Smith wins second state title to lead Bartow track & field athletes at state championship meets

Cass High School senior Stephen Smith won his second consecutive pole vault state championship in Class AAAAA this weekend to headline local athletes at the GHSA State Championship Meets in Carrollton and Albany. Smith (photo), a Kennesaw State University track & field signee, successfully defended his 2018 state title by clearing 15 feet, 6 inches on his first attempt Friday in Carrollton to edge Carrollton’s Grant Briscoe. Briscoe also cleared the height but on his second attempt. Drew Traylor of the host Trojans was third at 14 feet.

Also in Carrollton Friday, Woodland junior McKenna Trapheagen finished second in the 3200 meter run with a time of 11:11.65. Freshman teammate Rylee Evans placed fourth in 11:34.10. The same Lady Cats’ duo placed third and sixth in the 1600 meter run in 5:08.98 and 5:22.73, respectively. In Albany at the Class AAAA and Class AAA Championships, London Shaw paced the Lady Canes with a state runner-up finish in the shot put. Shaw was also seventh in the discus throw in Class AAAA. Meanwhile, Adairsville’s Nakiyah Washington scored in two Class AAA events for the Lady Tigers placing third and fifth in the discus and shot put.

Class AAAAA State Championships at Carrollton High School

Buford girls won the Class 5A state championship with 72 points, followed by Miller Grove (43), Jackson (41), Riverwood (38), and North Springs (37).

The Woodland girls placed tenth with 26.50 team points.

Cass boys were 18th in Class AAAAA with 12 total points. The Woodland boys did not have a top eight finisher to earn team points. The Griffin boys team won the state championship with 59 points. They were followed by Union Grove (51), Dutchtown (47), Eagle’s Landing (44), and Starr’s Mill (39) to round out the top five. Carrollton and Rome tied for sixth place with 31 points each.

Local athletes at the Class AAAAA State Championships:

1st — Boys Pole Vault — Stephen Smith — Cass — 15-06

2nd — Girls 3200 Meter Run — McKenna Trapheagen — Woodland — 11:11.65

3rd — Girls 1600 Meter Run — McKenna Trapheagen — Woodland — 5:08.98

4th — Girls 3200 Meter Run — Rylee Evans — Woodland — 11:34.10

6th — Girls 1600 Meter Run — Rylee Evans — Woodland — 5:22.73

6th — Girls High Jump — Grace Webb — Woodland — 5-00

7th — Boys High Jump — Brandon Martin (photo) — Cass — 6-02

7th — Girls Discus Throw — Skylar Chappell — Woodland — 116-06

10th — Girls High Jump — Sydney Molinaro — Woodland — 4-10 11th — Girls Pole Vault — Brooke Cooper — Woodland — 6-00

14th — Boys 400 Meter Dash — Jeven Reliford — Woodland — 49.85

16th — Boys Discus Throw — Nathan Grant — Cass — Foul

Class AAAA State Championships at Hugh Mills Stadium, Albany, GA

At the Class AAAA State Championships in Albany, the Cartersville girls placed 17th led by London Shaw’s performance in the shot put and discus throw. The Class AAAA girls title was won by Chapel Hill with 85.5 points followed by Sandy Creek (60.5), Woodward Academy (44), Marist (42), and Blessed Trinity (36) in the top five.

Cartersville athletes at State Finals

The St. Pius boys won the state championship with 81 team points. The Golden Lions were followed by Chapel Hill (72), Sandy Creek (49), Mary Persons (37.5), and Woodward Academy (34). The Cartersville boys did not have a top eight finisher to earn team points.

Local athletes at the Class AAAA State Championships:

2nd — Girls Shot Put — London Shaw — Cartersville — 40-01

7th — Girls Discus Throw — London Shaw — 111-08

10th — Boys 1600 Meter Run — Bill Archer — 4:32.67

15th — Boys 3200 Meter Run — Parker Breedlove — 10:59.37

t15 — Boys Pole Vault — Nick Bebko — Cartersville — NH

Class AAA State Championships

at Hugh Mills Stadium, Albany, GA

In the Class AAA girls meet, also in Albany, Nakiyah Washington scored in both throwing events to carry the Lady Tigers to a 15th place finish. Greater Atlanta Christian won the AAA girls state title with 109 points followed by Monroe-Albany (84), Jefferson (79), Cedar Grove (55), and Westminster (46). The Jefferson boys won Class AAA with 87 team points. They were followed by Liberty County (45), Westminster (40), Hart County (33), and Monroe-Albany (33).

Local athletes at the Class AAA State Championships:

3rd — Girls Discus Throw — Nakiyah Washington — Adairsville — 123-03 5th — Girls Shot Put — Nakiyah Washington — Adairsville — 37-09.50