jump with a mark of 38-0.50, and the long jump as well leaping out to 19-03.0. Thomas County was led by speedster De'metrionna Spencer won 2 gold medals in the short sprints, first in the 100m at 12.12 and later the 200m at 25.00, and placed 3rd in the long jump at 17-07.50. Kalayah Clark won the discus throw with a mark of 114-01, 


De'Metrionna Spencer from Thomas County (lane 5) doubled in the 100/200m sprints