It's time to Vote for the Georgia Track and Field Breakthrough of the Week!
Breakthrough of the Week is meant to highlight performances of athletes who achieved big improvements and stepped things up to a new level.
We will do this once a week and we will have up to 10 nominees for both boys and girls each week
Here's the lineup for this week's vote:
Emma Gay (Paideia) won the 3200 meters in 12:03.58 at the GHSA A-3A Private Sectional, improving from her previous best of 12:41.18 set in April. The freshman's time ranks 125th in Georgia and 25th among freshmen statewide.
Adylee Davis (Bulloch Academy) cleared 5-8 to win the high jump at the GIAA State Championships, breaking her previous personal record of 5-5. The junior's mark set a school record and ranks third in Georgia and first among juniors. Davis also recorded a personal best of 46.77 in the 300 hurdles, improving from 48.24.
Serenity Slaton (Redan) ran 15.37 to place third in the 100 hurdles at the GHSA 2A Sectional, improving from her previous best of 16.05. The sophomore ranks 77th statewide and 12th among sophomores. Slaton also set a personal record in the triple jump with a mark of 35-10.5, improving from 35-8.
Sierra Thornton (Chamblee) threw 155-4.5 to win the discus at the GHSA 5A Sectional, improving from 145-5. The sophomore's throw set a school record and ranks first in Georgia among all athletes and first among sophomores.
Samantha Haney (Loganville) ran 5:22.66 to place sixth in the 1600 meters at the GHSA 5A Sectional, improving from 5:30.23. The sophomore's time set a school record and ranks 96th statewide and 25th among sophomores. Haney also posted a personal best of 2:23.66 in the 800 meters, improving from 2:29.46.
Ayla Inan (Walton) threw 40-11.5 to place fourth in the shot put at the GHSA 6A Sectional, improving from 39-2.75. The junior's mark ranks ninth in Georgia and third among juniors.
Natalia Cunningham (Cherokee Bluff) ran 12.21 to place second in the 100 meters at the GHSA 3A Sectional, improving from 12.42. The freshman ranks 80th statewide and 11th among freshmen.
Voting Closes on Friday at 5pm!
Note - This is not necessarily the most improved performances of the week, but a way to highlight those that may have had their best performance so far among athletes who should be competitive during the championship season.
Once an Athlete wins, they will no longer be nominated for athlete of the week. We will keep a running tally of each week's winner and then after the season have a final vote for athlete of the year.
Past Winners
Week 1: Piper Atwood - Parkview - Improved her PR from 10-0 to 11-1 to win All Comers Series #1
Week 2: Lauren Johnson - Woodward Academy - Improved her Pr in the discus from 97-11 to 107-10 to break 100 for the first time at Westminster Varsity Home Meet
Week 3: Janelle Taylor (Model) ran 2:21.38 in the 800 meters at the Model Six Lane Spectacular on March 5, improving from 2:27.56 set in May 2025. The junior won among 6 competitors and ranks #78 in Georgia and #14 among juniors.
Week 4: Monica Mathis (Northside Columbus) ran 26.62 in the 200 meters at the Rome Relays on March 14, improving from her previous best of 27.03 set in March 2026. The sophomore finished fourth of 35 competitors and won her heat.
Week 5: Lauren Lauer (Houston County, Warner Robins) ran 11:52.87 in the 3200 meters at the International City Relays on March 18, dropping from her previous time of 12:08.56. Lauer won the event among 16 competitors and ranks #143 in Georgia.
Week 6: Anjali Smith (Northside Columbus) cleared 5-8 in the high jump at Harris County Wednesday Night #2 on March 25, improving from her previous best of 5-2. The mark ranks #4 in Georgia and #1 among freshmen, and set a school record for Northside Columbus. Smith also recorded personal bests in the 200 meters (26.84, down from 26.90) and 300m hurdles (49.32, down from 49.78) at the same meet.
Week 7: Alexis Isenhour (Brookwood) ran 58.44 in the 400 meters at the Archer Invitational, dropping from her previous personal best of 1:00.96 from March. The time places her #136 in the state and #24 among juniors, finishing 5th in a field of 45. Isenhour also set a personal record in the 800 meters, improving from 2:31.63 to 2:30.37.
Week 8: Azaria Lee (Heritage) ran 15.50 in the 100m hurdles at the McEachern Invitational, improving from her previous best of 16.27 set in April 2026. The junior ranks #133 in Georgia and #33 among juniors after placing 7th of 16 competitors. Lee also set a PR in the triple jump, improving from 35-2.5 to 36-1 at the same meet.
Week 9: Sophie Morris (Pope High School) ran 12:14.51 in the 3200 meters at Walton Post-Spring Break Rust Buster on April 15, improving from 12:22.29. The time places her 146th in Georgia and 43rd among juniors, winning the event with six competitors.
Week 10: Gwyneth Ferguson (North Atlanta) ran 11:29.44 in the 3200 meters at GHSA 6A Region 6 on April 20, improving by 16 seconds from her previous mark of 11:45.54. The junior ranks 43rd in the state and ninth in her class after placing third in a field of 16. Ferguson also recorded a personal best in the 1600 meters with 5:17.25, improving from 5:21.39.