Locals aim to make mark at Westover Relays

ALBANY — Some of the best local high school track & field athletes will once again converge upon Hugh Mills Stadium Friday afternoon to compete for the Westover Relays.

“The relays are in their 12th year … it’s the last meet before the Region 1-AAAA Meet,” Westover athletic director Harley Calhoun said. “It gives the female athletes one last chance to run at the girls state meet site.”

The Georgia High School Association’s girls state meet is at Hugh Mills Stadium in May, while the boys state meet will be in Jefferson.

“It’s one of the few Friday night track & field meets in the state of Georgia,” Westover track & field coach Lewis Smith said. “Twenty-two teams are in the meet.”

According to Smith, the top girls teams participating in the meet are Monroe, Westover, Westside-Macon and Berkmar, while the top boys teams in the meet are Monroe, Valdosta, Bainbridge and Lowndes.

One of the many exciting local athletes competing is Monroe’s Jahari Williams who turned in a strong showing at last months Winfred Benson/L.C. Smith Relays. She finished third and second in the 100- and 200-meter dash respectively.

Williams was also on the Monroe 4×100 meter relay team that finished first and ran a leg on the 4×400 meter relay team that also finished first.

Nikeya Marshall and Naila Harris, who won the 400 and 800 meters respectively in last month’s meet, will try to have a repeat performance.

Meanwhile Monroe’s Ashley Harrell, who won the girls discuss and finished second in the shot put, is expected to contend in both events.

On the boys side, Tymashe Kendrick is expected to turn in another solid performance in both the 200- and 400-meter dash. Kendrick finished first in the 200 at the Benson/Smith Relays with a time of 22.33. He also finished second in the 400 meters with a time of 49.61.

Westover’s Qundez Carter, who finished second in the 300-meter hurdles at last month’s Benson/Smith Relays, will be looking to finish at the top. Carter finished just outside the top four in the boys triple jump and will look to improve.

Thomas Langstaff (pole vault) and Antravious Parks (shot put) will seek to help Westover challenge for the team title.

The Westover Relays begin this afternoon at 4 p.m.