Several Apalachee High School track athletes have turned in standout seasons to this point in 2011.
In a recent meet at Clarke Central, freshman Tamaica Morrow won the 100-meter dash and 800-meter dash and was a part of the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams with Constance Martin, Denia Earnest and J’nai Owens which finished second.
Morrow also earned a third place showing in the long jump.
Earnest was the high jump winner. A season ago it was Earnest who was the stellar freshman for the Lady Wildcats, earning a trip to Albany for the Class AAAA state meet. It appears both Morrow and Earnest may make the trek this spring.
Shannon McConnell, who excels in the distance events for coach Matt Sorrells, set a school record last week in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 6:05.
Not to be outdone, Brandon Craig established a new school record in the 800-meter run for the AHS boys with a mark of 2:10.
Teammate Chris Green was runner-up in the 800-meter run.
Calvin Dotson (3,200-meter run) and Javice Talford (400-meter dash) also had strong days in Athens for AHS.
Tim Simonton, who qualified for state as a junior in 2011, has already posted wins this season in the discus.
The standout efforts are something coach Matt Sorrells has been pleased to see this spring from his athletes.
“So far, things are going pretty well,” Sorrells said. “ Our goal was to get more people into the finals at the region meets than we did last year. Based on our times/heights/distances at this point, I expect that this will happen.”
In addition to Simonton, Carlee Brodie continues to do very well in the discus, the coach said.
“Dennia Ernest is on track to make another appearance at the state meet in high jump and several of our long/triple jumpers are doing very well to this point,” Sorrells said.
Jermaine Smith is excelling in the long and triple jumps with Martin in triple, and Morrow in long.
“Tamaica’s times in the 100 and 200 meter dash should give her an excellent chance to not only qualify for the region finals, but to possibly qualify for the state meet,” the coach said. “Our middle and long distance runners continue to improve. Shannon McConnell and Calvin Dotson seem to break their own school records in both the mile and two mile at every meet. Two guys that have been working extremely hard in the 800-meter really stepped up at the last meet. Both Brandon Craig and Chris Green both ran times at the last meet that were better than the old school record with Brandon just beating Chris.”
The AHS track teams will travel to Mill Creek Monday and will compete at the Jefferson High School Relays Saturday, April 16.
Following those meets, thoughts will turn toward the Region 8-AAAA meets, which will be hosted by Loganville High School this spring.
