The LHSAA track and field season culminates every year in Ochsner’s LHSAA Outdoor Championships. The final chapter to determine the best of the best all plays out at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium in Baton Rouge.
Bienville Parish once again proved again that it has rich ground to bring up track stars. Last year, Gibsland-Coleman Bulldogs finished as state runner-up and the Lady Bulldogs were state champions. This year, the Bulldogs claimed the crown as state championship and the Lady Bulldogs finished as state runner-up. Down the road in Castor, the Castor Tigers boys track squad finished as the Class B State runner-up. Jamarion Clark was the top athlete in the field events for Class B. Lady Bulldogs’ Samora Sampson claimed the Most Outstanding Athlete in Class C for the second consecutive year. Sampson claimed titles in the 100 hurdles, long jump, and triple jump.
Behind strong performances behind Lauryn Vernon and dual state champion Ikeia Brown, the Simsboro Lady Tigers took the state runner-up title in Class B edging out Anacoco by 0.5 points. Ikeia Brown finished third overall in the female race for Most Outstanding Athlete in Class B. Lauryn Vernon was third in the top female field events for Class B.
Mansfield Wolverines won the boy team state championship with 56 points for the track. Although not winning an individual event, the Wolverines made the podium on eleven separate occasions to push their team score to the top of the tables.
Jackson Burney captured the title of Most Outstanding Athlete in Class 2A with his three first-place finishes. In all three races that Calvary competed in they were declared state champions.
Doyline’s Izayla Harris proved once again that the track world is hers and we just get to live in it. Harris was named Most Outstanding Athlete for the girls in Class B again. Any less would have been controversial. Harris smashed three Class B records in her performances in the 100, 200, and 400. Yes, that’s three records in one day. Harris broke the 21-year-old 100-dash record of 12.22 with her new record of 12.13. The Lady Panther had a time of 24.93 in the 200 run, smashing the old record from 2007 of 25.25. Even her own records were not safe, as she recorded a 56.69 in the 400, beating the record of 57.77 she had set the year before.
Class 2A State Championships
Mansfield Wolverines boy track team claimed a state championship without winning a single individual event but strong relay team performances and four medal winners from Isaac Jenkins and Jaden Youngblood. Isaac Jenkins finished as state runner-up in the long jump and 400 run. Jenkins was also part of the state runner-up 4 x 200 and third place 4 x 400 relay teams. Other members of the 4 x 200 were Nick Davis, Cleveland Wells, and Kavin Jackson. Other members of the 4 x 400 team were Davis, Jackson, and Jaden Youngblood. Youngblood had two third-place finishes in the hurdle competitions. Youngblood was also part of the 4 x 100 relay team. Other members of the 4 x 100 were Wells, Jackson, and Jaden Ross. Nick Bailey also added points to take to the state title with his state runner-up in the high jump. La’TyKeunna Sicks reached the medal podium twice. Sicks was state runner-up in the 200 and as part of the state runner-up 4 x 100 relay team. Other members of the 4 x 200 relay squad were Germanee Robertson, Zakhia Auston, and Trinity Ford.
Jonesboro-Hodge won two individual state championships. Savantez Phillips won the 110 hurdles with a personal record of 14.35. Zion Gray captured the triple jump title with a jump of 44-6. Ciara Gray represented the Lady Tigers with two runner-ups in the 300 hurdles and triple jump.
Calvary’s Jackson Burney took the outstanding athlete award with three state championship medals. Burney won the 800 (1:59.37), 1600 (4:22.00), and as part of the 4 x 400 relay team (3:26.27). Other members of the 4 x 400 team were John Simon, Landon Sylvie, and Kolby Thomas,
Loyola’s Franklin Roemer took two medals including a state championship in the 3200 (9:57.96) and state runner-up in the 1600.
Many Tigers took two state runner-ups at the state meet. Isaac Sweet was state runner-up in the 300 hurdles. Joseph Yount completed the javelin in second place.
Lakeview had two third-place finishes at state with Trinity Browder representing the Lady Gators in the shot put. Dillion Pikes also had a third-place finish in the triple jump.
