NFL MVP Cam Newton and the Cam Newton Foundation is the sponsor of Saturday's Westlake Relays. Newton is a 2007 graduate of Westlake.
One of the season’s most competitive annual events will be sponsored this year by the reigning National Football League MVP.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and his Cam Newton Foundation are the sponsors of the Westlake Relays, scheduled for Saturday. Newton, a 2007 graduate of Westlake, went on to win a National Junior College Athletic Association national championship at Blinn College in Texas, an NCAA national championship and Heisman Trophy at Auburn, and led Carolina to the Super Bowl last season.
The Westlake-Cam Newton Relays will begin at 9 a.m., Saturday, and will feature an event that is unique to high school track and field: the 400-meter hurdles. High school boys and girls run the 300-meter hurdles, but an extra 100 meters is added in college. Saturday’s event will be called the Deshon Lawrence 400-meter hurdles, in honor of one of Newton’s former teammates at Westlake. Lawrence, who starred in football and track at Westlake, went on to play defensive back at Western Michigan and is now the founder of the Consilio Agency and a Cam Newton Foundation staff member.
Some of the top athletes and teams in the southeast will participate in the meet. On the boys’ side the list includes Opelika (AL) High sprinter Nathaniel Huggins, Central-Phenix City (AL) sprinter/jumper Karon Delince, Stephenson hurdler/jumper Denzel Harper, Langston Hughes hurdler Tre Williams, Hillgrove jumper Jerimiah Bridges, and Westlake’s Rainey Anderson (hurdler), Tyrique Davis (hurdler) and Cameron Murray (jumper).
On the girls’ side, three-time Class AAAAAA state champion Westlake and McEachern are the top teams. Individual performers to watch include McEachern sprinter Mackenzie Dunmore, Douglass sprinter Halimah Barlow, jumpers Simone Harper of Stephenson, and Chloe Robinson and Sydni Gilmore of Mays, Langston Hughes hurdler Mia Lewis, Weber School pole vaulters Becky Arbiv and Ariel Arbiv, and Westlake hurdler/sprinter Kennedy Simon.
More county championship results
Clayton and Henry County completed their championship meets Thursday.
Clayton County Championships
Champions: Lovejoy boys, Mt. Zion girls
Top performance: Briah McBride of Jonesboro won the 100 (12.14 seconds) and 200 meters (25.16). Lauren Epps of Forest Park won the 100- (14.89) and 300-meter hurdles (46.20). Mt. Zion’s Tyeisha Juhon won the long jump (18-feet, 5 ¾ inches) and triple jump (37-10). Riverdale’s Runeshia Williams won the shot put (37-2) and discus (97-7). Lovejoy’s Kiyanni Anderson won the long jump (22-4) and triple jump (45-5 ½). DeAngelo Harris of Riverdale won the 200 (22.06) and 400 meters (49.37). Morrow’s Cameron Pack won the 800 (2:01.37) and 1,600 meters (4:37.88).
Henry County Championships
Champions: Union Grove girls and boys
Top performances: Matt Moore of Union Grove won the 200 meters (21.79) and the 110-meter hurdles in 13.74, the fastest time in the state and second fastest in the nation. Devin Dixon of Eagle’s Landing won the 400 (49.11) and 800 meters (1:55.21). Ellunde Montgomery of Union Grove won the girls 800 (2:19.18) and 1,600 meters (5:19.29). Hampton’s Kiana Banks won the 100 (12.27) and 200 meters (25.13).
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