Stephenson track teams sweep region
Stephenson won the boys’ and girls’ titles at the Region 5-3A Track Championships held at Morrow High School in late April, as teams begin qualifying athletes for the upcoming state sectionals.
The Stephenson Jaguars compiled 244 points on the way to the boys’ title, while qualifying 16 individuals and four relay teams for the Class 3A State Sectional scheduled for Hughs Mill Stadium in Albany.
The Jaguars claimed 10 gold medals along the way, led by Chad Brooks’ wins in the 800-meter run (2:03.59) and 3200-meter run (11:16.90). Other gold medal winners include Kemorey Hill in the 400-meter dash (48.10), Quintrell Blue in the pole vault (8-0), Noah Mahoney in the long jump (24-4), Alieu Sanyan in the shot put (49-11), and Dante English Jr. in the discus (147-9).
Stephenson also won the 4×200-meter relay (1:30.88), the 4×400-meter relay (3:27.65), and the 4×800-meter relay (8:24.86).
Cedar Grove’s Dextre Mincey (discus, 125-5, third) and Stone Mountain’s Ramon Scott (1600-meter run, third, 5:19.59) also qualified for the state sectional.
GIRLS
On the girls’ side of the Region 5-3A Track Championships, Stephenson piled up 216 points on the way to an 83-point win.
Stephenson qualified 13 individuals and four relay teams for the state sectional, led by eight gold medal winners and two more in the relays.
Kennedy Barnaby won both the high jump (4-10) and triple jump (36-8.5). Other winners included Natasha Wedderburn (400m, 1:00.47), Malia Meadows (800m, 2:30.03), Tatyana Baptiste (1600m, 6:08.96), Asia Matthew (pole vault, 6-0), Nailah James (long jump, 17-3), and Alaina Moore-Matthew (discus, 68-2).
Cedar Grove finished third in the team standings to qualify three individuals and four relay teams for the state sectional. Esther Akande won gold in the shot put (34-9) for Cedar Grove, and the 4×100-meter relay team (50.83) also picked up a gold medal.
Stone Mountain qualified two individuals and a relay team while finishing sixth overall. Skylar Barker qualified in both the high jump (4-8, second) and triple jump (31-4, third), and Ta’Leeyah Camsel (high jump, 4-6, third) qualified in high jump. The 4×200-meter relay team finished fourth to reach the state sectional.
