Kennedy Simon runs 52.52/23.78 double in Class 7A

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Like she's done all season, Westlake's Kennedy Simon continued to impress. At the GHSA Class 1A Private, 4A and Track and Field Championships, held Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Berry College, Simon, a University of Texas signee, clocked a US# 1 time in the 400 of 52.52 seconds to win the 7A title. She added a win in the 200 (23.78) and ran on the winning 4x100 relay (45.79) and 4x400( 3:44.28), which set a 7A meet record.

For the boys, it was Parkview's Justin Long who was impressive. He ran to a US#3 400 (46.14), won the 200 (21.23), and ran on the winning 4x1 (41.35) to help propel his team to a state title with 74 points.

Javaughn Moore of Wheeler broke a meet record in the 100 (10.40) and was second in the 200 (21.31).

In the field, Jack Haller of West Forsyth set a 7A pole vault record, clearing 16 feet. Parkview's

Brian Hauch also cleared 16 feet, taking second.

Kyle Harkabus of East Coweta clocked 1:52.44 to claim the 7A 800 and ran 4:13.35 to win the 1,600 meters.  

Cameron Murray of Westlake swept the 7A hurdles, taking the 300 (37.63) and 110 (13.88), and he also won the long jump (24-5).

The top female hurdler in the county, Tia Jones of Walton, easily won the 7A 100 hurdles, going 13.30.

Nilaja Florence of McEachern clocked 42.53 to win the 7A 300 hurdles.

Brynne Sumner of Woodstock claimed the 7A titles in the 1,600 (4:50.13) and 800 (2:13.44).

Marietta star Sterling Lester sped to 53.64 in the 400 and 23.84 in the 200, finishing second behind Simon in both races. She was also third in the high jump (5-4) and was on relay teams that finished fourth in the 4x100 and second in the 4x400.

Georgia-bound middle-distance runner Anna Marian Block of Athens Academy made sure her final state meet was a good one. The senior won the 1A Private 800 (2:12.75), 1,600 (4:56.31) and ran on the 4x100 and 4x400 relays that both finished second. Athens Academy finished runner-up as a team to Wesleyan.

LenNeth Whitehead of Athens Academy set a 1A Private shot put record with a mark of 66-4.50.

Jasmine Barrow soared 39-9.75 to set a 1A Private record in the triple jump for Athens Academy.

MacKenzie Gignilliant of Walker cleared 12-6 in the pole vault for the 1A Private title.

Kiana Banks of Spalding won the 4A 400 (55.11), 200 (24.37) and ran on the winning 4x400 (3:55.49).

Senior Olivia Moore of Pickens, a Georgia Tech signee, broke the 4A pole vault record, clearing 13-7, a top five mark in the U.S.

Senior and Georgia signee, Nicole Pachuta of Oconee County, swept the 4A middle-distance events, winning the 800 in 2:16.76 and the 1,600 in 5:03.72.

Jonathan Myrthil of Northside Columbia clocked 1:53.74 to win the 4A 800 title.

Marist's Leif Andersen won the 4A 1,600 (4:19.54) and 3,200 (9:26.46).

St. Pius X's Tanner Duffin set a 4A discus record (189-3) and claimed the shot put title (59-2).

Brittany Trawick of Baldwin soared 19-4 to win the 4A girls long jump title.

Howard's India Turk went 40-1 to win the 4A girls triple jump.

Class 5A, 6A

It was all Buford on the track, as the team dominated the sprints, paving the way for a 5A girls team title at Carrollton High in Carrollton. Kimberly Harris led the charge, setting a 5A state 400 record (53.31) and soaring 20-2.50 to win the long jump. Teammates Alexa Rossum, 100 (11.73), and Trinity Price, 200 (23.58), collected individual titles, and then teamed up Trinity Rossum to win the 4x100 in a meet record time of 45.26.

Kell's Ebony Jackson won the boys 100 (10.57) and 200 (21.49) 5A titles.

Allatoona's Jacob Smith swept the 6A 100 (10.60) and 200 (21.13).

North Springs' Jayda Drake-Howard swept the 5A hurdles, winning the 100 (13.55) and 300 (42.24) and ran on the state record 4x4 (3:44.93).

Pache' Caldwell of Riverwood cleared 6-10 to win the 5A boys high jump crown.

Jeremiah Pierce of Carrollton won the 5A shot put, throwing 61-1.

Emoni Coleman of Miller Grove won the 5A 800 (2:12.51) and 1,600 (5:03.98). 

Kameron Schofield of Sequoyah ran 1:53.27 to win the 6A 800.

Robert Chappell of Alpharetta won the 6A 1,600 (4:19.32) and 3,200 (9:21.31).

Harrison Fultz of Starr's Mill swept the middle distance events, winning the 800 (1:54.59) and 1,600 (4:19.56).

Brenda Ayuk of Alexander won the 6A 800 (2:12.20) and 1,600 (5:04.62).

1A Public, 2A & 3A

At Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany, Monroe senior Jaeda Hunt claimed the 3A long jump title, soaring 19-1 and added a 200 title (24.12) and ran on the winning 4x400 relay (3:47.88) to help Monroe win the 3A state championship for the first time since 2016.

Teammate J'Milya Poole of Monroe claimed the 400 meters, running 55.01. She was runner-up in the 300 hurdles (41.85) and ran on the winning 4x400 relay.

Greater Atlanta Christian’s Jasmine Jones broke the 3A state 100 hurdle srecord, going 13.77 seconds. Sister and teammate Jada, was the runner-up, clocking 14.02. On Saturday, Jasmine broke the Class 3A 300-meter hurdles record, running 41.81.

Greater Atlanta Christian also set a 3A record in the 4x100 (45.73).

Westminster's Naima Turbes won the 3A 1,600 (4:50.26) and set a meet record in the 800 (2:11.21).     

The Cedar Grove boys A and B teams went 1-2 in the 4x400 relay to score 18 points and secure the 3A team championship for the fourth year in a row, tallying 102 points. Westminster was second with 96.

Bleckley County's Torenio Davis won the 2A boys high jump, clearing 6-8.

RESULTS - CLASS 7A | CLASS 6A | CLASS 5A | CLASS 4A | CLASS 3A | CLASS 2A | CLASS 1A Pub. | CLASS 1A Priv.

Team Champions

7A -- Parkview boys 74 points; Marietta girls 83 points

6A -- Allatoona boys 68; Alexander girls 83

5A -- Dutchtown boys 60; Buford girls 73
4A -- St. Pius X boys 80; Chapel Hill girls 72.50

3A -- Cedar Grove boys 102; Monroe, Albany girls 138.50

2A -- Elbert County boys 51; Vidalia girls 58

1A Public -- Montgomery County boys 72; Telfair County girls 74

1A Private -- Riverside Military boys 93; Wesleyan girls 88