It was a great weekend for many of our local girls in Northeast Georgia at the GHSA State Championships in Albany, as three girls won state championships and another 16 notched top-five finishes.
Across Northeast Georgia, the local track and field girls athletes have produced some impressive results in 2016. For all of these young women, the GHSA State Championships closed the book on their seasons, and for some their high school careers.
Habersham Central senior Scarlett Mayes was one of those who ended her career, but as previously covered, she felt blessed to end her career at state. Mayes turned in a tenth place finish in the high jump, the only event featuring a Habersham native. Mayes earned her spot at state following a region title in the high jump.
Local legend Jenna Gearing (White County) also closed the book on her illustrious career, which consisted of five state championships and an unprecedented 12 region championships in both cross country and track and field combined. Coming off a broken leg suffered near the finish line of November’s cross country state championship (she was well ahead in the closing 100 meters before her leg broke), the senior impressed with a runner-up finish in the both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs after winning both at region.
White County’s Jaelen Alexander also finished in the top-five in the 3200, helping propel White County to a 13th place overall finish.
In class 3A, Dawson finished 40th, led by long distance runner Marley Hamby, who came in 10th in the 1600 and 7th in the 3200. Teammate Faith Sinclair also finished 9th in the 1600, while Melanie Rimawi was 9th in the 3200. Also in 3A, Banks and Lumpkin had relays and/or individuals compete, but didn’t place with any points accumulated.
In class 2A, Union County came in 14th with only one individual competing in two events. Senior Emma Garrison, also a long distance runner, was state runner-up in the 800-meter and fourth in the 1600. Garrison has often been overshadowed in the north Georgia area by Gearing as one of the state’s best in long distance running over the last four years.
Rabun County’s Perryn Morgan had a great weekend, finishing 9th in pole vault and 8th in discus, while Madison Utt turned in a 10th place finish in discus as well.
Class 1A’s Commerce High School, as usual, turned in a golden performance at state. The girls finished fourth overall behind the running of sophomore Kate Massey. The long distance runner took home a state title in the 1600 and 3200, while teammate Anna Hardy, a junior, took the top spot in pole vault. Ansley Romans (discus), Sydney McClure (high jump), and the 4×400 relay group all notched top-five finishes as well.
In 1A private competition, Tallulah Falls School stole the show with a seventh place finish overall. Anna Davis had a tremendous showing, taking a fourth place finish in the 400 meter dash, third in the 300 meter hurdles and sixth in pole vault. Gabby Ajibade earned two third-place finishes in the long jump and triple jump, while Sydney Porter was sixth in the high jump. The TFS 4×400 relay group placed seventh as well.
The boys’ State Championships will take place at the tail end of this week.
