GEORGIA STATE MEET

Will Sumner Cruises To State Meet Record 400 With US#1 45.78; Adaejah Hodge Shines In 6A Meet

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Woodstock’s Will Sumner, national record holder in the indoor 600 meters, put on another record performance at the Georgia State High School Track and Field Championships this weekend at McEachern High (Powder Springs, Ga.). Sumner won the 400-meter 7A title in a record time of 45.78, tying for current US#1. 

Marietta’s Malachi Sanders won the 800 (1:54.41) and ran on the first-place 4x400 (​​3:15.21) guiding his team to a 7A boys crown with 66 points. 

The triple jump was won by Meadowcreek’s Michael Tatnall (48-2.75). 

Denmark’s Ethan Ashley won the 3,200 (9:07.36) and 1,600 (4:12.44). 

Lowndes County’s Kaniya Johnson set a class record in the 100-meter dash, running 11.26, took the 200 (23.20), and was part of the winning 4x400 relay (3:43.29) helping her team to a 7A state championship with 83 points. 

In the long jump, Cherokee’s Skylar Harrelson won with 19-5.50 and took second in the triple jump. 

Harrison’s Samantha McGarity swept the distance events, winning the 3,200 (10:46.91) and 1,600 (4:57.93). 

In 1A Private girls action, also held at McEachern High, Wesleyan’s Imani Washington won the shot put with a top-25 mark of 45-11.50 and also claimed the discus title (134-8).

The Landmark Christian girls won the team title. 

Brenden Vanderpool of Whitefield Academy broke the 1A Private boys pole vault record of 15-1 from 2015, as he soared 15-2. On the track, Holy Innocents Episcopal’s Joe Sapone won the 1,600 (4:11.78), 800 (1:52.69), and was part of the winning 4x400 (3:23.10) leading his team to a state title. In the team race, first through fourth place was separated by just five points.

6A & 3A Grisham Stadium, Carrollton

One of the country's top high jumpers, junior Riyon Rankin of Brunswick, won the 6A title clearing 7 feet. 

Carrollton’s Amare Hall won the long jump with a class record and tied for US#8, going 24-09.25. He broke the record from 2009 of 24-6.50. Hall finished fourth in the triple. 

In the 200, Heritage’s Rashun Fountain tied US#14, running 20.85 to break the 6A record of 20.94 set by Tyreek Hill in 2012. He was also second in the 100 (10.41), won the long jump 23-6.25 and was part of the winning 4x100 (41.15). 

Westlake’s Sidiu Njie won the 400 (46.41) breaking a class record and running US#6. He also placed second in the 200 (21.01) and 100 (10.41). 

Allatoona’s Eric Young broke a class record in the 100 (10.39), finished runner-up in the 400 (46.82) and third in the 200 (21.06). 

Pope’s Pier Cameron swept the 6A shot put and discus titles. 

The Shiloh boys won the team title with 73 points. Nathan Solomon won the 1,600 title for the team, clocking 4:17.41. 

Alexander’s Adaejah Hodge had an historic state meet as she broke the 6A class record in the long jump, soaring 20-4.25, US#5. On the track, the sophomore set a class record in the 100 (11.33, US#5), breaking the record of 11.34 set by Candace Hill in 2015. Hodge also won the 400 in a US#4 time of 53.26, and claimed the 200 (23.26, US#9). Her four wins led Alexander to a dominant victory with an impressive 107 points to claim the 6A girls state crown. 

Current top-15 triple jumper Kayla Pickard, a senior from Carrollton, easily won with a mark of 40-11.50.

The Westminster boys and girls swept the 3A state titles. 

It was an historic meet for Westminster’s Matthew Fernando as he broke the 3A class record in the 1,600 of 4:12.60 set in 1976 held by Daniel Henderson. Fernando clocked 4:11.61 to win the race, beating out East Forsyth’s Alex Arrambide (4:11.99), who was also under the record. Arrambide claimed the 3,200 (9:42.78).

