PHOTOS BY DON COFFEY
The Sulphur boys continued their great track season on Monday, winning the Class 4A Regional meet at Madill.
The boys will send 14 athletes to state, while the girls qualified five individuals, as well.
“Overall we had our best track meet of the year,” Sulphur head coach Emile Heitland said. “It was amazing watching our kids put all the other stuff out of their minds and taking care of business. I couldn’t be prouder of our athletes.”
Once again, the Sulphur boys were led by the relays.
The 4x100 team (Austin Garrett, Brytan Gaddy, Trace Todd and DaMontre Patterson) has dominated all year long and that continued on Monday.
The group won 1st in that event and the 4x200, as they have most of the year.
“The 4x200 has been one of our strengths all year,” Heitland said. “They broke the school record earlier in the year and they broke the school record again at regionals with a 1:29.47.”
The 4x800 relay stepped up big time for Sulphur, as Kaleb Madron, Huston Holder, Jaxon Freehill and Treygon Gehrig finished with a new best time at the right time, running 8:24.58.
“The Madill regional was loaded with very talented 4x800 teams and I wasn’t sure we would get into the top 3 and might have to try and get an extra qualifier to get into state,” Heitland said. “But they stepped up and ran a great race and beat Madill which we haven’t beaten in the 4x800 all year.”
Madron was 2nd in the 800 with a time of 1:59.43, continuing his strong season that seemingly gets better with every meet.
“Kaleb works as hard as anyone on the team,” Heitland said. “ He has been chasing a goal for the last two seasons to run a sub two-minute 800. It was very exciting to see Kaleb accomplish this goal.”
Patterson won the 100 and 200, as the defending state champ looks to repeat this weekend.
“DaMontre has dominated the 100-meter in our class all year,” said Heitland. “Although it was very encouraging to see him open it up on the 200 at regionals. He ran by far his fastest time of the year in the 200 with a 22.01.”
After those events, Sulphur and Tuttle were in a close race for the team title with several events left.
Sulphur had a couple of individuals rise to the occasion and score some big finishes for the Bullodgs, as Grady Hardoin and Triston Grantham delivered in the 300 hurdles.
Hardoin finished 2nd with a time of 41.22 and Grantham was close behind in 3rd at 41.76.
“We were in a tight battle for a team title against Tuttle when the 300 hurdles took place,” Heitland said. “Grady and Triston have both been battling injuries all year and haven’t been able to work on the hurdles as much as I would like.”
“But both guys showed up huge and really put the meet away to help us win a regional title by both running their best times ever.”
Sulphur’s 4x400 relay (Gaddy, Todd, Garrett, Grantham) had to sweat it out after a 5th place finish but the Dogs found a way in, qualifying as an extra qualifier.
“The 1600-meter relay didn’t run like we are capable of and placed 5th, so they didn’t get an automatic qualifier,” Heitland said. “It was very nerve racking to wait until all the results from other regions were posted to see if we got one of the four extra spots.”
“I was relieved once I got word that they did qualify for state because I truly believe they can score at state if they run like they are capable.”
The boys also got a 3rd place finish from Dax Lowrance, who had a PR in the high jump.
Justus Gilliam threw his personal best to finish 4th and make it as one of the extra qualifiers.
Gaddy was 2nd in the long jump, while Sulphur also qualified two pole vaulters.
Jayden McClure had a PR at 13-feet to make it, while Landy DeArman also finished with a PR to finish 4th and gain one of the extra qualifier spots.
“It was great to qualify two in pole vault,” Heitland said. “Jayden placed 3rd and had the 3rd highest jump in 4A in all four regions.”
The girls saw the usual suspects perform well, led by Jayden Lee and Kenleigh Johnson.
Lee continued to ascend in the 800, placing 3rd with a new PR for the 3rd straight week after running 2:28.07.
“Before the race we had a game plan on how Jayden was going to run the race and she executed the plan perfectly,” Heitland said. “It is very exciting to see everything she is accomplishing her freshman year.”
Johnson qualified in both shot and discus, posting a PR in the latter with a throw of 34-11.50.
She was 4th in both events. The girls 4x400 relay team, consisting of Lee, Kate Woods, Jadelyn Scheer and Amaurie Peters, finished with a new PR of 4:13.52, good enough for 5th place, which had everyone on edge waiting to see if they would make it.
“Much like the boys 4x400, it was like sitting on pins and needles waiting for the other regions to post their times,” he said. “It was a huge relief when we found out they did earn one of the extra qualifying spots.”
The state meet is Friday and Saturday at Catoosa.
