Area track and field teams chasing state championships this weekend (2024)

Ring season has returned for South Carolina High School League track and field teams, with state championship meets scheduled for this weekend in Columbia.

Championship rings have been most closely associated in recent years with Aiken High, and the Hornets once again have some title contenders in the Class AAAA field after extending their region championship winning streaks - nine in a row for the girls, five for the boys - and turning in some strong performances at the Upper State qualifier.

They'll be joined by Region 4-AAAA rivals Midland Valley, North Augusta and South Aiken on Saturday morning at Spring Valley High School, with a combined 28 entrants between the four schools.

For Aiken the headliner is Eliza King, who on Saturday will look to become a four-time state champion in the javelin throw. She just won the Upper State title, and last year she set a new state record. She and Sandi King both qualified for the state meet, and Eliza King will also compete in the long jump. Scotlynn Staley qualified for the shot put, Malasia Jamison is in the high jump and the girls' 4x100-meter relay team also qualified.

On the boys' side, Carson Colmer will compete in the 3,200-meter race, Cam'ron Frazier is in the triple jump, Adam Fundak is in the javelin throw, and the Hornets will have a 4x800 relay team.

Midland Valley has a dozen entrants, including Region 4-AAAA athletes of the year Torion Whiteisde (100 meter and long jump) and Morgan Coverson-Springs (100 hurdles, 400 hurdles and triple jump). Coverson-Springs is a two-time Region Female Athlete of the Year, and she's also the Upper State champion in both hurdles races.

Also qualifying from Midland Valley are Dominic Morgan in the 100 and the 110 hurdles; Kamari Curtis in the 110 hurdles, long jump and triple jump;Diosleydis Gutierrez in the long jump; and the girls' 4x100 relay team.

North Augusta will be represented by Ryan Flowers in the 400-meter dash, and South Aiken has entrants in five events - Upper State champion Zach Whitson in the pole vault, Braylen Bussey in the 110 hurdles, Kameron Reece in the pole vault, Kyler Wade in the javelin and Ogechukwu Eneje in the high jump.

Also taking place Saturday morning is the Class AA championship meet across town at Lower Richland High School. There are 32 local entrants, with Silver Bluff leading the way with 15.

The Bulldogs, whose boys tied with Pelion for first in the Region 3-AA meet, have 15 entrants and four Upper State champions - Mickenzie Atterberry in the 110 hurdles, the boys' 4x400 relay team, Joshua Smith in the triple jump and Jayden Fuller in the discus throw.

Fuller is also competing as an individual in the 200 and shot put; Hiszari Gantt is in the 100 and long jump, Trevion Harris is in the 100, Aden Coates is in the long jump, Jaydon Eason is in the shot put, and the 4x100 relay team qualified. On the girls' side, A'Niyah Coates is in the long jump and the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams will be in action.

Strom Thurmond has 13 entrants, including Upper State champions J'Niya Barnes (100 hurdles) and Aryan Lyons (triple jump). Barnes is also competing in the 400 hurdles, and Lyons also qualified for the 100 hurdles. Katlyn Chinn is in the 100 and 400, Shenique Muldrow is in the triple jump, and the Thurmond girls' 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams also qualified. The boys' 4x100 relay team will join them, as will Deonte Phillips in the 110 hurdles, Jalin Collins in the triple jump and Shaheed Williams in the javelin.

Barnwell's Tavion Johnson qualified for two events, the 200 meter and the long jump - he won the Lower State title in the latter. Fox Creek's Tripp Crigger will run the 1,600, and Caine Goodson will compete in the high jump.

Leading off state championship weekend is the Class A meet, which is scheduled for Thursday night at Spring Valley.

Blackville-Hilda leads the way with 25 entrants, including five Upper State champions - Jaquel Holman in the 100 and 200, Breyanna Williams in the 100 and 400 hurdles and the boys' 4x100 meter relay team.

Joining Holman in the 100 and 200 are Tamari Daniels, Samari Williams and Namair Anderson. Jamarien Kirkland is in the 400 and long jump; Darius Jenkins is in the 110 hurdles and triple jump; Jamarien Priester and Brandon Priester are the 110 hurdles; Diandra Risi is in the 3,200; Demeria Woodley is in the 400 hurdles.

Along with Breyanna Williams, on the girls' side the Fighting Hawks will be represented by Haylei Sapp in the 800 and 400 hurdles, Anastasia Beaver in the 400,Sa'riyah Vinson in the 100 hurdles, Tahlia Kinard in the 400 hurdles, and the 4x100 relay team.

Ridge Spring-Monetta has eight entrants - Tim Morris in the 400, the boys' and girls' 4x100 relay teams, Haleigh Mitchell in the 400 and the high jump, Taylah Leaphart and Aliyah Hartzog in the 100 and Azaria Weaver in the 200.

Williston-Elko has seven entrants, led by Upper State champion Deontae Holman in the long jump. Also competing for the Blue Devils are Jakeran Cuthberson, De'montray Allen in the 100 hurdles, Jasiah Gibson in the discus throw, Na'Kiya Mercado in the 100, and the boys' 4x400 relay team.

Wagener-Salley will be represented by a pair of throwers - Trey James in the shot put and Brandon Pontoon in the discus.