ATC Powerade All Metro Track & Field Banquet Honorees

Outstanding Track & Field Athletes Honored at Powerade All-Metro Track & Field Banquet

More than $18,000 in Scholarships Awarded

ATLANTA - June 8, 2022 -- Atlanta Track Club, Atlanta Track Club Foundation and Atlanta Youth Running awarded $18,000 in scholarships Wednesday night as the best high school track and field athletes in Metro Atlanta were honored. The runners, jumpers and throwers from counties touching Fulton and Dekalb were recognized  at the annual Powerade All-Metro Track & Field Banquet in midtown Atlanta.

Over the course of the evening the best boy and girl in each discipline as well as the best boys and girls relay teams were called to the stage to receive their honors. The banquet also included the announcement of the most outstanding athlete award given to the top athletes on the track and in the field events. Each athlete received a $1,500 scholarship.

Hodge accepting her award

Alexander High School sophomore Adaejah Hodge was named most outstanding girls track athlete. Hodge made history as the only athlete in the 57-year history of the banquet to be named to the All-Metro team in four events - the 100m, 200m, 400m and the long jump. Hodge, who was the 6A state champion in all four events - is one of the best athletes in Georgia history. She is ranked on the state's top 10 all-time list in each event and was ranked in the top 10 nationally in all four events this season as well.

"Challenges keep me going," said Hodge who called the 200m her favorite event. "There's always something more to strive for and that gives me drive."

Mixon accepting his award

The most outstanding boys track athlete is also among the best in Georgia history. Westlake High School senior Malik Mixon was named to the All-Metro team in the 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles.  Mixon is ranked number one in the nation in the 300m hurdles and second on Georgia's all-time list. He's eighth in the United States in the 110m hurdles in 2022 and ninth in Georgia history. He will compete at the University of Southern California next year.

"If I want to go to the next level, that's the next step I have to take," Mixon said of his college choice. "surround myself with strong athletes and a strong program."

Washington accepting her award

The field athlete awards went to a pair of throwers. Imani Washington, a senior shot putter at the Wesleyan School was named most outstanding girls field athlete. The 1A state champion will attend the University of Florida next season. She was was undefeated in 2022 and ranked number one in the state.

"I've had a lot of coaches and spent a lot of time practicing," said Washington. I had to give up a lot of weekends. I didn't think in the beginning of the season I'd be here but here I am thanks to hard work."

Allen accepting his award

New Manchester Senior Seth Allen was named most outstanding boys athlete. The Purdue-commit was the 5A state champion in the discus and was the second ranked thrower in Georgia this year.

"Covid did but a damper on things but I came back strong," Allen said of his last two seasons. "I wouldn't change what I've done in my life for the world."

Full team honors can be found below.

The Powerade All-Metro High School banquet also featured the Patty Foell and the Hawthorne Wesley Scholarship awards. The $5,000 scholarships are awarded by Atlanta Track Club Foundation and Atlanta Youth Running Foundation to a boy and girl athlete in good academic standing who plan to continue competing in track and field or cross country in college. The winner of the Patty Foell Scholarship was Cara Joyce of Atlanta International School. She will attend Yale in the fall. The winner of the Hawthorne Wesley Scholarship was Dawson Livingston of Jackson High School who will attend Berry College. Two runners-up for each awarded were given $500 each.

Held annual since 1964, the Powerade All-Metro banquets are Atlanta Track Club's longest running event honoring cross country athletes in the fall and track and field athletes in the spring.

Girls Team

Boys Team

##

All photos by Paul McPherson

About Atlanta Track Club

Atlanta Track Club is a nonprofit committed to creating an active and healthy Atlanta. Through running and walking, Atlanta Track Club motivates, inspires and engages the community to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.

With more than 30,000 members, Atlanta Track Club is the second largest running organization in the United States. In addition to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race (peachtreeroadrace.org) - the largest 10K running event in the world, the Publix Atlanta Marathon, PNC Atlanta 10 Miler and Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, Atlanta Track Club directs more than 30 events per year. Through the support of its members and volunteers, Atlanta Track Club also maintains a number of community initiatives including organizing and promoting the Kilometer Kids youth running program to metro Atlanta youth, honoring high school cross country and track and field athletes through Atlanta Track Club's All-Metro Banquets and supporting the Grady Bicycle EMT program. For more information on Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org.