Kaniya Johnson, Jalyn Boudreaux Shine In 5A Meet; Noah Ward Runs 4:06 State Best In 2A Meet

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Kaniya Johnson of White Knoll was a sensation at the SCHSL 5A Track and Field Championships in Columbia, running US#7 23.58 for a new all-time best 200 meters in South Carolina. 

Johnson also ran  personal best 11.53  to win the 100, taking two-tenths off her previous best in that event. 

Jalyn Boudreaux of Cane Bay, a junior, ran a US#1 52.16 for an all-time state best in the 400-meter hurdles. He also helped Cane Bay win the 4x400 relay. 

Sophomore Nigel Ancrum from Spring Valley was a revelation in his first year of high school track, dashing to 5A state titles in the 100 meters (10.60) and 200 (21.30) as he ran personal bests in both finals. 

Another sophomore, Arianna Williams of Blythewood, won the girls 400 meters in 55.13 seconds. 

Dorman won the boys team title with 62 points and got field events wins from Chance Black in the triple jump (48-2.50) and J.J. Faulk in the shot put (52-9.75).

Caleb Walker of Wando led a 1-2 finish in the boys javelin with 194-2. 

The Hillcrest girls rolled up 112 points for a dominant win built upon big points in the sprints. The Rams had two finalists in both the 100 and 200 and three in the 400, and swept the 4x100 (47.35), 4x400 (3:52.85) and 4x800 (9:36.05) relays. 

Kieran Martin added a win the long jump (18-11) and was second in the triple jump. 

In Class 4A, Jayla Jamison of Airport HS, one of the top freshmen in 2019, retained her state titles in the 100 (11.77), 200 (24.87) and 400 (56.43). 

Avery Belk and Hannah Vroon led James Island to the girls team title. Belk won the 800 in 2:14.59 and Vroon won the 1,600 (4:58.24) and 3,200 (11:15.35). James Island also won the 4x400 and 4x800 relays.

Sam Rich of Catawba Ridge ran a personal best 4:10.53 to win the 1,600 meters and also got the 3,200 in 9:19.67. 

Greenville collected big points in the field events on the way to the boys team title, as Aalijah Kelly won both the long jump and triple jump and teammate Kendred Walker was second in both. That was worth 32 of the team's 63 points and Luke Schuller got second-place finishes in the shot put and javelin. 

In Class 3A, Wren pulled out big points in the field events on the way to the boys team title. Shyhiem Scotland was the standout with a 6-10 clearance in the high jump. 

Seneca's girls got a 1-2-3 finish in the triple jump, led by Jazmine Hughes (36-9), and won the team title.  The team also had three scorers in the pole vault and two in the long jump. 

Freshman Ja'lencia Griffin swept the 3A girls 100 (12.33) and 200 (25.14). 

The Philip Simmons boys and girls teams dominated the action in the 2A championship meet. 

Najhyrai Watson won the 100 (11.86), 200 (24.57) and 400 (56.81) and teammate Madison Jent won the pole vault with 11-9. 

Noah Ward led the Philip Simmons boys team with a victory in the 800 meters (1:56.10) and all-time state best 1,600 (US#7 4:06.41). He also won the 3,200 in 9:54.60. 

Damazhanay Long from Batesburg-Leesville won the 100 and 200. 

Eighth grader Grayson Gibbons and freshman Camila Baraona played big roles in the team titles won by Southside Christian. Gibbons won the 1,600 and 3,200 meters for the boys team. Baraona won the girls 3,200 and palced second int he 1,600. 

Team Champions

Class 5A - Dorman boys 62 points, Hillcrest girls 112 points - RESULTS

Class 4A - Greenville boys 63 points, James Island girls 75 points - RESULTS

Class 3A - Wren boys 68 points, Seneca girls 74 points - RESULTS

Class 2A - Philip Simmons boys 99 ponts, Philip Simmons girls 161 points - RESULTS

Class 1A - Southside Christian boys 96 points, Southside Christian girls 83 points - RESULTS