Gordon Lee sweeps 3-A track titles

The Gordon Lee Trojans and Lady Trojans were expected to be major factors in the Area 3-A Public School Division track meet at Darlington last Monday.

And that’s exactly what they were.

Gordon Lee swept the area team championships on both the boys and girls’ side and will take numerous athletes to the state sectional meet this weekend.

The Lady Trojans finished with 154 points to edge out Elite Scholars Academy (146) for the top spot, while Mt. Zion-Carroll (115) was third. Bowdon (97) and Drew Charter Senior Academy (56) rounded out the top five.

Addison Whitman won the pole vault (8-6). Taylor Hunley won the 100 hurdles (18.34 and Gracie O’Neal took the title in the 1600 (5:50.86), once again breaking her own school record.

Runner-up finishers included O’Neal in the 800 (2:29.50), Gracey Kruse in the high jump (4-6), Baileigh Smith in the shot put (30-0) and discus (87-5 1/2) and Hunley in the 300 hurdles (54.84). The 4x400 team of Kruse, Sam Belue, Riley Cash and Kaylen Jackson also finished second (4:32).

Whitman placed third in the 400 (1:03.77). Hunley was third in the triple jump (30-7) and Madison Mayberry was third in the 100 hurdles (19.12) and the pole vault (8-0).

Fourth-placer finishers included Cash in the 800 (2:36.71), Sarah Young in the 1600 (6:52), Kate Gilliam in the 3200 (15:03) and the 4x100 relay team of O’Neal, Kruse, Whitman and Belue (53.16). The 4x400 team of Hunley, Mayberry, Smith and Jordan Howard also placed fourth (5:07).

In the boys’ meet, the Trojans collected 196 points to beat Elite Scholars Academy (167) in a two-horse race for the title. Bowdon (89) was a distant third, followed by Fulton Leadership Academy (54), Mt. Zion (47) and Drew Charter (42).

Jasper Wilson won two events for the Navyand-White, sweeping the 800 (2:12.22) and 1600 (5:02). Nathaniel Wright won the high jump (510). Bailey Burns took first in the 3200 (11:17). Braden Jarvis won the pole vault (9-9) and Logan Hill placed first in the discus (126-1 1/2).

Ian Goodwin was second in the 1600 (5:10), while Justin Collins was second in the 3200 (11:21). Drew Cobb placed second in the long jump (21-2 1/2) and the triple jump (385 1/4). Makinnon Young was second in the 200 (23.31) and Chase Weber was the runner-up in the high jump (5-10).

Heading to sectionals with thirdplace finishes were Hill in the shot put (37-7), Cobb in the pole vault (7-6), Young in the long jump (18-9 1/2) and the 100 (11.32), Jagger Martin in the triple jump (35-2 1/4), Jake Leiviska in the 800 (2:16.38) and the 4x100 relay team of Hill, Jarvis, Burns and Wright (45.45).

Fourth-place finishers included Burns in the 400 (55.61), Martin in the 110 hurdles (19.76), and Wiley Hemming in the 300 hurdles (52.22). The 4x400 team of Wright, Leiviska, Justin Collins and Cole Collins also took fourth (3:52).

All top four finishers in each event will compete in Claxton this Saturday (April 29) in the Class A state sectionals.