Competing without athletes in all events, the girls’ track and field team more than overcame the odds at last week’s middle school meet held in Jackson. Despite not having anyone competing in field or hurdles events, Jones County’s girls finished second by just five points, claiming region titles in six events.
On the boys’ side, eighth-grader Rhett Renner won the 1,600 meters region title, setting a personal best 5:22.86. Renner also set a personal best in the 800 meters, running a 2:29.51.
The Greyhounds added two more PRs in the 800 meters on Baleigh Gowan’s 2:53.41 in fifth place and Easton Belshan’s 2:45.59.
The Lady Hounds’ region titles came in the 4x400 relay, Skyler Horton in the 400 meters at 1:03.42, and Madison Marshall, a sixth-grader, coming home with a trifecta of individual titles in the 800, 1,600, and 3,200 meters on times of 2:37.22, 5:41.06, and 12:52.39.
A key driver in the Lady Greyhounds’ overall score was the showing of Phoebe Palmer, who took second in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters on times of 6:16.76 and 13:45.08. Jones County also took second in the 400 meters on Marahya Anthony’s time of 1:04.74. Kassidy Rawlings claimed second in the 100 meters, running 13:01.
The boys’ showing was also helped by finishes of second and fourth in the 400 meters by Aaman Richardson and Dantonio Anthony at 54.84 and 56.69.
