The last few days have been busy and full of success for the Richmond Senior High School girls track and field team.
The Lady Raiders competed in a regular season Sandhills Athletic Conference meet at Pinecrest High School Wednesday, followed by the fifth annual Kathy McMillan Invitational at Hoke County High School Saturday.
Richmond earned several wins in individual events at Pinecrest and notched a second-place team finish at Hoke County.
At the Kathy McMillan Invitational, sophomore Ka’mora Watkins was named the event’s MVP. She won the high and triple jumps, while placing third in the long jump.
Lady Raiders win six events at Pinecrest
Competing against the host Lady Patriots and fellow SAC opponent Hoke County, the Lady Raiders won six events Wednesday.
Richmond won one sprinting, distance and relay event, as well as three field events.
Sophomore Jasiah Gilchrist took first overall in the 100-meter dash, clocking in at 13.10 seconds. Taking first in the 1600-meter run was junior Mariana Mendez, who paced the mile run with a time of 6:06.40.
The Lady Raiders’ 4×100-meter relay team added points with a winning time of 51.93 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of second-place Pinecrest.
Watkins picked up a pair of victories in two jumping events — the long and triple jumps. Her marks were 15 feet, 10 inches and 33 feet, 3 inches, respectively.
Shadea Harrison rounded out the Lady Raiders’ wins at Pinecrest in the discus. Her longest toss landed at 99 feet.
Other notable finishers were: J’Mya Fuller (2nd, 100-meter hurdles), Amariah Gibson (2nd, 100-meters), Ella Parker (2nd, shot put), Watkins (2nd, high jump), Anayjah Dumas (3rd, 100-meter hurdles), Gibson (3rd, 200-meters), Tanaja Harrison (3rd, long jump), Parker (3rd, discus) and the 4×200-meter and 4×800-meter relay teams (both 3rd).
Impressive team performance leads to runner-up at Kathy McMillan Invitational
Going up against 10 other qualifying high schools or track and field clubs, the Lady Raiders placed second Saturday with 121 points. Winning the event was Gray’s Creek High School (143 points).
Richmond secured five victories on the day, including Watkins in the high jump (4 feet, 6 inches) and the triple jump (33 feet, 2.75 inches).
Shadea Harrison placed first in the discus (80 feet, 7 inches), while Parker launched a winning throw of 30 feet, 8 inches in the shot put. The Lady Raiders also won the 4×100-meter relay race (1:08.88).
The team secured four other top-three finishes, featuring a trio of second-place results.
Dumas was second in the 100-meter hurdles (18.48 seconds) and Anniston Griggs was the runner-up behind Parker in the shot put (27 feet).
The Lady Raiders placed second in the 800-meter medley relay and Watkins rounded out her MVP performance with a third-place distance of 15 feet, 9 inches in the long jump.
