Ridgeland boys finish as 6-AAAA track runners-up at Southeast Whitfield
There was a time in the not-so-distant past when the Ridgeland Panthers struggled to score points at the region track championships.
These days, however, the Black-and-White can consider themselves one of the best squads in the region.
For a second consecutive year, Ridgeland earned the region runner-up trophy at Southeast Whitfield. The Panthers finished this year’s 6-AAAA meet with 109 points and trailed only Pickens (131), who won the title for a second straight year.
Gilmer (94) was third, followed by Northwest Whitfield and Heritage in a tie for fourth (91). Southeast Whitfield (55) and LaFayette (49) rounded out the field.
“We’ve just constantly been talking to our athletes about coming out for track because we know they can make a difference in our program,” Ridgeland coach Bill Oliver said. “We want kids to play multiple sports and contribute so we’re excited. Today was a good day to be out here.”
After Markeith Montgomery took high jump honors last Monday (6-0), Marquie Davis got two more wins for the Panthers on Tuesday as he won both the 100 (11.27) and the 110 hurdles (15.40). Davis also tied for second (6-0) in a jumpoff in the high jump on Monday.
The top four in each event automatically qualify for the April 29 state sectionals at Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell.
Quintin Postell is headed to sectionals in two events. He took second in the shot put (47-6) and third in the 200 (23.60), while Chris Henderson was third in the shot (45-5) and third in the discus (114-5). Gavin Losh had a solid meet for Ridgeland, taking second in the 300 hurdles (44.57) and third in both the 110 hurdles (17.58) and the long jump (18-10).
The Ridgeland 4x100 “A” team (44.16) placed second, while Skye Wilson was third in the 100 (11.35).
“We try to get two athletes in every event that can score points,” Oliver explained. “We had a great senior class that contributed four years and they just got better every year.”
For Heritage, Lavarius Hood won region titles in both the shot put (48-2 3/4) and the discus (130-10). Zach Scott was second in the discus (119-2). The 4x400 “A” relay team (3:42) took second. Wes Lozano was third in the pole vault (11-6). Jerryd Tennyson was fourth in the 1600 (4:47) and Kyler Jones placed fourth in the 200 (23.89).
“We lost of a lot of seniors last year, so for us to get back and battle and end up in the middle of the pack, I’m pleased with the effort,” Heritage coach David Gibson said. “We had some injuries that cost us, but we had a lot of personal-bests set here at region and that’s when you want to set them. I’m very proud of the kids.”
For LaFayette, a day after LaTrail McClinic took first in the triple jump (41-3 1/2), Dakota Cathey won the long jump (19-11 1/2), finishing ahead of runner-up LaTavious McClinic (19-2). Fourthplace points were scored by Kyrell Jordan (45.46) and the 4x100 “A” team (46.23).
Gilmer’s Griffin Cagle won both the 200 (23.23) and the 400 (52.48), while Sean Parker of Pickens swept in the 1600 (4:40) and the 3200 (10:11).
Other winners included Pickens’ Kyle Tidwell in the pole vault (12-6), Southeast’s Alex Carrol in the 800 (2:07.96), Northwest’s Jay Jones in the 300 hurdles (42.95), the Bruins’ 4x100 “A” team (43.95) and Southeast’s 4x400 “A” team (3:37.96).