Midlands teams dominate at SC high school track & field championships

It was a dominating weekend for Midlands high schools at the South Carolina track and field championships.

On Friday, Spring Valley boys and Blythewood girls captured state championships. Then on Saturday, Ridge View swept the Class 4A boys and girls championships, while Gray Collegiate won the Class 2A girls and Fairfield Central won the 2A boys championship.

That gave the Midlands state titles in six of the 10 team championships with four (Spring Valley, Blythewood and Ridge View) coming from Richland 2 schools.

“This just shows we have an extremely rich history of track and field here,” Ridge View boys coach Charles Proctor said. “The tradition has always been here. I think we took step back a while, but now you see Richland 2 is dominating track and field and is here to stay.”

Class 5A

Spring Valley boys and Blythewood girls track and field teams made some history in winning their championships Friday at Spring Valley. It was the third straight title for the Vikings boys, the first time that has happened in program history.

Spring Valley now has eight championships in school history.

“Just to get three in a row is incredible,” said Spring Valley coach Matt Oberly, who took over the program after hall of fame coach John Jones retired in 2018. “And to get it at the 5A level where 5A is so good. That’s awesome.”

Spring Valley finished with 99 points, easily defeating second-place Nation Ford (58). Nation Ford led at one point in the meet at 50-49, but Spring Valley took control after Jameer Williams and Caleb Cooper finished 1-2 in the high jump.

South Carolina signee Devan Crumpton won the 400 (46.7 seconds) and was third in the 200. Amir Joe (14.9) won the 110 hurdles and the Vikings won the 4x400 and 4x800 relays. Jakori Herring finished second in 400 hurdles, and Joey Swick was second in the pole vault. Brendan Hitchock was third in the 3,200.

Lexington’s William Cronin was second in the 3,200. River Bluff’s Brandon Corley (800), Chapin’s Koa Erickson (1,600) and White Knoll’s Lincoln Illunga (triple jump) had third-place finishes.

The Blythewood girls also made history by becoming the first program at the school to win two straight team championships. The Bengals finished with 86 points. Summerville was second with 50.5.

“To win a state championship is super hard as a team, and to do it back-to-back is super difficult,” said freshman Payton Hightower, who was part of the winning 4x400 relay team. “Everyone played a big part, and everyone scored points. I knew we could do it, so I am glad we could come out on top.”

Hightower is part of a young and talented group for Aleshia Hawkins’ squad. The team has just five seniors with the majority seventh through ninth graders.

Event winners for the Bengals were Hayley Hightower (400), Aminah Rhone (100 hurdles) and the team’s 4x400 relay team. Olivia Taylor finished second in the 400 and was third in the 100. Dara Bolt finished second in the triple jump, and the Bengals were third in the 4x800 relay.

Chapin’s Abigail White won the 3,200 and was second in the 1,600. Teammate Evelyn Patrick was third in the 400 hurdles.

Dutch Fork’s Maliya Kinard won the long jump and Lexington’s Ciara Williams was third. River Bluff’s Rileigh Hoffman was second in the pole vault. Spring Valley’s Leilani Thomas was second in the discus. Lexington was second in the 4x800 relay.

Class 4A

For the first time in school history, Ridge View won boys and girls track & field championships in the same year.

It was the boys’ first title since 2006 and something boys coach Proctor has definitely been wanting since he took over the program three years ago after just missing out a few times at Keenan.

The Blazers edged Northwestern 84-79. West Florence was third, and Westwood was fourth.

“I have been telling these kids all year that they are the best in the state,” Proctor said. “They just had to believe in themselves and trust the training. They came out here and did amazing things and proved that today.”

Division I football prospect Jordon Gidron won the 100 and 200 and was on the team’s winning 4x100 relay and on the second-place 4x400 relay team.

Jaciyah Johnson was second in the 110 hurdles. RV’s Christian Jackson was third in the 100, Macaire N’twa third in the 800 and Mounir Spann third in the 400.

Westwood’s Mike Balkman won the 400 and anchored the 4x400 relay winning team that set a new state record. Redhawks TJ Bell won the high jump, and teammate Zion Brown was second.

