Marshall Academy tracksters bring home medals

Marshall Academy returned from the Class AA State Track and Field meeting with many medals.

The highlight of the trip to Jackson was Philip Parks’ top prize in both the triple jump and the 100 meter dash.

“The weather was miserable at the state meet,” coach Jeremy Ervin said. “The only thing I could tell my guys and girls was that it was raining on them (the other teams), too. Everybody has to run in the rain, not just us.”

MA boys

• 100 meter dash – Philip Parks, first, 11.32.

• 200 meter dash – Sam Greer, sixth, 24.52.

• 400 meter dash – Everette Jones, fourth, 55.28.

• 1600 meter run – Dreek Moore, seventh, 5:54.77.

• 4x100 meter relay – Tyler Evans, Jeremiah Jones, Sam Greer, Philip Parks, eighth, 49.30.

• 4x200 meter relay – Anthony Mayfield, Jeremiah Jones, Sam Greer, Philip Parks, fifth, 1:39.95.

• 4x400 meter relay – Cyrus Pearl, Everette Jones, Philip Parks, Tyler Evans, sixth, 3:57.84.

• High jump – Philip Parks, third, 5:06.

• Triple jump – Philip Parks, first, 42-03.

The Marshall Academy boys finished sixth overall out of 15.

“Philip represented Mar shall Academy extremely well at the state meet,” Ervin said. “This season was his first time triple jumping and high jumping and he just naturally excelled at them both. That speaks volumes about what kind of athlete he is – placing third and bringing home the bronze medal in high jump, an event with multiple kids jumping 6 feet, and becoming state champion at the triple jump, with the second-place finisher being a foot behind his best jump.

“There was a lot of pressure in the 100m and it didn’t bother Philip at all. He put on his game face and left no doubt who the fastest man in the AA state was. The pressure came from winning the week prior at the north state meet. His win was considered an upset because he beat two guys from St. Joe who have multiple D1 college offers to play football. North state was the first time he’d faced them this year. He was determined to show everyone that the north state result wasn’t a fluke. I’m very proud of him and I’m extremely lucky he’s got another year at Marshall.”

MA girls

•100 meter dash – Keranie Jones, third, 13.64.

• 100 meter hurdles – Erin Lomenick, third, 18.04.

• 4x100 meter relay – Erin Lomenick, Kaylan Parks, X’- Zorria Jones, Keranie Jones, second, 54.56.

• 4x200 meter relay – Erin Lomenick, Kaylan Parks, X’- Zorria Jones, Keranie Jones, fourth, 1:57.34.

• High jump – Keranie Jones, third, 4-06.

The MA girls placed eighth overall out of 17.

“I was very proud of the relay girls for having some grit, gutting it out, and getting it done,” Ervin said. “They’ve run together for a while, so their baton exchanges are pretty good. And when times are so close, the exchanges make all the difference.

“I was also proud of several individual efforts from Saturday. Erin got to get on the podium at the state meet as her last athletic feat of high school. I can’t say enough about her character and athleticism. She’s just been an absolute joy to coach.

“Keranie did really well for herself too. She’s worked extremely hard this season in practice to get better. The high jump and the 100 are really her things and the work paid off by bringing home medals in both of those events at state. I can’t wait to see what next year has to hold for her.”