SANFORD — Returning to Sandhills Athletic Conference competition on Wednesday, the Richmond Senior High School boys’ and girls’ track and field teams both placed first overall.
The Raiders and Lady Raiders competed against rival Scotland and host Lee County High School, and both scored 67 points to finish atop the team standings.
Scoring many of their points in sprints, relays and jumping events helped Richmond’s teams to the win.
The Lady Raiders notched 19 points in sprints, 16 points in jumps and another 14 points in relays. For the Raiders, it was 19 points in sprints and 18 points in both jumps and relays.
Lady Raiders secure second conference win
The Richmond girls’ team used seven first-place finishes to help defeat Lee County and Scotland. Both the 4×100 and 4×200-meter relay teams kept up their strong start to the season with another win.
The 4×100 team finished its lap around the track in 50.06 seconds, and the 4×200 crew clocked in a 1:54.37. Both times were over 2.50 seconds faster than second-place Scotland.
Three other first-place times came on sprints for Richmond, including sweeps in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. Juniors Isis Covington and Andrea Ellerbe tied in the 100-meter dash (12.15 seconds), Ellerbe won the open 200-meter race (25.90 seconds) and senior Miccah Wall won the 400-meter dash (1:10.56).
Sophomore Aniyah Tanksley won the 300-meter hurdles (55.90 seconds) and Ja’Niya Blue launched herself to a win in the triple jump (30 feet, 6 inches).
Earning three points for second-place finishes were the 4×800-meter relay team (14:20.12), Jamaya Fuller (100 hurdles, 18.66 seconds), Talayeh Covington (100 dash, 12.84 seconds), I’liyah Hailey (300 hurdles, 57.05 seconds), Talayeh Covington (200 dash, 27.42 seconds), Jasmine Jennings (shot put, 25 feet, 2 inches), Honesty Horne (discus, 73 feet, 3 inches), Blue (long jump, 14 feet, 8 inches), Jocelyn Hunter (triple jump, 28 feet, 7 inches) and Tanksley (high jump, 4 feet, 5 inches).
Rounding out the points total for the Lady Raiders were five third-place marks.
Raiders collect first SAC meet victory of spring
ROSports File Photo: Senior Javares Stanback won the long jump and high jump in Wednesday’s meet.
In the boys’ competition, the Raiders had nine first-place podiums during Wednesday’s conference meet.
Three of those wins were in relay races: the 4×800-meter (10:16.72), the 4×100-meter (42.82 seconds) and the 4×200-meter relay team (1:35.46 seconds).
Senior Jaylen McDonald won the open 100-meter dash (10.50 seconds) and was followed by teammate Cason Douglas in second place (10.62 seconds). Also taking first in sprints were freshman Travion Smith in the 400-meter race (54.91 seconds) and Douglas in the 200-meter dash (22.38 seconds).
Fifteen more points were awarded to the Raiders for three first-place marks in separate field events. Senior Javares Stanback won both the long jump (19 feet, 10 inches) and the high jump (6 feet, 0 inches), and Trey Thomas took the top spot in the triple jump (41 feet, 1 inch).
Four second-place finishes came in the 110-meter hurdles by Thomas (16.41 seconds), the 4×400-meter relay (3:56.47), Emerson Wall in the triple jump (39 feet, 0 inches) and Douglas in the open 100.
The Raiders’ final two points on the afternoon came on two third-place finishes.
Note: Richmond’s teams competed in Apex on Saturday. The Richmond Observer will post those results when they are available.
