Southwest Georgia track & field athletes qualify for GHSA state

High school track & field athletes from all of Georgia converged on their respective GHSA sectional qualifying meets Saturday, eyeing a Top 8 finish to qualify for the state meet.

The girls and boys from Westover and Monroe paced Southwest Georgia’s runners, combining to send 27 individuals and five relay teams to state.

Southwest Georgia athletes claimed 12 first-place finishes in Saturday’s sectionals, including two from Monroe’s Jahari Williams, who won the 200-meter dash (24.60) and the long jump (18-feet, 7.5-inches). Joining Williams with firsts were Monroe’s 4×400 girls relay team (3:57.37), Monroe’s Ashley Harrell (shot put, 38-10.50), Westover’s Tyler Sheffell (800, 2:00.58), Westover’s 4×400 boys relay team (3:22.70), Terrell County’s Michael Cooper (110 hurdles, 15.03), Terrell County’s Blake Mathis (high jump, 6-4), Baconton Charter’s Kimmie Davis (long jump, 17-feet), Pelham’s Raniesha Florence (100 hurdles, 16.13), Pelham’s Guthrie Edwards (3,200, 10:34.00) and Early County’s Randy Wade (shot put, 48-4).

Class AAAAA

Bainbridge qualified nine for the state championships, including Dominique Douglas, who finished second in the high jump. Other Bearcats moving on are Asia Thomas (discus), Chase Harris (3,200), Craig Cooper (high jump), Steven Johnson (triple jump), Victor Bodison (long jump), Raven Burney (long jump), Curtiavious Marshall (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles) and Tiffany Braswell (3,200).

Lee County’s two state qualifiers were Robert Grooms in the 800 and Madison Daniel in the pole vault.

Class AAAA

Southwest Georgia teams had their hands in nearly every event Saturday at Rutland High School, where Westover led the way with 17 individuals and two relay teams advancing to state.

Caitlin Cainion (1,600, 3,200) Tamiyah Dice (300 hurdles, pole vault), Tiana Campbell (long jump, high jump) and Chris O’Neal (shot put, discus) were Westover’s athletes who advanced in multiple events. Also moving on for Westover were Janie Plowden (3,200), the 4×400 girls relay team, Janasia Daniel (pole vault), Bryshea Jackson (triple jump), Briana Harpe (triple jump), Alicia Samuels (discus), Martin Jones (800), Jack Plowden (3,200), Anfernee Hill (110 hurdles), Qundez Carter (300 hurdles), Scott Sanders (long jump), Antravious Parks (shot put) and Brenten Wimberly (discus).

Monroe’s Williams followed her 200 and long jump titles with a second-place finish in the 100, and teammate Harrell also finished second in the discus. Also advancing in multiple events for the Tornadoes were Kandice Clyde (200, 400), RaShawn Robinson (1,600, 3,200) and Labrelle Tumblin (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles). Other Monroe qualifiers were Deaundria Anderson (800), Treasure Frazer (800), Zamaria Shead (1,600), the 4×400 girls relay team, Kierra Mitchell (discus), Brentavious Glanton (shot put) and the 4×400 boys relay team.

Albany High’s Top 8 finishers were Lindneshia Hudson in the 110 hurdles, Devonta Williams in the pole vault and the 4×100 boys relay team.

Other state qualifiers from Region 1-AAAA were Dougherty’s Brittany Fowler in the 100, Crisp County’s Natalie Averett in the shot put and Americus-Sumter’s Andre Martin in the 100 and 200.

Class AA

Along with his 3,200 victory, Pelham’s Edwards advanced in the 1,600 with a fourth-place finish, while Pelham’s Monica Webb (1,600, 3,200), Christian Drake (100, 200) and Brett Bailey (1,600, 3,200) will also be moving on in multiple events. Other Hornets advancing to state were Rebekah Smith (3,200), Amelia Almond (discus), Cheyenne Brooks (pole vault), Laura Watts (pole vault) and Cody Willis (pole vault).

Early County’s qualifiers included Tiara Lindsey (100), Jasmine Brown (800), Myles Henderson (110 hurdles), Xavior Smith (high jump), Labon Green (pole vault), Javian Williams (triple jump) and the girls 4×100 relay team.

Class A

Terrell County and Mitchell County had strong showings in the Class A public school sectional in Camilla, where the two Region 1-A schools combined to send 12 individuals and three relay teams to state.

Terrell County’s advancers were Timarius Whitting (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Joseph Ward (200, high jump), CaDesia Hill (discus), Rokeem Johnson (100), Keontae Terry (shot put), the 4×400 girls relay team and the 4×400 boys relay team. Along with his high jump title, Mathis also qualified in the 400.

Kayla Lawrence (100, 200), McKinley West (100, 200) and Jahleel Hicks (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles) will compete in multiple events at state for Mitchell County, which also advanced Adrianna Harvey (110 hurdles), Akerian Florence (100) and the 4×100 girls relay team.

Other Region 1-A state qualifiers were Baconton Charter’s Davis (long jump, 100, 200) and Alan Marcus (shot put); Miller County’s Briana Kelly (400) and Tracy Johnson (800); and Calhoun County’s Roderick McKenzie (400) and Jalen Reid (800).