Richland Northeast’s Ethan Moody won the 400 hurdles, and AC Flora’s Jack O’Cain was second in the pole vault.

In the girls meet, Ridge View won its second straight championship after tying for the title last year with Westwood. The Blazers finished with 75 points. West Florence was second and Westwood third.

“You never want to share it, always want to have one winner. Westwood had a great team and athletes last year. The coaches over there are good friends of mine. But at the end of the day when that trophy is coming home, it is coming to Ridge View,” Ridge View coach Warren Eure said. “... We knew we had a chance going into the season to run this back. We only lost a couple of the seniors last year, so the majority of the team was coming back. Awesome experience.”

RV’s Destiny Horn won the 100, and Nala Tobin won the long jump as the Blazers went 1-2 in the event with Alahna Valentine coming in second.

Ridge View also won the 4x400 relay. Dania Staley was second in the 400, and Jayalove Greaves was third in the 200.

Westwood’s Ariyanna Moore won the 400 and was second in the 200. The Redhawks’ Emma Ashley was second in the 800, and the team was second in the 4x100 relay and third in the 4x800 relay.

Class 2A

At Lower Richland, Fairfield boys and Gray Collegiate each won their first state championships in program history.

Fairfield finished with 83 points, while Greer Middle College (58) was second and Gray Collegiate fourth.

Jayden Boyd led the Griffins by winning the 100, 200 and the long jump. Hank White won the 800 for Fairfield, while Ty Grier was third in the 100 and KJ Golden third in the high jumper. The Griffins finished second in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Gray’s Caleb Raysor won the 110 and 400 hurdles and was on the War Eagles’ 4x100-winning relay squad. Demarcus Gaither was second in the 100 and 200 and third in the 400.

Pelion’s Luke New was state champion in the high jump, and Batesburg-Leesville’s JaQuan Corley won the discus. Mid-Carolina’s Jaxson Moody was third in the discus.

Keenan’s Nino Brown was second in the 400 and third in the 200. Saluda’s Tymar Cannon was third in the 400 hurdles, M-C’s Jacob Lindler third in the pole vault and North Central’s Jordan Joe third in triple jump.

In the girls’ meet, Gray Collegiate finished with 75 points, edging out Bishop England (72). Fairfield Central was third with 59.

Tresta Miller had a big day for state-winning War Eagles. Miller won the 400 and was second in the 100 and long jump. Aubrey Guy won the 100 hurdles and was third in the 400. Tamara Steward won the 400 hurdles, and Gray was second in the 4x100 relay

Fairfield Central’s Sharmelle Holmes capped off her storied career by winning the 100, 200 and long jump. The Kentucky signee also was on the winning 4x100 relay.

Fairfield’s Essence Terry-London was second in the 100.

Other Midland girls event winners were Keenan’s Lauren Hannibal (triple jump), Keira Frye (discus) and Eau Claire’s Sytiria Bethel (shot put).

Second-place finishers were Newberry’s KaMara Goodman (400), Pelion’s Kierra Gordon (high jump), Mid-Carolina’s Callie Wilbanks (discus) and Keenan’s Zarya Mines (800).

Third-place finishers were Saluda’s Oz’lyn Springs (200), Eau Claire’s Destinee Tiller (high jump) and Mid-Carolina’s Emory Simpson (pole vault).

Class 3A

Defending state champion Dreher boys finished third and Camden girls were fifth at the 3A meet Friday at Lower Richland. Seneca was the girls champion, while Philip Simmons won the boys.

Dreher’s Eli Roth won the 1,600 and was second in the 800. Teammate Charles Jeffcoat won the shot put and was second in the discus. The Blue Devils were second in the 4x800 relay. Lower Richland’s Jemarious Reaves was second in the 400 hurdles.

Camden’s Leiyana Rose won the high jump and the girls finished second in the 4x400 relay. Lower Richland’s Jhnai Sumter won the shot put and was second in the discus. LR’s IIsabella McKinney was third in the discus.

For complete results of the events, go to SCRunners MilesplitSC .