SourceURL:file://localhost/Volumes/editorial/Sports/Sports%204:4:12/Track/track%20and%20field.doc @font-face { font-family: “Times New Roman”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Courier; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: Courier; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }

By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

 

RESERVE — The East St. John boys and girls each excelled on their home track Friday against a stacked field of over 20 teams on each side, as the boys finished first and the girls third at the Wildcat Relays.

It’s the second track season in a row East St. John has hosted the event since the new track was installed at the school last year.

East St. John, West St. John, Riverside, St. Charles, St. James and Destrehan were all River Parish teams that competed Friday. Other competitors included Lusher, Bogalusa, Carver, Landry, McMain, Cohen, Xavier Prep, Helen Cox, McDonogh No. 35, O. P. Walker, Riverdale, Reed, Hammond, Ponchatoula and West Jefferson.

“To go from six teams last year to 21 this year, that’s a big accomplishment in itself,” said ESJ girls track and field coach Quinton Bradley. “We hope it keeps growing.”

Said ESJ boys coach Greg Gathers, “This was probably the biggest meet East St. John has had. When you put that kind of money into a track, you want to make good use out of it … This was a team effort, from (ESJ principal) Miss (Patricia) Triche to Coach Banko to the team members. The Community came out to support us. We’re looking forward to hosting two-to-three events each year.”

For the Wildcat boys, it’s the third meet victory of the season.

“We preach hard work and dedication, and the kids have bought in,” said ESJ boys track and field coach Greg Gathers. “We’ve got a lot of depth this year, putting two kids in each event. With the help of Coach (Philip) Banko and the other coaches, we’ve had a terrific turnout this year.

“We’re scoring in the field and scoring in distance events. This is the first year I can remember that we’ve had a pole vaulter. So it’s been a real strong team wide effort.”

The Wildcat’s Donald Stirgis finished first in the 800 with a time of 2:02.18. He also finished second in the 1600 (4:53.73). Teammate Jevaugn Albert scored well in the field, coming away with a first place finish in the 300 meter hurdles (41.93). ESJ’s Jesse Bailey (52.69) and Lennard Davis (52.89) finished second and third, respectively, in the 400.

The Wildcat boys excelled in relays. The 1600 meter relay team (Lennard Davis, Elex Carter, Jevaugn Albert and Jesse Bailey) took first place with a time of 3:35.02.

The 400 and 200 meter relay teams (each consisting of Troy Gerard, Deszmann Broussard, Lennard Davis and Darius Lipps) each finished second to West Jefferson (42.87 and 1:30.57).

Kadeem Vance captured third in the 110 meter hurdles (16.51).

ESJ’s Fred Williams finished second in the discus (140-05), and third in the high jump (5-10) and shot put (42-00). Teammate Marlon Watkins took third in the pole vault (9-00).

For West St. John, LaDarius Lewis took second place in the 300 meter hurdles (43.41). Teammate Javan Toney finished fourth in the event (45.57). Quan Scott took third in the triple jump (43-03.50) and sixth in the long jump (20-10.50).

Riverside’s Grady Gieger topped all comers in the javelin, setting a mark of 164-07. ESJ’s Darion Monroe finished second (140-02).

SCC’s Pierre McGraw took third place in the 1600 meters (4:58.45).

For the ESJ girls, Dominique White took third in the 200 (25.88) and fourth in the 100 (12.72).

“The competition was great,” said White. “Even though I didn’t take first, I feel like you don’t really excel unless you go against the best … It was really exciting to host a big meet like this, with so many good teams.”

ESJ’s Terrian Gauff took second in the 800 (2:34.57).

The 400 meter relay team (Taylor Duhe, Bianca Holmes, Dominique White and Terrian Gauff) took third place (51.30), and the 1600 meter team (Alicia Rios, Ronjanae Morris, Conesha Farlough and Caitlyn Marshall) took third as well (4:35.85).

ESJ’s Kanitra Lee finished second in the discus (88-04), third in the javelin (97-00) and third in the shot put (30-11.75). Elizabeth Scioneaux took second in the triple jump (33-11).

“We’re starting to score some points on the field, which will go a long way for us,” said Bradley.

West St. John’s Tahajanik Howard won the javelin with a mark of 107-09. Arnelle Jack took third in the 100 meter hurdles (17.64).

The Rebels’ Channan Simmons took second in the high jump with a mark of 5-00, tying West Jefferson’s Alexia Fortenberry. RA’s Caitlin Becnel placed third in the pole vault (7-00).