The Sulphur track teams put on a show at the Rock Creek Invitational last week, as the boys and girls fared well at the annual home meet.
The boys were 1st as a team, while the girls competed well and finished 7th.
“I’m very excited to see the team progressing,” said Sulphur head coach Emile Heitland. “We have been on an upward trajectory the last few weeks.”
The boys team was led by the relays, as all four teams ran well.
The 4x100 team (Austin Garrett, Brytan Gaddy, Trace Todd and Damontre Patterson) ran 43.01 to win 1st. It was the fastest time thus far in Class 4A this season.
The same group makes up the 4x200 relay team and was also 1st, running 1:30.43, the second fastest time in Class 4A in 2024.
“We are so much further along this year than we were last year at the same time.” Heitland said. “This is by far the deepest boys team I’ve ever coached. We scored team points in all 17 events at our home meet.”
The 4x400 relay team (Gaddy, Todd, Garrett and Triston Grantham) finished 1st, as well.
That group ran 3:32.85, which is a top three time in Class 4A thus far.
And finally, the 4x800 relay team (Kaleb Madron, Huston Holder, Jaxon Freehill and Treygon Gehring) ran 8:42.82, which is a top six time in the class this season.
Madron continued to run well in the 800, taking 1st again with a time of 2:02.46, which is the 3rd fastest time in 4A. It was also the best time of his career.
Patterson won the 100, as he looks to defend his state title from a year ago. He also won the 200, running 22.73, which is a season best for the senior.
Todd was 3rd in the 200, while Grantham was 4th in the 300 hurdles.
Grady Hardoin was 4th in the 110 hurdles and 3rd in the 300 hurdles.
Justus Gilliam was 1st in the shot, while Caden Cole was 4th with a personal best of 43-01.
Nash Williamson was 5th in the discus, while Landy DeArman was 5th in the pole vault with a personal best of 11-feet.
Dax Lowrance set a new PR with a 5-10 mark in the high jump.
“Our juniors and seniors are the strength of this team,” said Heitland. “They have been to the state meet and been on the podium and you can see it in how they are working that they want big things this year.”
“They are really ratcheting up in practice and the younger athletes are taking notice and following their lead.”
The girls were led by the usual suspects, as Jayden Lee,Amaurie Peters and Kenleigh Johnson continued to have strong seasons.
Lee won the 800, with a new PR of 2:37.71.
Peters ran her best time of the year to win the 400, clocking in at 62.43.
Johnson won the discus again for Sulphur.
The 4x400 relay had a new PR, as Peters, Lee, Kate Woods and Jadelyn Scheer finished 2nd. “They keep dropping their times each week,” said Heitland. “Amaurie Peters is the only returning leg from their state runner up 4x400 from last year and she continues to get stronger each week.”
“The other three girls are starting to figure the race out and have continued to drop their splits each week.”
