Marianna Wright, Jaquavus Hallman shine at Westover Relays

ALBANY – Two of Albany’s top track and field athletes turned in show-stopping performances Saturday at the Westover Relays. Monroe’s Marianna Wright blazed through the girls’ 300-meter hurdles in 42.90 seconds — finishing six seconds ahead of the next closest runner — while Dougherty’s Jaquavus Hallman soared to a triple jump victory with a leap of 47 feet, 5 inches. Both seniors earned “Elite Performance” recognition at Hugh Mills Stadium.

Wright also won the girls’ 200-meter dash and helped lead Monroe to victory in all of the girls’ relay events. Hallman added another title with a win in the boys’ long jump.

Next year, Wright will compete for the University of Florida track and field team, while Hallman will play football at Texas Southern University.

Other top performers from Saturday included:

• Braylon Ball of Lee County, who won the boys’ 200-meter dash in a close race over Dougherty’s Jason Armstrong and Monroe’s Talaun Jones.
• Benjamin Wright, Jr. of Monroe — Marianna’s younger brother — who won the boys’ 400-meter dash with a personal-best time of 51.30 seconds, edging Westover’s Adam Martin (51.55).
• Sedrick Roundtree of Monroe, who dominated the boys’ 800-meter run by 10 seconds and then edged Deerfield-Windsor’s Drew Dowdy by one second to win the 1600-meter run.
• Timothy Robinson of Westover, who claimed the 3200-meter title, finishing two seconds ahead of Dougherty’s Tequan Caudle.
• Zeterria Kegler of Dougherty, who swept both hurdles events — winning the girls’ 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles.
• Zaterious Griffin and Juwuan Jinks, Jr. of Dougherty, who finished first and second, respectively, in the boys’ high jump.
• Joseph Ingram of Westover, who won the boys’ discus with a throw of 144 feet, 10 inches — more than 14 feet ahead of the nearest competitor.

Girls highlights included:

• Dejoria Jones of Dougherty winning the 100-meter dash, just ahead of Westover’s Niyah Edwards and teammate Rihunna Doyle.
• Jade Clinton of Lee County edging Monroe’s Kaitlyn Williams in the girls’ 400-meter dash.
• Hadiya Ali of Lee County narrowly defeating Sherwood Christian’s Kaylee Hatcher in the 1600-meter run.
• Marigrace Garcia Simmons of Southwest Georgia taking first in the 3200-meter run, just ahead of Lee County’s Kali Nicholson and Terrell Academy’s Anna Kate Miller.
• Sydney Donaldson of Westover winning the girls’ high jump.
• Dariona Simmons of Dougherty claiming the girls’ long jump title.
• Shandrae Savage of Monroe taking first in the girls’ discus.