Hart County’s Amelia Johnson broke the 3A class record in the girls pole vault, soaring 12-5.

Liberty County’s Leia Williams won the discus title in a 3A record of 151-10, breaking a near 30-year-old record set in 1993 of 147-6. Williams also captured runner-up in the shot put.

Sandy Creek’s Chelsea Davis claimed the triple jump in a US#18 mark of 40-10, breaking the class record of 40-7.50 from 2012. Davis also won the long jump title (19-6.75). 

Nia Wilson of Greater Atlanta Christian won the 100 and 200. 

The Westminster girls lowered their own class 4x800 record, running 9:27.56. 

5A & 2A, Kinnett Stadium, Columbus

Current US #9 discus thrower, Seth Allen of New Manchester, just narrowly missed the class record of 197-4, as he won the 5A title in 197-1.

Calhoun’s Jaylan Harris won the long jump in a class record of 24-7, US#13. He took runner-up in the high jump as teammate Dylan Faulkner won in 6-10, tied for US#9.

Blessed Trinity won the 4x8 in a class record of 7:53.54.

Southwest Dekalb boys won the team title with 84 points. 

Jaci Wright won the long jump (18-10.50), triple jump (38-1.25) and was runner-up in the 100 hurdles (14.31), while teammate Jessica Woods claimed the 100 (14.05) and 300 hurdle titles (42.39) to lead Jackson, Atlanta to a 5A team crown. 

In 2A action, the Pace Academy boys won the team title with 73 points.Pace Academy’s 4x8 set a meet record, running 8:02.75.

Model’s Simon Schabort pulled off the impressive triple, winning the 3,200 (9:04.03) 1,600 (4:12.65) and 800 (1:56.30). 

The Oglethorpe County girls finished with 119.50 points to win the 2A championship. 

Catherine Forbes of Towers won the 200 (24.65), 400 (57.34) and was  runner-up in the 100 (12.00)

Pace Academy’s Caroline Good claimed  the 1,600 (5:02.72), and 3,200 (11:02.30).

4A & 1A Public, Hugh Mills Stadium, Albany

The Marist boys and girls made it a program sweep, taking home the 4A titles. In the boys action, Marist took the top three spots in the 3,200 as Tommy Lathamn led the charge winning in 9:40.40. Laham also finished second in the 1,600 (4:27.28). Jefferson’s Matthew Schroeder won the 1,600 (4:22.39) and 800 (1:55.23).

The Marist girls 4x8 relay broke the class record, running 9:37.07. Marist took three of the top four positions in the 1,600 as Johna Grisik won in 5:01.93. Grisik won the 800 in 2:16.19, while teammate Ruby Little won the 3,200 (10:50.40) and was second in the 1,600 (5:02.90). 

In 1A public the Gordon Lee girls had a strong day, sweeping the discus and shot titles, claiming first and second, and winning the pole vault en route to the team title.

Armuchee’s Shelby Green won the 800 (2:24.09), 1,600 (5:11.60), while teammate Marissa Kimple claimed the 3,200 (11:33.76).

In 1A public the Gordon Lee girls had a strong day, sweeping the discus and shot titles, claiming first and second, and winning the pole vault en route to the team title.

The Montgomery County boys scored 89 points to win the state crown. 

TEAM CHAMPIONS

7A: Marietta boys 66 points; Lowndes County girls 83 points - RESULTS

6A: Shiloh boys 73 points; Alexander girls 107 points - RESULTS

5A: Southwest Dekalb boys 84 points; Jackson, Atlanta girls 84 points - RESULTS

4A: Marist boys 64 points; Marist girls 96 points - RESULTS

3A: Westminster  boys 89 points; Westminster girls 137 points - RESULTS

2A: Pace Academy boys 72 points; Oglethorpe County girls 119.50 points - RESULTS

1A Private: Holy Innocents Episcopal  boys 68 points; Landmark mark Christian girls 106 points - RESULTS

1A Pubic: Montgomery County boys 89 points; Gordon Lee girls 91.50 points - RESULTS