Nationally ranked athletes
As is the case with the “big three” sports – football, basketball and baseball -- Georgia athletes are usually rated among the best in the United States. Such is the case in track and field as well.
As the season gets into full swing, now that basketball has ended and those athletes that participate in both sports move their focus to the track, here are the state’s athletes ranked in the Top 20 nationally in the 16 events scored in Georgia:
(Boys)
400 meters – No. 2 Quintaveon Poole, Washington County (47.88 seconds)
800 – No. 13 Jeramey Hampton, North Gwinnett (1:55.59)
1,600 – No. 4 Josh Ingalls, Brookwood (4:16.87)
3,200 – No. 3 Kenan Farmer, Walton (9:14.75); No. 7 Kevin Mills, Peachtree Ridge (9:21.79); No. 12 Daniel Navarro, Marist (9:24.56)
110 hurdles – No. 9 Martice Moore, McEachern (14.17); No. 17 Jeremy McDuffie, Shiloh (14.29); No. 18 David Gilstrap, Marist (14.32); No. 20 Daniel Roberts, Luella (14.34)
300 hurdles – No. 9 Kenny Gilstrap, Pace Academy (38.48); No. 11 Martice Moore, McEachern (38.63)
High jump – No. 4 Joseph Woodbury, Westlake (6-feet, 10 inches); No. 8 Tanner Riddle, North Forsyth (6-9); No. 14 Bailey Vitatoe, Brookwood (6-8); No. 19 Devaughnte Mosley, Henry County; Marquavius Searcy, Lamar County; Dominique Douglas, Bainbridge; Daniel Oduah, Eastside (6-8)
Long jump – No. 2 Christian Coleman, Our Lady of Mercy (24-2); No. 18 Fred Dorsey, St. Pius (23-2 ¾)
Triple jump – No. 4 Dayo Akindele, Heritage (47-11)
Discus – No. 4 Daniel Haugh, St. Pius (185-2); No. 8 Kenneth Brinson, Marist (178-8)
Shot put – No. 14 Jaylan Reid, Hillgrove (57-4 ¾)
400 relay – No. 12 Westlake (41.70)
1,600 relay – No. 14 Mt. Zion, Jonesboro (3:20.82)
(Girls)
200 meters – No. 16 MaKenzie Dunmore, McEachern (24.36 seconds); No. 17 Candace Hill, Rockdale County (24.37)
400 – No. 5 Aliyah Abrams, Grayson (55.25); No. 20 Venida Fagan, Chamblee (56.48)
100 hurdles – No. 11 Tiffany Flynn, Miller Grove (14.17)
300 hurdles – No. 17 Natisha Dixon, Wheeler (44.01)
High jump – No. 2 Lainey Gosnell, Habersham Central (5-feet, 10-inches); No. 6 Bailey Weiland, Marist (5-8); No. 12 Natosha Jordan, Richmond Academy (5-8)
Long jump – No. 9 Taylor DeLoach, St. Vincent's Academy (18-11 ¼); No. 10 Pauline Arndt, Miller Grove (18-11); No. 12 Tiffany Flynn, Miller Grove (18-9)
Triple jump – No. 4 Tiffany Flynn, Miller Grove (41-0)
400 relay – No. 3 McEachern (46.83); No. 8 Westlake (47.15)
1,600 relay – No. 4 McEachern (3:51.55); No. 10 Westlake (3:54.26)
* Currently, Georgia has two athletes/teams ranked No. 1 in the nation in events that are not scored at the state meet. Coleman from Our Lady of Mercy is No. 1 in the outdoor 60 meters (6.84) and the Westlake girls have the best 800 sprint medley relay time of 1:45.67.
Big meets this weekend
The 18th Annual Roswell Rotary Relays leads an impressive list of meets scheduled for Saturday throughout the state.
This season's Roswell Relays, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Roswell, features two defending state champions – the Mill Creek (AAAAAA) and St. Pius (AAA) boys – along with perennial powers Marietta, Kell and Lassiter. Here are some other meets to check out this weekend:
- Greater Atlanta Christian School Invitational at GAC
- Jaguar Relays at New Manchester
- Oconee County-Barberitos Track Classic
- Ronnie McClung/Dalton Rotary Invitational
- Thomas County Central Yellow Jacket Invitational
- Tiger Creek Relays at Archer
iDareU Middle School Showcase
iDareU, one of the premiere football training groups in the southeast, is hosting its third annual combine/camp for middle school students.
The iDareU Middle School Showcase is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the group's Roswell location – 11595 King Road. Pre-registration is $50, through March 20. The walk-up registration fee is $60. All participants will receive a t-shirt, have their photo and all measurable listed on the iDareU website, and the top performers will receive awards at the end of the event. Current iDareU athletes include UGA cornerback Shaq Wiggins, South Carolina safety Chaz Elder, Stanford defensive back Ronnie Harris, Georgia Tech safety Isaiah Johnson, and high school all-state performers MLK defensive back Wesley Green, running back Eric Swinney and linebacker Khari Lain of Sandy Creek, offensive tackle Dallas Warmack and linebacker Natrez Patrick of Mays, Our Lady of Mercy defensive back Christian Coleman and Creekside defensive back Cameron Jackson.
Visit i-DareU.net for more information and to register online.
