By JERRY BYRD, Journal Sports
Last year, the Huntington Lady Raiders won the Region 1-4A Track and Field Meet soundly. Behind a solid four gold medal performance by Demetria Harris, Huntington scored 120 points, 33 points more than runner-up Leesville.
Here is the bad news for teams who will make their way to Lee Hedges Stadium on Thursday for this year’s meet. The Lady Raiders are even better this year – much better.
The only other Lady Raider other than Harris to win an individual regional title last year was Catina Davenport in the 300m hurdles. This year, there are three other Lady Raiders – besides Harris – who are top seeds.
Rondisia Williams, who was a LHSAA Class 5A runner-up for Southwood last year, is the top seed in both the 100m (12.32) and 200m (26.08). Serenity Palmer is the top seed in the high jump (4-10) and triple jump (35-5), and Asia Jones-Redd is favorite to win the girls’ shot put (33-8).
The Lady Raiders are favored to win both the 4x100m and 4x200m, which is no surprise as Harris, Williams, Aniyah Jackson, and T’La Dewitt broke a 35-year old school record at the Texas Relays earlier this year with a time a time of 1:39.22.
In the boys’ division, Northwood’s Jaden Terry is the top seed in the boys’ javelin (151-4) and Evangel’s Tyreek Robinson is the favorite to win the boys’ long jump (22-0.5).
After winning the school’s first district title since 2019, Airline head coach Schirra Fields gave his Vikings a day to celebrate. Then it was back to work on Viking Drive as Airline gets ready to compete for a Region 1-5A crown on Wednesday at the Walter Ledet Track Complex on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.
Leading the Vikings will be Airline junior Jeremiah Boudreaux, who is fresh off a visit to Baylor on Saturday where he attended the Bears’ spring football games.
Boudreaux won the high jump (6-6), 110m hurdles (15.27), and finished second to his teammate, Cameron Jefferson, in the 200m (22.02).
Jefferson, a senior, won the 100m (11.08) and 200m (21.73).
Boudreaux is the No. 1 seed in the boys’ high jump while Jefferson is the favorite in the 200m. Both will run legs on the Airline 4x200m relay, which is also the favorite.
Other local male athletes who are seeded No. 1 in their events include: Parkway’s Gabe Falting in the 1600m (4:31.84), Shreve’s Marquez Stevenson in the 400m (48.36), and Parkway’s Devon Oliver in the discus (161-6).
Benton’s Jamie Willis is the only local female athlete who has a No. 1 seed in two events heading into the Region 1-5A Meet. Willis has the top time in both the 100m hurdles (15.14) and 300m hurdles (46.28).
Other local girls who are favored to win their events: Byrd’s Jenna Key in the 1600m (5:17.99), Benton’s Addyson Hulett in the 400 (1:00.06), Parkway’s Jayla James in the shot put (37-7) and Lady Panthers’ basketball star Mikaylah Williams in the discus (132-1.5).
Airline’s Lady Viking 4x100m relay has the top time (48.39) heading into the regional meet.
Contact Jerry at sbjjerrybyrd@gmail.com
