JOURNAL SPORTS
BATON ROUGE – Among 10 local event wins Friday and Saturday, North Caddo’s Nasiyah Collins sprinted to a pair of victories in Class 2A at the LHSAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships contested in a rain-soaked Bernie Moore Stadium at LSU.
Collins, a junior, ran a winning 11.99 in the girls 100 meter dash, then doubled up with a 24.97 mark in the 200.
The Titans also picked up a third event win in the boys 100 from Braden Carter, who crossed in 10.74. He was third in the 200 at 22.29.
Thursday, Plain Dealing thower Brianna Newton doubled in the Class A throws, winning the girls shot put and discus crowns, defending her title in the shot.
Heavy rains Friday and Saturday altered the competitive schedule. Saturday’s 4A and 5A meet field events, except for the discus and javelin, were contested indoors and racing was pushed back to a late afternoon start, still in a drenching rain.
Parkway junior Brennan Robin took the 5A boys 3200 as expected, in 9:07.4. He earlier clocked a blazing 4:05.84 time in the 1600 – below a 44-year-old class and composite meet record – but was edged by Connor Fanburg of Jesuit (New Orleans), who overtook Robin on the final lap to cross in 4:04.09. The old mark was 4:12 set in 1982.
“I wanted to win the mile. Last year I was third, freshman year I was second,” Robin told a Louisiana vs. All Y’all reporter in a YouTube interview. “I ran a really good race. Even though I got second, it was fun to battle to the end.
“I went into (the 3200) and felt comfortable. With a lap to go, I felt it was time to make a move and that move won the race. Super happy with today,” he said.
Benton’s Jordan Johnson made his fourth state meet appearance the best as he cleared 6-7 1/2 to win the Class 5A high jump.
“I had to clear my opening height, 6-2, on my third attempt, and I cleared 6-6 on my second attempt, so I had to clear 6-8 on my first attempt. I knew I had to bring my best,” said Johnson.
Bossier junior Quinton Hodge took the 4A boys 800 in 1:58.37 time.
Ty Walsworth of Loyola won the 4A boys 100, outleaning Lutcher’s Ashton Stark to win 10.636 to 10.639. The sophomore is the first Flyer to claim a state sprint (100 or 200) crown.
Three local relay teams got gold medals on the podium.
Northwood captured another state title in the 4A boys 4×200 relay as Ra’shad Hatten, Justin Thomas, Jason Straughter and Keyion Taylor, finished in 1:27.9.
Byrd’s Bereket Raines, Wyatt Ditt, Jordan Blakes, and Markeith Niblett took the 5A boys 4×400 relay with a 3:17.25.
The Loyola girls 4×100 relay foursome of Laila Savannah, Ammya Tran, Phoebe Rinaudo and Ella Poole won the 4A crown in 49.31.
Benton’s 26 points for sixth was the local best in the boys Class 5A standings. Parkway’s 22 tied for seventh.