TRACK AND FIELD
What: GHSA girls track and field championships
When: May 1-3
Thursday: (9:30 a.m.) Qualifying and finals for all field events for Classes AA, AAA and AAAA; (4 p.m.) 1,600 meter finals for Classes AAAAA and AAAAAA, 3,200 meter finals for Classes A, AA, AAA and AAAA; running event prelims for Classes AA, AAA, and AAAA.
Friday: (9:30 a.m.) Qualifying and finals for all field events for Classes A, AAAAA and AAAAAA; (4 p.m.) 1,600 meter finals for Classes A, AA, AAA and AAAA; 3,200 meter finals for Classes AAAAA and AAAAAA; running event prelims for Classes AAAAA and AAAAAA (Class A prelims were run at last week’s Sectionals).
Saturday: (11:15 a.m.) Opening ceremonies; (Noon) running event finals for all classes.
Where: Hugh Mills Stadium, 601 North Van Buren Street, Albany
Cost: $7 per day
The state’s best female high school athletes will be in Albany this weekend for the 46th edition of the GHSA girls track and field championships. Here’s a quick preview:
Class AAAAAA
The skinny: McEachern will try to dethrone 2013 champion Westlake.
Others in the hunt: Archer, Brookwood and Rockdale County.
Athletes to watch: Candace Hill, Fr., Rockdale County; Cierra Dunston, Sr., McEachern; Kayla Stinson, Jr., Westlake.
Class AAAAA
The skinny: New Manchester is only three years old, but the Jaguars have built one of the state's better programs.
Others in the hunt: Forest Park, Miller Grove, Northside-Warner Robins and Pope.
Athletes to watch: Lauren Epps, Fr., Forest Park; Tiffany Flynn, Sr., Miller Grove; Cassondra Hall, Soph., Northside-Warner Robins.
Class AAAA
The skinny: Marist will look to defend its 2013 title, but Monroe-Albany, winners of four consecutive AAA championships (2009-12), will provide a stiff challenge.
Others in the hunt: Fayette County and Redan.
Athletes to watch: Chinyere Njoku, Jr., Fayette County; Akeria Boozer, Sr., Cedartown; Jahari Williams, Soph., Monroe-Albany.
Class AAA
The skinny: St. Pius, Blessed Trinity and Jackson-Atlanta look to be the favorites in a crowded field of title contenders.
Others in the hunt: Buford, Franklin County and North Oconee.
Athletes to watch: Erica Evans, Soph., Woodward Academy; Courtney Jones, Fr., Jackson-Atlanta; Mary Terry, Jr., North Oconee.
Class AA
The skinny: Bleckley County has a good chance to win its first team title since 2007.
Others in the hunt: Jeff Davis, Monticello and Thomasville.
Athletes to watch: Taylor DeLoach, Soph., St. Vincent's Academy; Courtney Fair, Sr., Greater Atlanta Christian; Mahogony Walter, Fr., Thomasville.
Class A-Private
The skinny: Our Lady of Mercy has a shot to defend its 2013 title, but region-rival Eagle's Landing Christian Academy and Athens Christian, which won three consecutive titles from 2010-12, are the favorites.
Others in the hunt: Holy Innocents', Darlington and Athens Academy.
Athletes to watch: T'Aja Cameron, Fr., ELCA; Julia Harisay, Fr., Athens Academy; Anna Machovec, Sr., Prince Avenue Christian.
Class A-Public
The skinny: Defending champion Marion County will be hard to beat, but Gordon Lee will push the Eagles to be at their best.
Others in the hunt: Commerce, Mitchell County, Mt. Zion-Carroll and Portal.
Athletes to watch: Kaitlyn Lee, Sr., Gordon Lee; Corrssia Perry, Sr., Mt. Zion-Carroll.
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