One thing you notice when you pass through the front doors at Jonesboro-Hodge is a couple of large wooden cases full of trophies. Over the past week it got considerably fuller. Already a couple of spots had to be made for the two district 1-2A championships that the boys and girls track teams won. Now added to the historic treasure of athletic achievements is the 2022 Class 2A Region 1 boys track championship trophy that was won by the Tiger boys on Tuesday.
To sum up the effort displayed at the track complex of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, the Tigers won the title by leaps and bounds. Not as by winning by a large margin but through winning the events that required leaping and bounding, literally.
It was the Tigers effectiveness in the jumping events and hurdles that led to the title over 20 other Class AA schools from north and central Louisiana. J-Hodge won three events, finished second in four and third in three more. Each participant qualified for the state meet to be held May 5th – 7th at the Bernie Moore Track Complex on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge.
The Tigers qualified three relay race squads for the state meet and dominated the hurdles events. Savantez Phillips won the 110 hurdles and ran a leg in both the silver medal winning 4×200 relay and third place 4×400 relay foursome. Cameron Leonard, who also was on the 4×400 team and Devontae Mozee finished one – two in the 300 Hurdles. Mozee also grabbed gold in the high jump and took second in the triple jump
Justin Calahan won second in the long jump, third in the triple jump and was on the 3rd place 4×100 relay along with Darrian Moss, O’Marrion Jackson and JaMarriyea Lewis. Jackson, Lewis and Xavier Atkins contributed on the 4×200 relay with D’Marrian Thompson and Zion Gray rounding out the 4×400 relay team as ten individuals from the boys squard earned the right to compete for state title considerations.
In girls action, Laila Johnson claimed the title as the fastest woman in the meet by winning the 100 meters. Xabrianna Jackson and Zymea Hoggro also qualified for state by placing second and third in the triple jump and long jump respectively. The four girls on the 4×200 relay team will also compete at state after their third place finish.
