Harmony Moore leads state Qualifiers at Hugh Mills sectionals

ALBANY — Under clear skies and a steady spring sun, the stakes were unmistakable Monday at Hugh Mills Stadium — finish in the top eight, or the season ends.

For Monroe freshman Harmony Moore, it turned into a breakthrough moment.

Moore set a school record in the 100-meter hurdles, winning in 14.21 seconds, then came back to capture the 300-meter hurdles in 45.00 seconds flat, sweeping both events and announcing herself as one of the area’s top contenders heading into the state championships.

The meet, which featured four regions, produced 55 state-qualifying performances according to MileSplit, with the top eight in each event advancing to the GHSA state championships May 14 at University of Georgia.

Moore’s performance was the headline — but far from the only one.

Monroe’s girls showed depth across the track, with Madisyn Goddard finishing seventh in the 400-meter dash and Westover’s Amarise Idlett grabbing the final qualifying spot in eighth. Monroe’s Olivia Lewis advanced with an eighth-place finish in the 800 meters, while Tamia Pollard added another qualifier in the 300-meter hurdles.

And when the races turned to relays, Monroe took control.

The Lady Tornadoes placed second in the 4×200 relay, won the 4×400 relay, and added another runner-up finish in the 4×800 — sending all three teams to Athens. Westover’s 4×200 (5th) and 4×800 (6th) relay teams also advanced, while Dougherty’s 4×100 team secured the final qualifying spot in eighth.

Dougherty’s Rihunna Doyle punched her ticket to state with a seventh-place finish in the 100-meter dash.

In the field events, Westover’s Sydney Donaldson delivered one of the most complete performances of the day, tying for first in the high jump and adding a sixth-place finish in the long jump. Teammate Janiyah Winslow and Dougherty’s Grace Smith each qualified in both throwing events, with Winslow finishing second and Smith fifth in the shot put. The two flipped positions in the discus, where Smith took second and Winslow placed third.

On the boys’ side, Dougherty’s Zaterria Kegler led the way with a first-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles, while teammate Jason Armstrong qualified in two events, placing eighth in the 100 meters and sixth in the 200.

Dougherty’s Ar’Meen Walker added a runner-up finish in the high jump, and Westover’s Demetrius Williams (3rd) and Caleb Bradley (8th) advanced in the pole vault. Westover’s Qay’Shawn Mathis secured a state berth with a fifth-place finish in the triple jump, while Monroe’s Raymond Thompson placed fourth in the discus.

In the final races of the day, Monroe’s boys 4×400 relay team finished fourth and Westover placed fifth, with both teams advancing.

Now the stage shifts to Athens — where the times tighten, the fields deepen, and the margin for error disappears.