As one of the best track and field programs in Atlanta, it was no surprise that the Grady boys won the city championship earlier this month. But the main catalysts in the victory were indeed a shock.
Sophomore pole vaulters Shomari Gervin and Jawayln Brooks, both of whom are competing in the event for the first time, took home first- and second-place honors, respectively. Amazingly, Grady hadn't even had a pole vaulter on its roster since the early 1970's, according to Grey Knight head coach Delbert Ellerton, who believes Gervin has a shot to advance to the Georgia Olympics next month.
“To be first-year vaulters, they’re doing an outstanding job,” Ellerton said. “I think [Gervin] can easily go over 12 feet. We wouldn't have won the championship without them.”
More Track and Field
Georgia was well represented at last weekend's Taco Bell Classic, one of the nation's most competitive high school track meets, held annually in Columbia. For the boys, Holy Innocents senior O'Neal Wanliss won the 400 (47.78 seconds) and 800 meters (1:54.77); Brookwood senior Jackson Wearn took third in the 800 (1:57.24); Lassiter junior Alexander Reese was second in the 200 (21.77) and the 400 (47.94); Eagle's Landing's Zack Sims (4:21.89) and Brookwood's Sean Brennan (4:23.47), both seniors, finished first and second, respectively, in the 1,600; Sims (9:29.52) was second in the 3,200; Union Grove junior Jordan Moore (14.05) and Campbell's Trey Fluellen (14.55) finished first and third, respectively, in the 110-meter hurdles; Morrow's 1,600-meter relay team placed first (3:20.14) and Grayson's 400-meter relay team (42.30) placed third. ...
For the girls, Union Grove junior Briana Vaughn (11.93) and senior Morgan Snow of Southwest DeKalb (12.15) placed first and third, respectively, in the 100; Snow also placed first in the 100-meter hurdles (14.08); Brookwood junior Katie Leonard, (1:02.99), Collins Hill senior Carmen Garcia (1:03.17) and Hillgrove junior Taylor Johnson (1:03.40) placed first, second and third, respectively, in the 400; Southwest DeKalb Greciana Cooper, a junior, took second in the 800 (2:18.14); Lassiter sophomore Marcie Merriman (11:06.21) was second in the 3,200 meters; Anna Bowles, a senior at Lakeside-Evans (5:01.36), and Caroline Kissel, a junior at Brookwood (5:07.56), placed first and second, respectively, in the 1,600; McEachern junior Amber Bryant-Brock (1:00.39) and Hillgrove sophomore Kourtney Keller (1:05.14) placed first and third in the 400-meter hurdles; McEachern's 400-meter and 1,600-meter relay teams placed second.
Lacrosse
The Milton girls (12-1), the top-ranked team in Georgia according to Laxpower.com, will host Westminster (15-0), the No. 2 team in the state, Friday. ... The McIntosh girls, ranked No. 3 in the state, are still unbeaten this season at 8-0-1.
Tennis
The state playoffs begin next week. The favorites on the boys side are Walton in Class AAAAA, Johns Creek in AAAA, Woodward Academy in AAA, Westminster in AA and Whitefield Academy in A. On the girl's side, Mt. Pisgah is the favorite in Class A, Blessed Trinity in AA, Woodward Academy in AAA, Marist in AAAA and Walton in AAAAA.
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