Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
The Southside High track and field team opened the 2023 season with a solid performance last Monday (Mar. 6).
The boys team finished first overall and the girls placed fourth at the Oneonta Opener meet.
The Panthers earned 18 medals, including 13 for the boys’ team, which came away with seven first-place showings, including Jackson Griggs (pictured above) in the 800-meter run at 2:07.66, Evan Christopher in the 3200-meter run at 10:31.17, Gauge NeSmith in the high jump at 5-10, Cole Chastain in the javelin at 146-2, Collins Davis in the shot put at 41-0, the 4×100-meter relay team of Gauge NeSmith, Jamvion Jones, Cody Roberts and Kody Kueny at 44.22 and the 4×800-meter relay team of Hayden Tucker, Jackson Brown, Evan Christopher and Jackson Griggs at 9:21.51.
The lone first-place effort from the Lady Panthers was the 4×800-meter relay team of Mallory Tucker, Taylor Dortch, Hannah Stanfield and Sarah Burger at 11:49.81.
Earning the second-place silver was Zoie Menk in the girls 400-meter dash at 1:03.76, Kathryn Webb in the high jump at 4-8 and the 4×100-meter relay team of Zoie Menk, Anna Cashman, Rylie Kitchens and Lauren Henderson at 51.98.
Jones finished runner-up in two events – the 100-meter dash at 11.20 and the 200-meter dash at 23.11. Also taking the silver was Jackson Griggs in the 1600-meter run at 4:39.45 and Will Shirley in the javelin at 140-0.
Winning the third-place bronze was Jacob Strunk in the boys shot put (40-1) and the boys 4×400-meter relay team of Everett Grizzard, Alex Oden, Gauge NeSmith and Micah Little at 3:59.43.