Quitman High School proved that bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to track and field. Both the girls’ and boys’ teams won the Llewellyn Starks Invitational, held at Jonesboro-Hodge High School on Monday, April 14th, by beating a field comprised of many schools from larger classifications. 

The Lady Wolverines took the girls’ title by outscoring host Jonesboro-Hodge 122-112, and QHS won the boys championship by outpointing Class 2A Mangham 136-130. Jonesboro-Hodge came in 4th place in the boys’ competition, with Weston High School placing 9th in both the girls’ and boys’ divisions. 

It was a banner day for many Jackson Parish thinclads as Quitman and Jonesboro-Hodge combined for a whopping 41 “podium placements” for winning first, second, or third, with Quitman stepping to the podium 26 times and JHHS another 15. 

Local athletes swept the individual awards as well. Gage Horton of Quitman High School was named boys’ Most Valuable Performer after winning the 400, 800, and 1600 meters while also running a leg on the 2nd-place 4×400-meter relay. Ciara Gray of Jonesboro-Hodge was named the girls’ Most Valuable performer following her victories in the 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, long jump, and triple jump. 

Gold Medal Winners (Girls)

Ciara Gray – JHHS (100 & 300 hurdles, long jump, triple jump)
Megan Kelley – QHS (400, 800, 1600 meters)
Carmon Livingston – JHHS (100 meters)
Derryn Osborne – JHHS (200 meters)
Teyton Naron – QHS (3200 meters)
4×100 Relays – JHHS (Lard, Livingston, Osborne, Tatum)
4×200 Relays – JHHS (Lard, Livingston, Osborne, Johnson)
4×400 Relays – QHS (King, Martin, Kelley, Alteimer)
4×800 Relays – Walker, Pardue, Woods, Naron)

Silver Medals Winners (Girls)

Kaleigh King – QHS (100 & 300 hurdles)
Audrina Martin – QHS (800 meters)
Sanaa Tatum – JHHS (long jump)
Anna Pardue – QHS (javelin)

Bronze Medal Winners (Girls)

Jana Potts – QHS (shot put)
Sanaa Tatum – JHHS (triple jump)
Taylor Borland – QHS (300 hurdles)

Gold Medal Winners (Boys)

Gage Horton – QHS (400, 800, 1600 meters)
Josiah Ramsey – QHS (3200 meters)
4×800 relays – QHS (Odom, Savana, Rowe, Ramsey)
LonTre’vious Burns – JHHS (high jump)
Asher Shultz – QHS (javelin)

Silver Medal Winners (Boys)

Brayden Smith – WHS (100 meters)
Mason Thomas – QHS (3200 meters)
King Campbell – JHHS (300 hurdles)
4×400 relays – QHS (Harvey, Horton, Harts, Smith)
4×800 relays – JHHS (Whesaent, Howard, Jones, Ayres)
Jayden Harts – QHS (long jump)
Elijah Jackson – QHS (shot put)

Bronze Medal Winners (Boys)

Mason Thomas – QHS (800 meters)
Luke Sims – QHS (1600 meters)
4×100 relay – JHHS (Paggett, Johnson, Boston, Campbell)
Josiah Ramsey – QHS (110 hurdles)
Kaden Smith – WHS (long jump)
Abel Leach – QHS (javelin)
Landon Boston – JHHS (triple jump)

UPCOMING MEETS

Thursday, April 16: Weston Invitational at Quitman High School 

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