Harris Drives Powerful Buford To Class 5A Team Title

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

New Balance Nationals Indoor champion Kimberly Harris enjoyed a successful weekend at the Georgia state track and field championships individually and with her Buford teammates. 

Harris and her teammates cut loose in the prelims of the 4x100 relay and ran a US#2 time of 45.19 seconds that was .02 shy of the all-time Georgia record they set in 2018. 

Harris and Buford won the 4x100 in 46.25 and the 4x400 in 3:44.28. She also won the 200 in 23.63w and the 400 in a season's best and US#5 53.28 seconds. 

Buford won the 5A girls team title with 72 points. 

Also in 5A, Nia Benton-Andrews from Maynard H. Jackson won the 300 hurdles in US#6 41.38 and Darci Khan of Stockbridge won the 100 hurdles in 13.76. Sophomore Lashanti Williams from Clarke Central jumped 19-11 to win the long jump and also won the 100 in 11.88.

On the boys side of 5A, Dutchtown's Ja'Shaun Poke won the boys 400 meters in 46.99 seconds and was part of the winning 4x100 relay (41.09). Harrison Fultz of Starr's Mill won the 800 meters in 1:52.96. Amanuel McDowell of Griffin won the high jump at 6-10 and also the long jump with 24-3.50. Cameron Hudson of Cedar Shoals went 50-2 to claim the triple jump.

Brynne Sumner of Woodstock was the star of the show in Class 7A, winning the 800 meters in 2:09.89 and the 1,600 in 4:53.45.

Sophomore MeKenzie Kelley led Campbell to the girls team title with her victory in the 400 meters (53.65) and role in two winning relays (46.13 and 3:45.27). Campbell's 'B' team placed fifth in the 4x100 and fourth in the 4x400. 

Nicholas Ramey of Brookwood won the 7A  400 meters in 47.19.

Kyle Harkabus from East Coweta won the 1,600 meters in 4:16.44. He was also second in the 800.

Myles Marshall from Lassiter won a close race against Wilson McClain of Peachtree Ridge in the 110 hurdles, 13.75 to 13.80.

Brian Hauch from Parkview cleared 16-6.50 to win the pole vault. Elasia Camplbell won the girls high jump with a clearance at 5-10.

Shiloh ran 3:13.28 in the 4x400 relay for US#6 to cap off the boys team title.

In the 6A meet, Jonathan Baker of Northview won the long jump with US#5 24-7.75 and the triple jump with 47-11. Shatara Johnson from Charles Drew jumped 19-10 to win the long jump and edged out India Turk of Houston County, who went 19-6. Johnson also ran 55.69 for second place in the 400 meters. 

Alpharetta's boys won the team title thanks to a 3:16.23 victory in the 4x400 relay.

Tanner Duffin, the Michigan-bound thrower from St. Piux X Catholic, won the 4A titles in the shot put (66-10.50) and discus (187-1) to help power the Golden Lions to victory. Matthew Harris added wins in the long jump (23-6.50) and 300 hurdles (37.39). 

Chapel Hill dominated the 4A girls relays on the way to team title. Freshman Gabriella Grissom of Sandy Creek won the 400 (55.65) and the 800 (2:14.86). Westover's Chastity Pickett was a double winner in the hurdles (14.27/42.03).

Jasmine Jones led Greater Atlanta Christian to the 3A girls team title with victories in the 200 (24.05), 100 hurdles (14.12) as well as legs on the winning 4x100 (47.25) and 4x400 (3:55.12) relay teams. Teammate Chloe Fair was on both relays and also won the 300 hurdles (43.83) and the 400 meters (56.63).

Eli Morris led the Jefferson boys to a title with wins in the 100 hurdles (14.05) and 300 hurdles (37.67) as well as the winning 4x400 (3:25.79). Jefferson also got a 1-2 finish in the boys pole vault from Ryder Pagel (14-6) and Tripp Bullock (14-0). 

In Class 2A, senior Metrius Fleming of Elbert County flew 24-0.50 to win the long jump. Senior Nykeem Farrow was part of four victories for the winning team from Bleckley County. He won the 100 (10.61w), 200 (21.87) and anchored the 4x100 (41.79) and led off the 4x400 (3:25.10).

Cara Joyce of Atlanta International won the 1A Private titles in the 800 meters (2:12.79) and the 1,600 (4:57.90). Synclair Savage of North Cobb Christian won the 100 (12.11), 200 (24.97) and long jump (19-3.50). LenNeth Whitehead of Athens Academy won the shot put for the third straight year with 64-7. 

Team champions - 

Class 7A - Shiloh boys 66 points, Campbell girls 112 points - RESULTS

Class 6A - Alpharetta boys 40 points, Dunwoody girls 50 points - RESULTS

Class 5A - Griffin boys 59 points, Buford girls 72 points - RESULTS

Class 4A - St. Piux X Catholic boys 73 points, Chapel Hill girls 85.5 points - RESULTS

Class 3A - Jefferson boys 87 points, Greater Atlanta Christian girls 109 points - RESULTS

Class 2A - Bleckley County boys 88 points, Elbert County girls 60.5 points - RESULTS

Class 1A Public - Commerce boys 71.5 points, Gordon Lee girls 87 points - RESULTS

Class 1A Private - Landmark Christian boys 105 points, Mt Paran Christian girls 68 points - RESULTS