It seems that about every 20 years or so, over the last half century, a female athlete who is often described as “generational” or a “phenom” graces the halls of Jonesboro-Hodge High School. 

First, it was Clotee Cowans, who set school records in the 100 and 200 meters in 1980, that still stand today. Next, it was Kaprecia “Shy” Cowans, (yes they are related) to set school standards in the long jump and triple jump in 2018. What makes each so special, other than owning two school records each, is that they also won state in all four events to lead the JHHS girls track team to top finishes. Both also competed in college, with Clotee at Northeast Louisiana University (NLU), now the University of Louisiana- Monroe  (ULM) and “Shy” taking her talents to the University of Louisiana – Lafayette (ULL).

Jonesboro-Hodge High School has another budding superstar in Ciara Gray, who burst on the state scene this past week when she won all four events she entered in at the prestigious Hoss Garrett Relays that was run at Ruston High School on Thursday. Not only did Gray eclipse a strong field of primarily Class 5A competitors in the 100 and 300 hurdles along with winning the long jump and triple jump, she also earned Elite Performance Silver Medal Standards by MileSplit LA in the 300 hurdles and both jumping events. 

The Tigers also had another excellent performance turned in on the boys side as Christian McGuire proved he is one of the fastest men in north Louisiana not once, but three times over as he won bronze medals for his third place finishes in the 100 and 400 meter dashes and came in 5th in the 200 meters. 

The time of 52.17 in the 400 meters puts McGuire’s name in the JHHS record books as second best in school history, trailing the the mark of 48.6 set in 1983 by Greg Briggs. McGuire’s 22.22 in the 200 meters also now ranks him third all-time in the event behind the 21.20 ran by Thyron Anderson in 1998 and the 21.38 posted by Marvel Robinson in 1971.