D Ramsey vaulted his body forward from the white line marking the regulation start for the long jump. His arms grabbed at the air. His legs tucked into his chest, then pushed out, his momentum carrying him ahead — of every competitor.
When gravity finally dropped Ramsey, the sand pit cushioning his body appeared like a calm pond when it catches a heavy stone.
The image seemed a fitting one last week for the Commerce High School athlete teammates call “Jumping Jack Splash.”
Ramsey’s impressions at the Region 8-A Track and Field Meet earned him the high points medal, with the junior claiming 32-1/2 points out of the 35 total points possible, his coach Pam Canup reported.
Ramsey qualified in five events for the Class A East Sectional Meet, which begins at noon on Saturday at the University of Georgia’s Spec Towns Track.
“(Ramsey) walked out with five medals,” Canup said. “Some kids may not practice well, but when the lights come on …” They ignite.
Ramsey took first in the long jump (20-feet, 9-1/2-inches), second in the triple jump (42-feet, ¼-inch), first in the 400-meter run (51.56). He also earned first and second-place finishes as part of the Tigers’ 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.
Joining him atop the boys’ team were Jamir Walton and Thomas McMillan, who each qualified in four events.
Walton earned third-place finishes in the long and triple jumps and competed on both Tiger relay teams.
McMillan qualified in the high jump, the 400-meter run, 200 and 4x400 relay. His second-place finish in the technically precise high jump event (5-feet-10-inches) was of special note since this is the junior’s first year on the track and field team.
Additionally, shot putter Micah Eason, hurdler Thomas Sweeney and relay-team members Terrick Ramsey and Quay Little will compete in Saturday’s meet, one of the state’s two sectional meets planned to determine who in Class A advances to the event finals.
Overall, the boys’ team finished third in the region, which does not factor into the next competitive phase of the season.
Canup expressed pride in the boys’ 4x400-relay team especially, a race she refers to as the most difficult.
The team — D Ramsey, Walton, Little and Thomas McMillan — twice broke its own best times during the region meet at Athens Academy on Thursday and Saturday. The team shaved about 10 seconds off its time during the preliminary and final rounds to capture second place in 3:36.59.
“The race is at the end of the day. It is gut wrenching,” she said. “I’m just so proud of our guys. I could not have asked for any more. They produced their best splits of the year on Thursday, surpassed that on Saturday … That shows their competitiveness.”
This weekend’s sectional event is a departure from how track and field finalists formerly were chosen.
In years past, the top two event finishers from the state’s various region meets advanced to the track and field championships.
This year, the top four region meet placers in each event qualified for the sectional round.
During the sectional meets, the top two finishers in each qualifying heat, along with the next four fastest times, will advance in track events. In field events, the top eight finalists will advance.
The changes are designed to eliminate what had been viewed as a disadvantage for some regions, which might be stronger in some events and suffer because of it.
Canup used pole vault as an example. It was not uncommon for one region to have more than two athletes who could top 14 feet. Another region, meanwhile, might have its top pole vaulter reach 10-feet.
The question became: Is it fair to the pole vaulter who is left out of the state finals despite bettering 10 feet?
“With sectionals, if you’re that good, you will make it to the state finals,” Canup said. “I think it will be the best of the best who will actually be at the state finals.”
Region 8-A Championships at Athens Academy April 19 and 21
CHS’ Boys Results— discus, Micah Eason, 116-05 (sixth), Qua Colbert, 93-07 (13th); high jump, Thomas McMillan, 5-10 (second), Quay Little, 5-04 (ninth); long jump, D. Ramsey, 20-09.5 (first), Jamir Walton, 19-02.5 (third); shot put, Micah Eason, 47-02.5 (second); Tony Patman, 38-05.5 (ninth); triple jump, D. Ramsey, 42-00.25 (second), Jamir Walton, 41-08 (third); 4x100 relay, Quay Little, Jamir Walton, D. Ramsey, Terrick Ramsey, 44.22 (first); 1600 run, Nahum Mendoza, 5:08.57 (ninth), Cole Sweeney, 6:11.12 (14th); 400, D. Ramsey, 51.56 (first), Thomas McMillan, 52.67 (third); 100, Terrick Ramsey, 11.42 (first), Quay Little, 12.02 (seventh); 110 hurdles, Thomas Sweeney, 17.13 (fourth); 200, Thomas McMillan, 24.10 (fourth), Jamir Walton, 24.30 (fifth); 300 hurdles, Thomas Sweeney, 46.1 (fourth); 4x400, D. Ramsey, Jamir Walton, Quay Little, Thomas McMillan, 3:36.59 (second); Overall results: 1. Athens Christian School 172, 2. Athens Academy 121, 3. Commerce 114, 4. Prince Avenue.
Upcoming events
Saturday, April 28
GHSA East Sectional Boys’ and Girls’ Track and Field Meet at UGA Spec Towns Track — Field events start at noon and 2 p.m. Running events start at 3:45 p.m. The top eight field-event finalists will advance to the state finals. The top two from the each qualifying track heat will advance to the state meet, along with the other four best times.
GHSA Girls’ State Track and Field Finals are Thursday-Saturday, May 3-5 at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany.
GHSA Boys’ State Track and Field Finals are Thursday-Saturday, May 10-11 at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.
