High school track: George Jenkins boys, girls dominate at city meet
LAKELAND — Rey Hernandez won three events to lead the George Jenkins track team to a decisive victory on Thursday night in the Lakeland City Meet at George Jenkins' Veterans Stadium in what was the final tune-up for most athletes before next week's county meet.
Some athletes, including Hernandez and Jenkins girls track start Chelsi Williams, did not compete in all their normal events.
Williams, who won three individual events, did not compete in two of her normal events as she led the Jenkins girls team to a decisive victory in the girls competition.
Jenkins boys coach Brian Robichaud said he used the set as a training meet and had some athletes compete in events that weren't their specialty.
For the boys, Hernandez (14.31) and teammate Joshua Valentin (14.56) finished 1-2 in the 110 hurdles. Hernandez also finished first in the 400 in 49.62 and first in the 200 in 21.70. Valentin was third in the 400.
Neither Hernandez nor Valentin, who also was third in the long jump, competed in the 400 hurdles. They'll compete in the 400 hurdles at districts but will likely be in the 400 instead again at county.
LaQuan Ellis won the triple jump with a mark of 46-01.50. He also finished third in the 200.
Ellis will miss the county meet. He qualified for the Bahamian U20 national team and will compete in the CARIFTA Games. He qualified for the triple jump with a jump of 49-04, which would rank him No. 5 nationally if it was done at a high school meet. In the postseason, he'll compete in the long jump and triple jump along with two relays.
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Other winners for Jenkins on Thursday were Jeremiah Rutledge in the high jump and the 4x100 team.
Jenkins had 226 points, and Lakeland was second with 126 points.
Michael Walker was the only individual champion for the Dreadnaughts. He won the discus and the javelin. Darian Anderson was second in the shot put and discus. Tyrell Brooks finished second in the 100, 200 and 400. He was seeded first in the 100 but was edged out by Lake Gibson's Darrell Galva, who ran 10.81. Brooks ran 10.83.
McKeel's Isaac Morrison was a two-time winner. He won the 800 and the 1,600.
Williams, Dutz lead Jenkins girls
For the girls, Williams ran the 100 instead of the 100 hurdles to work on her speed and did not compete in the triple jump. Still, she won three individual events, 100, 400 hurdles and the long jump. Jaa'Ln McBride won the 400, 800 and was third in the high jump. Maddie Dutz also was a two-time winner as she won the pole vault and the high jump.
George Jenkins finished with 285 points, and Victory Christian and Lakeland Christian finished tied for second with 88 points
Emma Wilkinson (3,200) and Cassidy Burke (javelin) were individual winners for the Lakeland Christian. The Vikings also won the 4x800.
Alaina Fountain (discus) was the only individual champion for Victory. She was second in the shot put. The Storm also won the 4x400.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: High school track: George Jenkins boys, girls dominate at city meet
