Both East Marion and Columbia left Gardner Stadium with gold in hand, as the Lady Eagles claimed the Region 8-1A crown and the Lady Wildcats won the Region 7-4A title.
The Lady Eagles had seven first-place finishes April 9 at Columbia High, including a sweep by Natalee Dillon in the Girls High Jump Finals (4-04.00), Girls Long Jump Finals (15-04.75) and Girls Triple Jump Finals (33-02.00). Other first-place finishes included the Girls 1600 Meter Run Finals (Aubrey Watts, 6:56.66), Girls 300 Meter Hurdles Finals (Alyssa Watts, 55.48), Girls 4x800 Meter Relay Finals (12:20.82) and Girls Shot Put Finals (Adrinae Aikens, 35-02.00).
The Eagles walked away with four first place finishes as well, earning top honors in the Boys 400 Meter Dash Finals (Paden McLin, 54.63), Boys 4x200 Meter Relay Finals (1:38.24), Boys High Jump Finals (Donny Anderson, 5-08.00) and Boys Shot Put Finals (Alex Allen, 48-11.00).
The Lady Wildcats finished in first place in four categories en route to a district title, including the Girls 400 Meter Dash Finals (Indea Pounds, 1:03.33), Girls 3200 Meter Run Finals (Charlee Brees Franks, 13:19.21), Girls 300 Meter Hurdles Finals (Klia Smith, 50.69) and Girls 4x100 Meter Relay Finals (50.82).
Also earning first place honors at the district track meets at Columbia High was Coleman Lott of Columbia (3200 Meter Run Finals, 11:08.17) and West Marion’s Neliyah Smith (Girls Discuss Finals, 82-02.00).
Both Columbia and West Marion will return to Walter Payton Field at Gardner Stadium April 27 for the Class 3A and Class 4A South State championship meets.
