This afternoon, the Winona High School Tigers and Lady Tigers track teams have one last shot to place in order to qualify for the 2021 State Championship Track Meet in Pearl on Friday, April 30. The meet was originally scheduled for Saturday, but because of incoming inclement weather, it was moved to today.
Coach Chris McRae said his boys and girls did well Saturday. “They won regionals, but it’s more so of a qualifying meet. District was a championship. There’s no trophy or anything with regionals,” he said.
McRae said he was pleased with the turnout. “There were a few surprises. Some we thought would’ve made it didn’t.”
But, today is for bragging rights. Winning district is great, winning regionals is even better, but to say that you’re the North Half State Champions, to win it at home, makes it even better. And next Friday, to say you’re number one in the state, is everything. But, as Saturday proved it won’t be an easy feat.
Going up against Noxubee County, Choctaw County Humphreys County, Amanda Elzey High, Ruleville Central, Coahoma AHS, Aberdeen and Hatley, they had to earn it. Throughout the race, it was close between the Tigers, the Noxubee County Tigers and the Chargers.
“They’re [Noxubee County and Choctaw County] in a separate division from ours. Having more people place in more events really helped us,” he said.
In the boys 3A 100 meter dash, T.J. Forrest placed second in his hear with a time of 11.59. In the 200 meter dash, Forrest placed first with a time of 22.59, Dadarion Small placed second with a time of 23.90. Forrest also placed first in the 400 meter dash.
In the 800 meter dash Robert Cross placed first with a time of 2:18. Mekyle Miller of Choctaw County was close to Cross, placing second with runners from Noxubee County just edging out Ahmaud Seawood.
In the 1600 meter, Winona made a clean sweep. Noah Durham placed first with a time of 5:22, Sam Matriasciano placed second with a time of 5:35 and Aidan Windham placed third with a time of 5:45.
In the 110 meter hurdles, Taylor Williams finished second with a time of 18:85. The hurdles were a battle between Williams and Choctaw County’s Tyresee Miller. Miller finished third in the 110 behind Williams. However, in the 300 meter dash, he finished first with Williams closely finishing third.
In the 4x1 meter relay, Winona finished third, in the 4x2 they finished second, and in the 4x4 they finished third.
The 4x8 meter relay was a reflection of the entire meet for the Tigers with Winona finishing first and Noxubee County and Choctaw County finishing second and third.
In the field meets, Winona swept the pole vault with Isaac Leech clearing a 12’7, Jordan Leech cleared a 11’ and Noah Durham cleared a 9’6.
In the triple jump, Taylor Williams jumped 35’1 placing second. Khristian Williams placed third with a 35’5.50 just barely edging out Jamyle Harris of Ruleville Central with a jump of 35’5.
In the discus, Izavion Guess finished third throwing 102’5. In the shot put, Devontae Bays threw a 37’11 placing first, Tyler Ables threw a 36’8 placing second and Izavion guess threw a 35’2 placing fourth.
For the Lady Tigers, Mikhalah Coker finish second in the 400 meter dash with a time of 1:11.61. In the 300 meter hurdles, Brycelyn Townsend placed third with a time of 57.22 In the 4x1, Winona placed third with a time of 55.64, in the 4x2 Winona placed third with a time of 1:57.07, In the 4x4, the Lady Tigers placed second and in the 4x8 they also placed second.
In the high jump, Alexis Phillips placed third with a jump of 3’10. Mikhiyah Crawford placed fourth in the long jump with a jump of 12’7. In the triple jump, Tamari Ford placed third with a jump of 28’3. In the girls pole vault, Winona was the only school that competed. Eden Leech placed first clearing 6’6 and Bella Durham placed second clearing 6’0.
In the discus, Tamira Hamilton finish second with a throw of 71’2 and Emmy Lou McRae finished second with a throw of 70’9.
McRae said after the junior high season ended, he moved some of those girls up to the high school team.
“They did really well. For them to move up and make it to North Half is really impressive,” he said. McRae said it might be a little intimidating for them because a lot of their competition is older. But, he has confidence in his girls.
But, as with Saturday, he knows they have to be prepared today and is hopeful they’ll placed and head to Pearl to finish the goal that they set out to complete at the beginning of the season. But, first things first, north half. They’re going up against all of the teams that qualified in the 3A North Half.
“Senatobia is loaded. It’s going to be tough, but we’re hopeful we’ll reach the state meet,” McRae said. “When we started out the season, our number one goal was to make to state. Winning district is fine, winning regionals is good, winning North Half is amazing but State is a huge goal. And to make it there, would be a huge accomplishment.”
