GREENSBORO – The 4A Women’s State Meet was a fast one, as three State Meet Records fell by the wayside. In the team competition, the Olympic Women and Millbrook Men grabbed team championships at the 2021 1A State Track & Field Championships. The Olympic Trojans claimed their second team title all time, their first since 2000, while Millbrook claimed the program’s first team championship.
Akala Garrett from Harding University was selected as the Most Outstanding Performer, racing to victory in both the 100 Meter Hurdles and the 300 Meter Hurdles. She crossed in 13.90 seconds in the 100 Hurdles, and 41.64 seconds in the 300 Hurdles. Garrett also ran the second leg of the Rams’ 4 X 200 Meter Relay, combining with Sanai Forte, Naiobi White and Queen Burnett to win in 1:40.91.
The Women’s Meet was a quick one, with three all-classification State Meet Records falling by the wayside. Shawnti Jackson from Cardinal Gibbons took down the 200 Meter Dash mark, clipping the tape in 23.06 seconds. Jackson smashed the previous record of 23.51 seconds set by Southeast Raleigh’s Gabby Mayo in 2006. Jackson was the 100 Meter Dash champion in 11.48 and participated on the victorious 4 X 100 Meter Relay team for the Crusaders.
West Mecklenburg’s Sanu Jallow knocked out the 800 Meter Run record when she crossed in 2:07.78. Her performance slipped by the mark of 2:08.51 set by Nevada Mareno in 2016. The 1600 Meter Run record was eclipsed by Maddie Huecker from Lake Norman when she finished in 4:50.36. Her time was better than the 4:51.54 mark established by Millbrook’s Samantha George in 2012.
The Olympic Womens’ lone event win came in the final event of the meet, the 4 X 400 Meter Relay. The Trojans crossed the line in 3:48.86 with the team of T’Sheylah Moore, Terri Gaston, Zyra Shivers and Mia Gardner cruising to victory. The same quartet combined to finish second in the 4 X 200 Meter Relay, crossing behind Champions Harding University who posted 1:40.91.
The Trojans also finished second in the 4 X 800 Meter Relay with Moore, Gaston, Gardner and Natalia Martin clocking in just over eight seconds behind event winners from Reagan who finished in 9:12.53. In the 400 Meter Dash, Gardner, Moore and Gaston finished third, fourth, and fifth respectively, helping to cement the team title.
On the men’s side of the meet, Millbrook edged Mallard Creek 53-51. Wildcat athletes collected three event titles on their way to the program’s first team title. The Wildcats grabbed the 4 X 800 Meter Relay championship as Graham Aitken, Harrison Enyeart, Joshua Navarro and Matthew Rapp combined to clip the tape in 8:05.86. Millbrook also got State Championship performances from Dillon Leacock and Caleb Stephens. Leacock won the 300 Meter Hurdles in 36.53 seconds while Stephens leaped 48’ 08.75” on his way to the Triple Jump title. Leacock was selected as the Men’s Most Outstanding Performer winning the 300 Hurdles and finishing second in the 110 Hurdles.
The NCHSAA promotes good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches, and spectators across our state. To highlight our commitment to sportsmanship, the NCHSAA has partnered with NC Farm Bureau to honor two athletes at each NCHSAA State Championship event who have demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship throughout the season with the NC Farm Bureau Sportsmanship Awards. The 2021 4A Women’s Track & Field Sportsmanship Award Winners were Mia Gardner from Olympic and Taylor McKinnon from Cardinal Gibbons. The 4A Men’s winners were Caleb Stephens from Millbrook and William Sistruck from Mallard Creek.
