ATLANTA, Texas – Hallsville and Carthage didn’t take home a team trophy, but both played a major role in determining who took home what Saturday at the 23rd annual Lions Club Runnin’ Rabbs Relays.
Atlanta’s boys held a 10-point lead over Liberty-Eylau going into the final race (4×400 relay), meaning the Leopards had to beat Atlanta, with help from at least two other schools. Hallsville and Carthage finished 1-2 in the final race, with L-E barely a stride behind in third. Atlanta finished fifth, finishing the meet with 91 points to the Leopards’ 89.
The Leopards posted a season-best 3:25.90 in that last race, which was only .33 out of first place.
Atlanta won two events in the boys competition. Jacorian Fields, L-E’s Isaiah Cross, and Rabbit teammate Kylan Carter all cleared 6-2 in the high jump. Fields prevailed on fewer misses. Josh Edwards won gold in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.72, .05 ahead of Tatum’s Dakarai Bush.
The Rabbs did win silver and bronze in the triple jump, won by Carthage’s Kelvontag Dixon with a leap of 45-2. Keyshawn Easter was second at 43-10, while Fields jumped 43-7 for third place. Atlanta also captured second and third in the 800. Cameron Carney won silver in 2:03.42, while Dagen Ward was third in 2:03.48.
Junior sprinter Korbyn White won three gold medals for Liberty-Eylau, two coming in the shorter relays. He ran anchor on the 4×100 with Taveion Neal, Marzavian Riles and Shayne Porshe, winning in 42.51. The same group prevailed in the 4×200 in 1:28.85. White ran away from the field in the 100 with a time of 10.78.
L-E girls dominate in their division
Liberty-Eylau’s girls got an outstanding performance from senior Keeley Norris in the field events, and won all three relays races to dominate their division with 182 points. Atlanta was second at 110.
The Lady Leopards took over the meet after the long jump where they finished 1-2-3. Kurstyne Bailey won with a leap of 17-8. Keeley Norris was second at 17-4 1/2, and Skylier Bailey was third with 16-6 3/4.
Skylier Bailey enjoyed a career day in the running, winning the 400 and 200, while placing third in the 800. Keeley Norris also had a big day in winning the high jump (5-4) and placing second in the triple jump (36-11).
L-E won all three relay races. Kurstyne Bailey, Lamiah George, Chelsea Simmons and Danielle Thomas won the 4×100 in 47.98. The Leopards won the 4×200 in 1:44.67, and the 4×400 in 4:07.08.
The Lady Rabbs were 1-2 in the 300 hurdles. Sheveonia Smith won gold in 47.53, with India Cooper second in 48.4.
Atlanta edged Liberty-Eylau’s boys for the junior varsity team title.