With Spring Break coming next week for most metro Atlanta school districts, this weekend’s schedule is somewhat light. However, eight athletes from Johns Creek will make a bit of history while a handful of local meets promise to produce some compelling competitions.
Johns Creek will have eight participants in acclaimed Texas meet
For the first time in the history of the state, Georgia athletes will compete in one of the nation’s most highly-touted track meets.
Johns Creek is sending eight team members to participate in the 90th Annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at the University of Texas-Austin, Friday. For years, the Georgia High School Association had not sanctioned the meet for the state's athletes, but that changed this year. Johns Creek submitted names to the meet's competition committee and eight were accepted and will perform against some of the top athletes in the nation:
-- Junior hurdler Caden Ciul will compete in the 300-meter hurdles. He has the state's second fastest time (37.87) in the event.
-- Johns Creek’s boys distance medley relay team – featuring Ciul, Matt Derbawka, Carlton Ross and Cole Quidley – will compete.
-- The Gladiator girls distance medley relay team of Carly Swanson, Sarika Gowda, Madigan Wallace and Sophie Brandeis will compete as well.
The meet will be televised on WatchESPN/ESPN3.
Top meets for the weekend
Rumble in the Jungle, Friday at Parkview
The Skinny: A couple of speedy sophomores will be on the track – Richmond Hill's Marcus Prather and Kaylah Lumsden of Tucker. Prather has the state's fastest 100 meter time for a male in 10th grade, the sixth fastest in the nation (10.60). Lumsden has the state's top 100 meter time for a female in 10th grade, and is No. 2 in the nation (11.64).
Woodstock Distance Carnival, Friday at Woodstock
The Skinny: Nirvana for distance heads, the meet features no sprints and no relays. Events include the 800, 1,600, 3,200 and the 5,000.
Eighth Annual Westlake Relays, Saturday at Westlake
The Skinny: Newton junior Elija Godwin will look to show he is the state’s top 100 and 200 meter sprinter. Westlake junior Cameron Murray and Grady senior Christian McNair-Jones will duke it out in the 110-hurdles. On the girls’ side, Hillgrove freshman Grace Ellsworth and sophomore Nicole Franklin will push each other in the 1,600 and 3,200.
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