JOURNAL STAFF
Last week, Parkway made history by sweeping the District 1-5A track and field meet for the first time in program history. Today, the Panthers will step up in class at the Region 1-5A Meet at Northwestern State’s Walter P. Ledet Track Complex in Natchitoches.
Field events begin at 1, running events at 3. Top three finishers in each event advance to the state meet May 7 in Baton Rouge at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium.
Parkway’s All-Everything basketball star, junior Mikayla Williams, has proven to be as lethal in the discus ring as she is on the basketball court. She is the No. 1 seed in the girls’ discus by 13 feet. After finishing second at the 2021 Region 1-5A Meet, it looks like Williams is ready to strike gold in the event. She’ll also compete in the high jump.
Her teammate on the track team, the softball team and the state runner-up basketball team, sophomore Chloe Larry, had no problem successfully defending her District 1-5A title in the javelin last week, winning by 12 feet.
Larry is seeded No. 4 and hopes to work herself into a top three finish to punch her ticket for a trip south next Saturday.
Yet another thrower who could find herself packing her bags for Baton Rouge next week is Parkway sophomore shot putter Jayla James. She won District 1-5A with a throw of 35-5. Like Larry, she’s seeded fourth.
The relays look promising for the Panthers to advance. Parkway is seeded No. 1 in the 400 meter relay (48.24) and No. 3 in the 800 meter relay (1:43.15).
One reason Parkway is strong in the sprint relays is senior Jillian Walton, who joined her brother on the school’s 200 meter record board earlier this year. Walton is seeded No. 5 in the 200 (25.82) and No. 6 in the 100 (12.59).
In the distance events, sophomore Cheyenne Olson is Parkway’s best opportunity to advance. She is seeded No. 5 in the 1600 meters after finishing second (5:46.41) to Benton’s Isabelle Russell (5:33.15) at the District 1-5A Meet.
In the boys’ division, Parkway’s best chance to have a qualifier for the LHSAA State Outdoor Meet is in the hands of a freshman, thrower Devon Oliver. He finished second in the discus to Benton’s Davis Sellers (153-2) with a personal record 147-5. Oliver’s throw ranks him No. 10 in the nation among all freshmen.
In the distance events, Parkway sophomore Gabe Falting is seeded No. 6 in both the 1600 meters (4:45.14) and 3200 meters (10:08.93).
Although he is seeded No. 5 in the 100 meters with a time of 11.03 at the district meet, look for Parkway junior Jaylan White to be in the mix to make it to the podium. At the District 1-5A Meet, sprinters ran their 100 meters into the wind. At the District 2-5A Meet, which has the top three seeds going into today’s competition, sprinters ran their 100 meters with the wind at their backs.
Other local No. 1 seeds include Byrd’s Trent Wells in the 1600 (4:26.53), Southwood’s Travian Johnson in the 200 (22.22), Captain Shreve’s Marquez Stevenson in the 400 (48.19), and Captain Shreve’s Kaleb McHenry in the shot put (47-11).
In the girls’ division, Caddo-Bossier No. 1 seeds include Airline’s Brianna Taylor (12.16, tied with Ruston’s Chelsi Tatum), Southwood’s Rondisia Williams in the 200 (24.22), Benton’s Jamie Willis in the 300 hurdles (47.56), and Airline’s Jessie Frank is tied for the No. 1 seed in the girls’ pole vault.