VALDOSTA —Valdosta High and Lowndes High athletes won three events at the Class 7A sectional held Saturday at VHS. Several more athletes saw their track and field seasons extended further by qualifying for state.
State is May 9-11 at Carrollton High. Classes 7A and 5A will compete there. For those making the trip, tickets are $10 per day. For those staying home, Georgia High School Association will stream the meets on NFHS Network.
Kendall Johnson’s 2:14 in the 800 meters not only won, but was the fastest by five seconds for Lowndes.
The other winner for LHS was Camerin Rigdon, who cleared an even 13 feet in pole vault to finish in a three-way tie for first.
Valdosta earned one first place at sectionals: Donte Coxfield, Scotty Holmes, Travis Turner and Dylan Preaster won the 4×200 relay in 1:26.29.
One of the most exciting finishes was not for first. Valdosta’s girls 4×100 team nipped Lowndes, 48.27 seconds to 48.28 to be the eighth and final qualifier in the event.
Tranira Booker, Makiyah Brewton, Faith Brown and Taniyah Finnisse were on the Valdosta team.
The Vikettes were second in the 4×800 with Cadence Barrett, Kelsie Herndon, Vivica Jaggernauth and Ashlyn Myers in 9:45. The Vikings’ 4×100 team won their heat and were second overall with Anthony Carter, Keylan Hicks, Aalim Brown and Jacarre’ Fleming, running in 41.5 seconds.
Kaleece Williams cleared 8-6 to tie for first in pole vault. Dylan Chambers ran the 1,600 in 4:25 to place second. Hicks’s 22-9.75 earned second in long jump.
Anthony Brown was second for the Wildcats in triple jump, clearing 45-2.75.
Also making state for Valdosta:
Boys 110 hurdles: Brown (4th).
Boys 300 hurdles: Darris Roberts (6th).
Boys 200: Holmes (7th).
Boys 400: Turner (3rd) and Holmes (6th).
Boys 4×800: Coxfield, Jacob McGhin, Preaster and Jamil Williams (5th).
Girls discus: Jailyne Sirmans (5th).
Boys high jump: Jamir Bradley (4th).
Girls high jump: Aniyah Bradfield (3rd).
Girls long jump: Brewton (4th).
Boys shot put: Jalen Burgess (5th).
Girls triple jump: Brewton (4th).
Also making state for Lowndes:
Boys 800 meters: Matthew Miller (7th) and Toshiya Bass (8th).
Boys 4×200: Brown, Isaiah Lucas, Austin Everidge and Carter (7th).
Boys 4×800: Hogan Wright, Corbin Young, Jaylan Wright and Miller (3rd).
Boys high jump: Robert Fulton (5th).
Girls high jump: Ariyah Davis (4th) and Valerie Roberts (6th).
Boys discus: O’Shea Brooks (3rd).
Girls discus: Janiyah McKeithen (3rd).
Around Region 1-7A, Colquitt County qualified two athletes for state in three events. Richmond Hill qualified in four events, all relays, and Camden County qualified 10 athletes.