Class 1A State Championship
Cedar Creek reached the medal podium in five different events. Caroline James received two medals finishing as state runner-up twice, once in the 1600 with a personal record of 5:26.93, and as part of the 4 x 400 team which finished in 4:14.07. Other members of the 4 x 400 relay team were Annie Jones, Taylor Ramsey, and Cara Beth Hill. Madison Morris also finished as state runner-up in the 800 with a time of 2:26.81 a personal best.
Haynesville boys scored state runner-up in two events. Isaiah Washington finished the 300 hurdles in 41.24 seconds and a personal record. The 4 x 100 relay team placed second in 43.80 seconds. Members of the 4 x 100 team were Kamarion Penegar, J’Karius Turner, Keizavion Woods, and Alonzo Jackson.
Plain Dealing’s Brianna Newton finished the state meet with two silver medals in the shot put (34-11) and discus (108-2). Newton was tied for the top female athlete in the field events for Class A with Kimrey Thomas from Delhi Charter.
Class B State Championship
Castor boys made some noise in Baton Rouge capturing the Class B State Runner-up. Jamarion Clark gained a state championship in the triple jump (42-8.25 ft) and finished in a tie for the state runner-up with Zwolle’s Draven Meshell in the high jump (5-9.75 ft). Finishing as state runner-up in the triple jump was fellow Tiger Austin Cooper (41-1.75 ft). Castor also had dual medalists in the pole vault as Brenden Cox finished second (12-4.75) and Seth Pickett was third. DeAndre Clark also finished as state runner-up in the long jump (20-4.5). Dawson Wood’s 42-11.75 ft shot put throw was enough for third at state. Jonathan Warren finished third in the javelin (136-10).
Simsboro’s Ikeia Brown claimed two state championships for the Lady Tigers. Brown won both the 100 hurdles (16.77) and 300 hurdles (47.75). Lauryn Vernon was also a dual medalist placing third in the long jump (16-1 ft) and triple jump (34-1.5). Vashanti Sprouls finished as state runner-up in the shot put (34-9). Kendrick Craig was a dual medalist for the Tigers boy track squad. Craig finished third in the 100 (11.47 sec) and as part of the third-place 4 x 200 relay team (1:35.42). Other members of the 4 x 200 were Itavus Brown, Jalen Outley, and Dillon Kitchens. Trent Buggs had a third-place finish in the 300 hurdles (43.86).
Quitman had three state champions head out of Baton Rouge. Emma Carter claimed the high jump title (4-11.75). Bryan Lay stuck his final attempt at 12-10.75 to win the state championship in the pole vault (12-10.75). The Wolverines and Lady Wolverines found success in the relay races. The state champion 4 x 200 boys relay team (1:34.45) edged out Christ Episcopal by 0.29 seconds for the title. Members of the 4 x 200 boys team were Geoffrey Maxwell, Jayden Harts, Brayden Smith, and Nathan Harvey. Harvey also took second in the 110 hurdles (17.61). The girls’ 4 x 100 placed second while the 4 x 200 finished third. Members of both teams were Neysha Johnson, Maddie Grace Giddens, Malaysia Wiley, and Bethany Leach.
Already mentioned above Izayla Harris dominated all four events she competed in claiming the Outstanding Athlete award for the second year consecutive year. Harris also had a runner-up in the triple jump (34-4). With the help from Takerria Washington, Doyline finished in fifth place overall for the girls. Harris wasn’t the only state champion for Doyline. Grace Christian was looking like they would have a state title in the javelin as Caysten Mingo had already committed three fouls and his best throw would have landed him in third place. The final throw by Mingo was the clincher for the state title in javelin (159-0).
The two Choudrant discus throwers traded places throughout the competition. Trevor Trevillion had the lead after the first two rounds while Payton Doss was third at that point. Doss tossed a 132-03 in the third round and took the lead with Trevillion bumped back to second with his 128-10 throw. Cobe Brooks from JS Clark posted a 129-6 in his final attempt to move into second place. Doss tossed a 138-0 to win as his final discus throw to claim the state championship. Trevillion finished on the podium in third place.
