Both the girls’ and boys’ track teams from Quitman High School completely dominated the competition at the Class B Region 1 track and field meet, held at Quitman on Monday, April 27th, to claim the team championship.

Making a strong case for back-to-back Class B state championships, the boys team took first place in 11 of the 18 events to score 166 points and claim the regional title by 39 points over second-place Castor. Simsboro came in third with 62 points, while Doyline was fourth with 56 points, giving District 1B the top four spots. Fellow Jackson Parish representative Weston High finished in 8th place with 39 points. 

While the boys’ team’s total score was impressive, the Lady Wolverines were even more dominant. Scoring a whopping 182 points, the deep Quitman squad had 17 members make podium appearances (first, second, or third place) to far outpoint second-place Converse, who finished with 66 points. Choudrant came in third with 57 points, with Zwolle scoring 56 points to earn fourth place. Weston finished in 8th place with 39 points. 

With the top three finishers in an event qualifying, both the girls and boys teams will send a very strong contingent to Bernie Moore Track Stadium on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge for the Class B state track meet that will be held on May 7th.   

New Jackson Parish and QHS Records

Not only did a plethora of athletes qualify for the state tournament, but several also did so while setting new school and Jackson Parish all-time record marks.

Leading the way was the Quitman High School girls 4×400 relay team of Sunni Altheimer, Megan Kelley, Kaleigh King, and Audrina Martin, whose time of 4:26.16 set a new QHS school record and ranks second all-time in Jackson Parish annals. 

Kaleigh King also moved into a tie for third place all-time in the Pole Vault with an 8’6″ mark and also set a new QHS school record in the 100-meter hurdles at 17.42 seconds.

In a rare “double dip” in the same event at the same meet on new all time local records, Josiah Ramsey moved into 3rd place all time in Jackson Parish and set a new QHS record with his 10:24.16 time in the 3200 meters, while Mason Thomas, now is in 5th place all time in Jackson Parish with a time of 10:31.83 after the pair finished first and second in the regional meet. 

Asher Shultz moved into 4th place all-time in Jackson Parish with his new personal best of 175’7″ in the javelin, Gage Horton now has the 8th fastest time in the 400 meters in Jackson Parish history at 52.04 seconds, and Brayden Smith is the new QHS record holder in the 200 meters with a time of 23.05 seconds.

Teyton Naron is now in 9th place all-time in Jackson Parish after her time of 14:52.92, and Audrina Martin moved into 10th place all-time in Jackson Parish history in the 800 meters with her new personal record time of 2:42.54. 

State Track Meet Qualifiers

Earning the right to compete for team and individual state championships by coming in first, second, and third place at the Region 1 meet for Quitman is:

Gold Medal (First Place)

Kaleigh King – 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, Pole Vault
Gage Horton – 400 meters, 800 meters, 1600 meters
Sunni Altheimer – 200 meters
Audrina Martin – 800 meters
Kaleigh Webb – Discus
Josiah Ramsey – 3200 meters
Nathan Harvey – 300 hurdles
Jayden Harts – Long Jump
Tylan Leonard – Discus
Asher Shultz – Javelin
Elijah Jackson – Shot Put
4×200 Relays – Asher Burns, Jayden Harts, Brayden Smith, Nathan Harvey
4×400 Relays – Nathan Harvey, Gage Horton, Jayden Harts, Brayden Smith
4×400 Relays – Sunni Altheimer, Megan Kelley, Kaleigh King, Audrina Martin

Silver Medal (Second Place)

Keeley Davis – 100 meters, 200 meters
Megan Kelley – 800 meters, 1600 meters
Teyton Naron – 3200 meters
Taylor Borland – 100 hurdles
Brayden Smith – 200 meters
Luke Sims – 800 meters
Mason Thomas – 3200 meters
Nathan Harvey – 110 hurdles
4×100 Relays – Jayden Harts, Brody Cotten, Asher Burns, Abel Leach
4×100 Relays – Sunni Altheimer, Taylor Borland, London Burks, Keeley Davis
4×200 Relays – Sunni Altheimer, Taylor Borland, London Burks, Keeley Davis

Bronze Medal (Third Place)

Skyleigh Webb – 100 meters
Megan Kelley – 400 meters
Addison Faber – 1600 meters, 3200 meters
Taylor Borland – 300 hurdles, Pole Vault
Jana Potts – Shot Put
Brayden Smith – 100 meters

Weston Has Three Qualifies for State Meet

Weston High School had three athletes qualify for the state meet, including one who will compete in two events. Gracie Gray earned the right to compete at state after finishing second in the 300 meter hurdles and third in the 100 meter hurdles, by setting a new school record time of 18.13 seconds. Rachel Bandy also will head to state in the Javelin with a throw of 113’1″, which is also good for 8th place all time in Jackson Parish history. The final state qualifier is Kayden Smith in the long jump after placing third with a mark of 19’4″.