The Putnam County High School track and field team is off to a great start to the 2025 season.
The team has already competed in five meets and achieved impressive results under the guidance of new head coach Kedric Manning and assistant coach Cerria Porter. The two have high hopes for both teams this year.
Manning said his athletes have been successful, but overall, the team is still trying to find its footing.
“We’re turning the corner. It’s a rebuilding year due to the coaching changes the last three years,” Manning said.
Manning is the head coach but primarily is responsible for the boys team. The War Eagles lost a few key athletes from last season, but Manning knows there is still talent on the roster, which features mostly seniors.
He said the strength of the boys team this season has been its middle-distance races, relay teams, and field events.
“We are very strong sprinter-wise, but we have good mid-distance guys. So we’ve focused on that area, with the 4x200 meter and 4x400 meter relays, the mile, and the 800 meter,” he said. “We have good hurdlers and high jumpers as well. We’ve focused on that and running those races, though, and we’ve come out pretty good in some areas.”
The War Eagles’ 4x400 meter relay team, which includes Aiden Chaffin, Don Dorsey, Jamarion Robertson, and Erin Butts, has lost only one race. Meanwhile, the 4x800 meter relay squad has consistently improved its times.
In the short-distance races for the War Eagles, Chaffin, Bryce Brabham, and Caden Jackson are performing well.
The times for Putnam’s boys have been steadily dropping as the season has progressed, which is a positive sign.
“We’re still waiting on some of our guys’ legs to start turning over and getting into a rhythm because some play basketball and other sports,” Manning said. “We’re just trying to get track legs up on the run right now.”
The team is well-represented in the field events by high jumper Bill Waters. As a sophomore, Waters tied for sixth at the Class AA state meet last season with a mark of 6-0 and has carried that success into this year.
Robertson and Brabham also represent Putnam’s boys well in the long jump and triple jump events.
Manning said the War Eagles must “nail down field events” if the team wants to place near the top at meets.
“We should be able to compete with everybody in the state,” Manning said of this year’s boys team.
Putnam’s girls, mainly coached by Porter, have also seen some success this season. She said the team is sitting in a good place.
“The girls are doing wonderful,” Porter said. “They have been conquering the meets and [showcasing] their skills.”
Unlike the boys, the girls’ roster is not very senior-heavy. Fortunately, they’ve seen a few younger athletes step up to lead.
Freshman Faith Watkins is like a Swiss Army knife, excelling in each event she enters. Watkins competes in the 300-meter hurdles and the 4x400-meter relay, as well as in the triple jump. Senior Timiria Martin has also seen success in her first year on the team as she competes in the 100-meter dash, as well as the 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relays.
Porter also mentioned long-distance runner Bernicia Harris and sprinter Journey Waller have also represented the team well as underclassmen.
She said seniors Kamryn Manning, Mahalia Bly, and Baylen Yarbrough have accomplished a lot so far in their last year at Putnam County, too.
Porter acknowledged the girls have high aspirations of competing well at the region meet and advancing to state.
“I want them to do their very best on and off the track, especially academically. Never be afraid to try new things because they are all great athletes,” Porter said. “They should strive for the best and to beat their own personal records, and most of them have already done so.”