The Hazel Green Track Squad competed on Saturday, April 11th at the Sparkman Senator Classic, with 67 athletes competing across 26 events. The boys placed 10th out of 18 teams, while the girls finished 11th out of 21 teams. Despite several key athletes sitting out due to injury or strategic rest as the postseason approaches, the Trojans showed impressive depth, particularly from younger athletes stepping into larger roles.
Sprints
The sprint group showcased both high-end performance and depth across multiple large fields.
In the boys 200 meter dash, AJ Baker led a team of 15 athletes, placing 10th in 22.74. Baker, who also competed in the 100 later in the meet, helped pace a group that produced 6 PRs, including Kerion Cannady’s 27.19 (8.3% improvement).
In the girls 200 meter dash, Paityn Banks led a team of 9, placing 5th in 25.71. Banks, who competed in three individual events, set a PR (7.0% improvement) and scored team points. Six athletes recorded PRs, led by Janiyah Harris (37.50, 3.3% improvement).
In the boys 100 meter dash, AJ Baker returned to lead a massive group of 19 athletes, placing 15th in 11.19 and setting a PR. Nine athletes in the group set PRs, with Jackson Steffen leading improvements at 15.92 (4.6%).
In the girls 100 meter dash, Paityn Banks again led from the front, placing 8th in 12.56 while setting another PR and scoring points. She led a team of 16 athletes, with 10 PRs recorded, including Talia Banks (14.83, 6.7% improvement).
In the boys 400 meter dash, Donovan Lanier led a group of 9 athletes, finishing in 55.92. The group saw three PRs from Riley Graham (1:03.06), Byron Alexander (1:09.88), and Timothy Moore (1:00.19).
In the girls 400 meter dash, Sloan Williams led a group of 5 athletes, placing 9th in 1:00.69 with a PR (1.9% improvement). Jessica Harbin (1:01.09) and Madison Grantham (1:09.91) also added PRs, while several athletes doubled back in other sprint events.
Distance
The distance crew showed resilience and range, with several athletes competing in multiple individual events as well as contributing to relays.
In the girls 3200 meter run, Danielle Vibbert led a group of 2, placing 8th in 13:36.91 and scoring points. Vibbert also competed in the 1600 and was a key leg on the 4x800 relay. She was joined by Sakura Hollingsed, who had one of the busiest days on the team.
In the boys 1600 meter run, Ifesinachi Ukeje led a group of 2, placing 65th in 6:06.14 and setting a PR (2.3% improvement). Ukeje also ran the 800 later in the meet. Kaden Sullivan followed closely with a PR of 6:06.20 (2.4%).
In the girls 1600 meter run, Sakura Hollingsed led a group of 2, placing 13th in 5:57.61. Hollingsed competed in the 800 and 3200 as well, and also contributed to the 4x800 relay, showcasing outstanding endurance across four distance efforts. She was joined again by Danielle Vibbert, who doubled back from the 3200 and also ran on the relay.
In the boys 800 meter run, Liam Bush led a team of 6 athletes, placing 36th in 2:18.15 with a PR (4.2%). The group produced three additional PRs: Talen Balch (2:33.78, 4.4%), Dhairya Bhadiyadra (2:57.64, 2.4%), and Ifesinachi Ukeje (2:43.57, 1.3%), who competed in both the 800 and 1600.
In the girls 800 meter run, Sakura Hollingsed capped off her busy day with a 19th-place finish in 2:45.81, leading a group of 2 that included Emmerson Foreman—who also contributed as a leg on the 4x800 relay.
Hurdles
The hurdle crew delivered some of the biggest highlights of the meet.
Caiden Sedlacek had a dominant double, winning the boys 110 meter hurdles in 14.52—just 0.01 off his PR and school record—before returning to win the 300 meter hurdles in 39.51. He was joined in the 300 hurdles by Zachary Morris.
Paityn Banks continued her outstanding meet by winning the girls 100 meter hurdles in 14.58, setting a new school record and PR (2.9%). Combined with her performances in the 100 and 200, Banks accounted for points across multiple events and was one of the top performers of the day.
In the girls 300 meter hurdles, Taniesia Williams led the team, placing 23rd in 1:01.22.
Relays
The relay teams added valuable points and highlighted the team’s depth and versatility.
The girls 4x800 meter relay team placed 5th in 11:07.31, scoring points. The relay consisted of Danielle Vibbert, Sakura Hollingsed, Emmerson Foreman, and Natalie Moyers. Notably, Vibbert and Hollingsed each competed in multiple individual distance events in addition to the relay, while Foreman also doubled back from the open 800—showcasing the group’s endurance and willingness to take on a heavy workload.
In the boys 4x100 meter relay, two teams competed, with the A team placing 15th (46.25) and the B team placing 20th (50.15), allowing multiple athletes to gain race experience.
Throws
The throws group was anchored by a standout multi-event performer.
In the boys javelin, Jonathan Mann led a group of 4, placing 8th with a throw of 131-2 and scoring points. Mann also competed in shot put and discus, leading the team in all three events.
In the girls javelin, Dylan Sage led the team, placing 28th with a throw of 53-6.
In the boys shot put, Jonathan Mann again led a group of 4, placing 16th with a PR (41-9.75). Gauge Peel added a strong PR of 36-5 (8.4% improvement), competing alongside Timothy Locke and Griffin Bayne.
In the girls shot put, Laila Crain led a group of 4, joined by Jayla Williams, Zilphia White, and Morgan Scruggs.
In the boys discus, Jonathan Mann competed in his third throwing event, once again leading the team.
In the girls discus, Breanna Douglas led the team, placing 38th with a throw of 55-0 and recording one of the biggest improvements of the meet—a 24.3% PR. Douglas also competed earlier in the 400, showing versatility across events.
Jumps
The jumps group added key points and more PR performances.
In the boys long jump, Elijah Mike led a team of 7 athletes, placing 6th with a PR jump of 20-6 and scoring points. Mike also competed in the high jump, contributing in multiple field events. Peyton Thompson highlighted the group’s improvement with a PR of 14-3 (11.0%).
In the girls long jump, Erin Jordan-Nwadike led a group of 2, placing 17th with a mark of 14-8. Jordyn DeVille added a PR of 12-11 (12.3% improvement).
In the boys high jump, Elijah Mike added another scoring performance, placing 7th at 5-8 to cap off a strong multi-event day.
The Trojans finished the meet with 3 event wins and 3 podium finishes, highlighting their ability to compete at a high level even while managing the demands of a long season. Across 67 athletes and 26 events, Hazel Green recorded 54 personal records and 1 new school record, a clear sign that the team is continuing to build momentum at the right time.
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