Zwolle’s Dreven Meshell took two medals back to Sabine Parish. Meshell shared the state runner-up with Jamarion Clark from Castor in the high jump (5-9.75). Meshell finished third in the triple jump (40-8.25). Meshell jumped from fifth place to third place in the final round to reach the podium.
Weston’s Jalexiah Claridy began the competition in the lead for the first two round with her 32-10.50 throw. In the third round, Vashanti Sprouls from Simsbor tossed a 34-9 to take the lead. Sprouls retained the lead until the final round where Claridy threw a 36-4 to take the lead and eventually the state championship in the shot put. Claridy clawed her way back to the state runner-up from sixth place. Claridy threw a 91-3 in the discus.
Florien’s Lehr Turner took the top honors for Black Cats with winning the 100 (12.78).
Class C State Championship
Gibsland-Coleman did it again. The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs claimed hardware to bring back home. The Bulldogs won the state championship behind the speed of the Durham brothers, triple jump prowess, speed and field focus of Terrance James, and relay team strength. Demarquis and Deavery Durham were constantly on the leader board one behind the other. Demarquis Durham finished second in the 100 and won the 200 (22.50). His brother Deavery was third in the 100 and state runner-up in the 200, Both brothers were part of the state champion 4 x 100 (45.16) and 4 x 200 (1:34.19) relay teams. Other member of the two teams were Carlos Ruduolph (both teams), Devery Moore, Jr. (4 x 100), and Dadrail Chatman (4 x 200). Terrance James picked up a couple of state runner-up in the 400 and high jump. Brian Wright and Michael Woodford finished state runner-up and third, respectively. Samora Sampson once again took the Class C Outstanding Athlete award. Sampson won the 100 hurdles (17.15 sec), long jump (16-6), and the triple jump (33-2). Sampson also was part of the state runner-up 4 x 200 team. Other members of the 4 x 200 were Ca’Riya Lewis, Baleigh Haulcy, and Shamaria Durham. Jordan Allen also took three medals at state. Allen won the 300 hurdles (51.71) and had two state runner-ups in the 100 hurdles and high jump.
Summerfield put ten on the medal podium at the Class C State Championships. Marquez Tate brough a gold medal back to Claiborne Parish with a win in the shot put (40-6.75). Akeirah Jones snagged three medals finishing as third in the 100 and 200 dashes and as part of the state runner-up 4 x 200 relay team. Other members of the 4 x 200 teams were Ella Adkins, Armiya Williams, and Zyan Smith. Smith also finished third in the long jump. Kearra Wilson also won a bronze in the 1600 for the Lady Rebels. Martravious Kennedy scored two medals in the high jump and 110 hurdles. Dalton Wilson’s javelin landed into a third place medal for the Rebels. Amarion Jones placed third in the discus.
Delonte Rager-Ridley gave the Saline Bobcats a state title in the high jump (6-1.5). Rager-Ridley was also part of the state runner-up 4 x 200 and third place 4 x 100 relay teams. Other members of the two squads were Gavon Dailey, William Dison, and Jay Nash. Trenton Ledbetter completed the 800 for a state runner-up. Maddox Williams was third in the 3200.
Atlanta’s Kelton Perry came into the state championships as the alternate for the long jump. He walked away with a third place medal. Perry was also part of the third place 4 x 200 relay team. Other members of the team were Bryant Nash, Kevion Sapp, and Brian Small.
Pleasant Hill took two third place medals back home. Javonte Ford placed third in the 400. The girls 4 x 200 relay team took thrid place. Members of the 4 x 200 squad were ShaDiamond Frazier, Kenzie Mims, Kamaria Holmes, and Markayla Jones.
UNDER THE RADAR NWLA
Under The Radar NWLA is dedicated to telling the untold stories of schools in LHSAA classification 2A-C, MAIS, and other minor league teams in the Northwest Louisiana area. We cover Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Lincoln, Winn, Jackson, Bienville, Natchitoches, Red River, Desoto, and Sabine Parishes. Please give us a follow on Newsbreak. If you would like to see more, you can go to my website http://undertheradarnwla.com
Comments / 0