Calhoun boys rise to challenge, win region title
Jackets top field at 6-AAA Meet; Several locals headed to Sectionals
The goal for each track coach is to build their team up throughout the season so that they reach their peak performance level in the final (and most important) meets, and Calhoun coach Brant Murry and Sonoraville coach Jeremy Green accomplished that goal this week with both of their teams putting on impressive performances at the Region 6-AAA Meet.
The Calhoun boys team had the best two-day stretch of the local teams in action as they put together a pretty dominant performance on their home track to earn the Region 6-AAA title. The Jackets finished with 164 total points to take the crown, 54 points ahead of their nearest competitor.
Murry said his boys knew what was at stake coming into the meet, and they delivered exactly what was asked of them against some tough competition.
“I think the boys came out today and went to war,” said Murry. “We knew coming in that there were going to be several schools fighting for points in every event, but we were comfortable and confident that our lineup could do the job. They stepped up today and got it done, and I’m proud of the way they performed to win a region title.”
The Jackets were led by six first-place finishes, including a record-tying performance by Jack Rhea. The senior tied the school record and his personal best in the pole vault as he earned a region title with a successful jump of 15-00. Also earning individual region titles was Drew Rutledge in the 400 meter (51.78), Esvin Garcia in the 800 meter (2:04.28), CJ Fuller in the shot put (4603.75), William Long in the discus (129) and the 4x400 meter relay ‘A’ team (3:32.73).
Calhoun got a pair of runner-up finishes in the 100 meter dash (11.62) and 200 meter dash (23.64) from Malik Lawrence and the 110 meter hurdles (16.02) and 300 meter hurdles (43.57) from Jevard Williams along with other second-place finishes from Garcia in the 1600 meter (4:47.64), Jonkell Tolbert in the triple jump (40-00.50) and the 4x100 meter relay ‘A’ team (44.60). They had four other top-four, sectionals-qualifying performances.
On the girls side, the Calhoun and Sonoraville girls tied for third place in the team standings, each scoring 88 points. The Lady Phoenix were led by a region-title win in the 400 meter by Anikia Simpson with a time of 1:03.52.
Faith Austin finished second in both the 100 meter dash (13.09) and 200 meter dash (27.27) for Sonoraville, and the team had a total of six other sectional-qualifying performances.
Calhoun’s girls got second-place finishes from Ashlyn Barnes in the 400 meter (1:04.54), Elizabeth Peyton in the 800 meter (2:40.06), Alexis Nalley in the shot put (31-08) and the 4x400 meter relay ‘A’ team (4:28.74) to go along with seven other sectional-qualifying performances.
“This new region has got some of the best girls talent I’ve seen in my four years of coaching,” said Murry. “For us to be in the hunt coming into today on the girls side was a bit of a surprise, but not really unexpected knowing what kind of performers we have. This is a hard-working, dedicated group of girls, and they fought until the end today.”
The Sonoraville boys finished third in the team standings with 84 points. They were led by two individual region champs with Nathan Ortiz taking first in the 110 meter hurdles (15.47) and Tristan Key winning the long jump (21-00). The Phoenix had six other sectional- qualifying performances.
Sonoraville coach Jeremy Green said both of his teams’ finishes shows the athletic talent at the school.