The Gatewood Gators hosted the Region 4 AA track-and-field championships last Wednesday, and the boys brought home the season title while the girls were named runners-up to Brentwood following a valiant effort.
Among the boys’ biggest contributors was Evan Bennett, who won the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the discus throw. Bennett’s performance also earned him the High Point Award for being the top competitor at the region championship meet.
Noah Bennett won the pole vault for Gatewood, while Blake Callaway won the triple jump and 110-meter hurdles.
The boys’ 4X400 relay team (Jackson Hewatt, Callaway, Jackson Lundy, Evan Bennett) and the 4X800 relay team (4x800m: Luke McNeill, Kaden Keiser, Cale Ferguson, Jackson Lundy) also finished first for the Gators.
Among the girls’ competitors, Gatewood’s Presley Moss and Lanie Nistler came in first and second place, respectively, in the 400-meter race, while teammate Natalie Sills placed second in the 100-meter and third in the 200-meter dash.
Anna Williamson was third in both the girls’ 100 and 300-meter dashes and Gatewood’s 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams both came in second place.
In field events, Madison Hevesy won the girl’s long jump, as well as the triple jump, while Lanie Nistler was third in the high jump and fourth in the long jump. Lexi Moss also was a winner for Gatewood in the girls’ pole vault.
When asked about his team’s preparedness heading to the state track-and-field meet this Thursday to Saturday at Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove, Gators head coach Jeff Ratliff said he’s feeling cautiously optimistic.
“I feel like we are competing at a high level. We had 29 out of 34 available athletes qualify for the state meet,” Ratliff said. “Every boy from our team that finished in the top eight at region qualified for state. That says a lot for our region and, more importantly, our boys’ team. “As for the state meet, we are in the mix. We must have an incredible meet and get some help, but we are in the mix. That’s all one can ask for, a chance. We have that, and now we must go out and perform.”
Ratliff also was recently named the GIAA AA Track-and-Field Coach of the Year award but gave credit to the athletes and all his assistant coaches for the challenging work they have put in this season.
State competition will begin at 10:15 a.m. this Thursday at Strong Rock Christian, then will resume at 10:45 Friday morning, with most finals scheduled for Saturday beginning at 10:15 with a 3:15 p.m. finish anticipated.