Westlake's Shakara Martin anchors the 4x100 squad to Gold as the Lions roared to the team title Westlake ran away with the 6A title scoring 72 points behind their wealth and depth of sheer speed. Dunwoody easily took the 5A team title relying on rangey speed, relay squads, and Cameron's distance double scoring 69 points. The 4A title was in play in the 4x400, but Marist rose to the challenge getting the baton around the track placing 5th to best Redan's A/B squads that combined for 11 points. Blessed Trinity had a great day in Finals, but it wasn't enough to overtake Cedar Grove's Saints pouring it on scoring 89 points. 2A absolutely depended on the outcome of the 4x400m relay. GAC made a great comeback effort Saturday and did what they HAD to do winning in 4x40m in 4:00, however Westminster managed to get the baton around the track legally, securing the title placing 7th securing a narrow 2 point win... Our Lady of Mercy owned the track events during finals. The Bobcats swept the relays, short sprints, and a pair of 2nds in the 400/800m events amassing 68.5 points. ACS placed 2nd without winning an event w/ 54 points. Marion County exploded winning A Public with 84 points. Full Summaries on every class Posted! What a crazy dang season it was. Good luck to all the seniors moving on to compete at the next level and those competing in Summer Track!
Coverage
Alot of athletes had special performances during Finals, but none could touch Kendell Williams 13.23 (wind legal) time in the 100 Hurdles beating her time from prelims. Just a day earlier, Kendell soared in the LJ to 20-09.25, then had a modest (for her) clearance of 5-8, doubling in the HJ. A couple hours later she flew over the 100h at 13.29 (#1 in the USA)
How nice was it to contest the 2nd round of distance Finals and it not be 90+ degrees and no wind? Conditions were favorable, especially as the 6A 3200m began and Allie Buchalski came out of the fray as the reigning queen of Distance in Georgia after her swift 10:42 win. The 1A private 1600m was a barnburner as Naomi Grande Pierre bested a game Grace Tinkey in 5:05.70
Marietta moved into the lead in 6A closing day 2 with 31 points thanks to Jenessa Jackson's 18 points in the Throws. Katelyn Utely from Tift County (above)set a new State meet record clearing 12-6 in the PV. Kendell Williams, after scoring 20 points for Kell by doubling in the HJ/LJ (20-9.25) blew down the straights in the 100 meter hurdles clocking a crazy #1 National Best of 13.29! Westlake did their thing in 6A prelims highlighted by Shakara Martin's 23.58 in the 200m (a new state meet record)
With the internet signal lost 2 events into prelims, most of the Field Events did post as A, 2A, 3A began scoring points with Gordon Lee, ACS, Jeff Davis and SE Bulloch on top of the leader board. Future USAF Academy teammates Lindy Long and Grace Tinkey took it to the wire in the A Private 3200m as Long won by 1 second in 10:51! 6A 1600m- Awesome race and lots of lead changes! Kelly actually led the first three laps and then Buchalski passed her with about 450 to go and hammered the final 200 meters. Incredible race by both of them to break 5;, was fun to watch. Yost had a pretty incredible kick to move up from 5 (?) to 3 on the last lap.
Here are the entry lists for the Girls State meet down in Albany beginning Thursday morning. Performance Lists & Meet Programs to be posted after the 12 noon deadline on Tue, May 6th Its that time again for everyone to make the long, strange trip down to Albany, endure 95 degree heat, little wind and eat gnats...But wait, after last weekend's monsoon at Jefferson, could it be possible the cool weather may hang on a few days later? Don't bet on it, as the forecast for Thursday and Friday is high 80's partly to mostly cloudy 10mph winds and some isolated T-storms Saturday. The schedule has changed from years before with 1/2 the Field Events contested on Thursday: