Madison County fell short of its goal of a region title last week but didn’t leave last week’s Region 8-AAAA meet without some hardware.
On the strength of first-place finishes in three events, Madison County, which enjoyed one of its best regular seasons in years, finished with 101 points to place second and take home the region runner-up trophy.
“Overall, we did not do too bad,” coach Jamie Sims said. “We didn’t do exactly what we came to do, of course, but the kids did the best they could do, and that is all I can ask. They showed class and acted like true men, and I am so proud of each one of them for that.”
Clarke Central won the region title with 123.5 points.
Three Red Raiders — Jamal Cooper, Kendrick Butler and Jeffery Hicks — qualified for the May 13-15 state meet in Jefferson by finishing either first or second in their respective events.
Cooper won the region 100 meters (10.62 seconds) and took second in both the 200 meters (22.01 seconds) and long jump (22’). Jeffery Hicks (11’6”) won the pole vault, and Kendrick Butler won the 300-meter hurdles (39.67 seconds) and took second in the triple jump (44’10.25”).
Adding points were T.J. McGuire (third, high jump; third, 110-meter hurdles), Stan Maxwell (fourth, 400 meters), Donavan Carey (fourth, 110-meter hurdles) and Dalton Owensby (eighth, 3,200 meters).
Madison County also received points with in two relay events with the 4 x 100 meter team finishing fourth and the 4 x 400 meter team taking third.
Now, the attention turns to the state meet.
“We have a good shoot at doing well in the state meet,” Sims said. “So I am anticipating that as well. We actually could score more points than Clarke Central if everything goes to plan, and for me that will be great for us and our team.”
But regardless of what happens at state, the Red Raiders have enjoyed one of their most prosperous years on the track.
“They truly had the best track season in school history and bringing home the region runner-up trophy was exciting,” Sims said. “I will definitely miss our senior group but look forward to the future to come.”
