Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
The Gadsden City boys and girls track and field teams took home 33 medals in 34 events, including 18 first-place gold, at the GCHS Meet No. 3 on March 16.
The GCHS boys earned 27 top 3 finishes, including 13 first-place efforts.
The top individual performer for the girls was Ashville’s Taylor Knight (pictured above), who won the 1600-meter run at 5:30.59, the 3200-meter run at 11:35.75, the 800-meter run at 2:30.36 and was a member of the Lady Bulldogs’ first-place 4×800-meter relay team with Molly Northam, Alana Whitman and Allie Cone at 10:47.03.
For Gadsden City, Karleigh Sheffield captured the 100-meter dash at 12.29 and the 200-meter dash at 25.85 and was a member of the Lady Titans’ first place 4×100-meter relay team with Kyla Price, JeVohnna Sears and Mariah Ragland at 50.23.
For the boys, Gadsden City’s Kerrel Yow placed first in the 100-meter dash at 11.19 and the long jump at 11.00 and was a member of the Titans’ first place 4×100-meter relay team with Zyan Gibson, Cameron Rolley and Kamauri Moore at 44.36.
Ashville’s Emma Drinkard came away with four medals, coming in first in the 400-meter dash at 59.65; first in the 4×400-meter relay with Allie Cone, Molly Northam and Alana Whitman at 4:32.87; third in the 100-meter dash at 12.69 and third in the 200-meter dash at 26.94.
Also winning the first-place gold were Gadsden City’s Kelis Wilson in the girls 100-meter hurdles (18.72), Gadsden City’s Nyla Franklin in the girls high jump (10.00), Westbrook Christian’s Taylor Meador in the girls triple jump (30-06.00), Gadsden City’s Caleb Davis in the boys 200-meter dash (23.21), Gadsden City’s Kelom Darrah-Koudjaw in the boys high jump (5-10.00), Gadsden City’s Christopher Butler in the boys triple jump (38-00.00), West End’s Kane Lawson in the boys javelin (145-08) and Gadsden City’s Caleb Davis, Braydon Mayes, Tylan Sims and Cameron Rolley in the boys 4×400-meter relay (3:47.26).
Earning the second place silver for the girls were Westbrook’s Taylor Meador in the 100-meter hurdles (18.98), Ashville’s Alana Whitman in the 1600-meter run (6:21.48), Gadsden City’s Kelis Wilson in the 300-meter hurdles (54.61), Ashville’s Allie Cone in the 800-meter run (2:44.39), Glencoe’s Katie Giles in the 3200-meter run 11:50.02), Gadsden City’s Mariah Ragland in the long jump (15-09.00) and Ashville’s Lydia Northam in the high jump (10.00).
Second place boys finishers were Gadsden City’s Zyan Gibson in the 100-meter dash (11.21), Ashville’s Kanyon White in the 400-meter dash (55.64), Gadsden City’s Isaiah Collins in the long jump (09.00) and the Gadsden City 4×100-meter relay B team (44.88).
Garnering the third-place bronze for the girls were West End’s Karlee Tarpley in the 1600-meter run (6:24.12) and the 800-meter run (2:48.05), Gadsden City’s Kyla Price in the 400-meter dash (1:02.68) and the high jump (4-08.00), Gadsden City’s Iyinna Huff in the 300-meter hurdles (57.05) and Westbrook’s Taylor Meador in the long jump (14-09.00 ).
Third-place boys performances were Gadsden City’s Kamauri Moore in the 100-meter dash (11.55), Gadsden City’s Jackson Camp in the 1600-meter run (5:12.54), Gadsden City’s Tylan Sims in the 400-meter dash (55.97), Glencoe’s Cason Arther in the 3200-meter run (11:07.85), Westbrook’s McCade Wright in the shot put (39-08.50), Ashville’s Parker Smith in the high jump (5-06.00), Ashville’s Shun-tear McCain in the triple jump (35-00.00) and the Ashville 4×400-meter relay team of Coby Caswell, Maddox Vann, Kanyon White and Nate Huckbay (3:56.92).