The 2022 track and field season has begun its statewide circuit of meets, and the results from these events are setting the stage for a historic year in Georgia.
This was especially true last weekend at the Christian Coleman Invitational at Westlake High School. There were two state records set during the event. Alexander sophomore Alisa Gordon landed a 40-foot, 4-inch mark in the triple jump. This will be an intriguing event to follow in Class 6A this season because two-time defending state champion Kayla Pinkard is back for her senior season. Last year, the Florida State commit and two-time national champion landed a 41-6 to take the title. Her personal best is a 42-6.
The Christian Coleman Invitational also saw Shiloh’s Christion Barker land a 25-3 in the long jump, marking the third longest in state history. Carrollton’s Amare Hall took the long-jump state title with a 23-3 a year ago. The Shiloh boys won state titles in 2014 and 2019 while competing in the state’s highest classification but finished seventh in the state last year in Class 6A.
The Generals have a tough group of teams to battle with this season, but this year’s results have already showcased Shiloh’s prowess. At the Christian Coleman Invitational, Shiloh earned first place with 103 points and was followed by Buford (79 points).
Buford placed fifth at last year’s championships and has a ton of returning star power this year, especially in the 400-meter relay state-title team. On Saturday, Buford’s relay team posted a state record and national-best time of 40.05 seconds. If the Wolves can find a way to break the 40-second mark, they will do what no other relay team has done in state history. Buford’s relay team features Victor Venn, KJ Bolden, Tobi Olawole and Isaiah Bond, who won individual state titles in the 100- and 200-meter dashes last year.
More history was made at the Christian Coleman Invitational during the girls 100 meters. Jonesboro junior Yahnari Lyons clocked 11.40, and Alexander sophomore Adaejah Hodge finished in 11.50. Both of those times are top 10 nationally this season and were faster than Westlake’s Colleen Branch (11.68), who won the state title last year with an 11.62. Lyons also took first in the 200 with a 22.99. Westlake teammate Jasmine Harmon took the 100 hurdles in 13.88. Last year’s state championship time in Class 6A girls was 14.64 by Dalton senior Meg Coleman.
Branch anchored Westlake’s 4x100 relay team that included Imari Johnson, Harmon and Madyson Wilson. They tied a Georgia state record with a 45.17. Tucker came in second at 47.48. Westlake won the state title last year with a 46.32, and it is already in championship form with more prestigious events on the horizon.
The Campbell girls (166) and Langston Hughes boys (139) earned first-place finishes last weekend at the Campbell Invitational. The 25th Annual Roswell Rotary Relays also took place last weekend. The Lambert girls used the relays to earn first place over second-place Carrollton and third-place Harrison. The Carrollton boys finished first, and Marietta was second.
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Oglethorpe County’s Kenzie Henderson won the high jump (5-7) at the Loch Johnson Invitational … Grayson’s Kameryn Hannon threw a 131-6 in the discus to win the Tiger Creek Classic. Dunwoody’s Janae Profit won the title last year with a historic 151-2 and Hannon earned a second-place finish with a 125-5; Hannon is a favorite this year to earn the title after Profit graduated and signed with the University of Virginia, … Woodward Academy’s Kenyah Conner clocked a first-place 2:14 in the 800 meter this weekend at Westlake and Lovejoy’s Tia Williams won the 400-meter dash with a 55.28. Conner placed second in the 800 last year with a 2:14.97 and Williams placed third with a 55.85 at state.
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