Wolves, Lady Wolves claim team titles
Super-fast times and strong performances in a slew of events as well as the relays helped power the Rome boys and girls track teams to each grab titles at the Rome Invitational at Barron Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
“It was really a great day for both the girls and the boys. We had great performances, and we came together as a team. I’m just really proud of the progress that they have made since we got here,” Rome head coach Kelly Cater said after the meet. “There is a good legacy already here in Rome, and we are just trying to continue that legacy. I’m just extremely proud that we had the opportunity to do what we did today.”
Rome’s girls used a super effort from Miya Winston, who won three individual events, as well as a strong showing in field events, distances and sprints to total 127.5 points and grab first place overall. Creekview (87.5) and Bremen (84.5) rounded out the top three teams for the girls.
Winston took first in the 100 hurdles with a 15.94, first in the long jump with a 17-foot, 3-inch and third in the triple jump with a leap of 37 feet, which ranks as a Georgia Top 10 distance according to Milesplit.com. She also ran a leg on the 4x100 meter relay team which grabbed third.
The relays turned in solid efforts for the Lady Wolves with the 4x400 squad grabbing first, while the 4x100 crew took third and the 4x200 relay finished second.
Elise Wooddell brought home some big points in distance events winning the 1600 with a 5:23 and finishing second in the 800.
Mackenzie Hight took first in the 300 hurdles with a 46.44. She also finished second in the triple jump with a 36-3.
Other top-four individual placers for the Lady Wolves included Jaida Edwards, who took fourth in the high jump, Izabella Jennings who took fourth in the pole vault and Christionna Maxwell who finished third in the 100.
Another local highlight on the day came from Unity Christian’s Lizzy Pardue, who took first in the 400 with a 56.64 which ranks as a Georgia top 10 time according to Milesplit.com. She also grabbed first in the 200 with a 25.28.
Rome’s boys used strong showings from the relays, sprints and field events to total 121.5 points and grab first place overall. Creekview (112) and Heard County (109.5) rounded out the top three boys’ teams at the meet.
Javion Winston took first in the 110 hurdles with a 14.83 and second in the 300 hurdles. He also ran a leg on the winning 4x100 relay team, helping pace the Wolves in the victory.
Antwion Carey took first in the 100 meters in 10.82 seconds and also ran a leg on the 4x100 relay squad.
The 4x200 and 4x400 relays each scored second-place finishes while the 4x800 finished fifth.
The Wolves had a solid showing in the field events with Xavier Villareal taking second in the pole vault, Nic Hester placing third in the triple jump and Ge’nas Gordon placing fifth in the triple jump.
Cesar Slaton Parker took first in the discus with a throw of 132-3. Jarvis Adams and Justin Terrell took second and third, respectively, in the shot put.
Unity Christian’s Cooper Giddens had
a solid meet as well. He took second in the 400 with a 51.19 and second in the 200 meters with a 22.42
Carter seemed pleased with his squads’ efforts as well as the performances of several of his athletes.
“We’re coming into form pretty good. They are getting chances to see what they can do. A lot of what we are doing is cleaning up. Everyone is learning,” Carter said. “It’s very encouraging to see things they’ve done in practice being put out here at the meet. We had a lot of personal records and a lot of wins today, so it’s just a testament to the hard work they have been putting in.”
Rome’s boys and girls will next compete on March 30 at the New Balance Archer Invitational in Lawrenceville.
In other prep track and field action over the weekend:
Model girls take first at Mohawk
Invitational
The Model girls traveled to Gordon Central High in Calhoun on Saturday and put together a strong performance to take first at the Mohawk-warrior Invitational while the Model boys were fifth.
The Lady Devils compiled an impressive 119 points to finish ahead of Calhoun (95) and Heritage-catoosa (90.5) in the top three.
The Lady Devils were led by five firstplace finishes, including Eva Poyner in the 100 meter hurdles (15.81 seconds), Sydney Sutton in the 800 (2 minutes, 28.82 seconds), the 4x800 relay team of Abigail Moon, Natalie Long, Rachel Burkhalter and Janelle Taylor (11:00.98), the 4x200 relay team of Michelle Ramirez, Javia Samples, Addy Mathis and Claire Littlejohn (1:48.98) and the 4x100 relay team of Samples, Sutton, Littlejohn and Mathis (50.59). They had eight other top-five finishes.
The Model boys totaled 71 points to finish fifth behind Kennesaw Mountain (164), Calhoun (84), Sonoraville (83) and Riverdale (78.5). Top individual finishes for the Devils came from Jeremias Heard in both the shot put (48-08) and discus (150-05) while the team had eight other top-five finishes.
Model will visit Gordon Central for a fourteam meet on Tuesday starting at 4 p.m.