By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
NATCHITOCHES – Thunder rolled overnight in Cenla, after lightning strikes from the Alexandria Senior High girls’ track team set the tone in a championship performance at the Region I-5A track and field meet on a wild weather Wednesday at Northwestern State’s Walter P. Ledet Complex.
A late-morning lightning strike across the street at Turpin Stadium left the timing company’s computers fluttering and sent everyone scurrying for cover. Competition was interrupted in mid-afternoon by a pop-up storm due to the chance of lightning, then just as it resumed a half-hour later, a hard downpour briefly extended the delay before racing resumed in the rain.
The meet wrapped up in cool temperatures as dusk approached, but there were bright smiles shining, especially among the Alexandria Senior High contingent.
The ASH girls rolled to the regional team championship, just as they had dominated the District 2-5A championship a week earlier.
The Lady Trojans scored 114 points, well ahead of second-place Barbe (89).
“Their resolve was impressive. The weather has been up and down and our girls stayed laser-focused and locked in,” said head coach Seddarin Freeman. “Our girls ran some incredible times and did what we needed today.”
The ASH girls qualified 12 entries for next Saturday’s state meet at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium.
Leading the way were four event winners: the 4×100 meter relay team (47.79), Jakyra Edwards in the 100 meter dash (11.91), Lauren Roberts in the pole vault (11-0 in tough conditions) and a 1-2 finish in the javelin from regional champ Alexis Guillory (139-2 ¾) and Sarah Dupuy (136-7).
The Lady Trojans got five second places: the 4×200 relay (1:41.00), Raegan Monroe in the 3200 (11.29.55), the 4×400 (3:59.41), Noelle Williams in the long jump (16-4 ½) and Dupuy in the javelin.
Also advancing to the state meet for the ASH girls, with third places: Breana Quinney in the 400 (59.88), Laylah Branch-King in the shot put (36-9) and Williams in the triple jump (36-3).
Edwards was the team’s top scorer with 14 ½ points, including relay service. Williams was right behind with 14 points.
In boys competition, ASH finished 10th in the team standings with 26 points and Pineville was 13th with 20 points. Each had three state meet qualifiers by virtue of top three finishes in their events.
The Trojans qualified two relay units, the second-place 4×400 (3:24.16) and third-place 4×800 (8:19.21), and Hunter Rivett’s third-place 147-6 discus mark.
The Rebels got a second-place 800 meter clocking of 1:56.01 by Justin Descant, and two third places: Eli Thomas in the 400 (51.68) and the 4×400 relay (3:28.32).