Four middle schools competed at a track meet on a cold and rainy Wednesday last week hosted by Tallulah Falls at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. Highlands, Summit Charter, Rabun Gap, and Tallulah Falls boys and girls middle school teams hit the track, discus, shot put, high jump and more to a large crowd of supporters cheering on the athletes at the first meet of the season.
Highlands James Earp competed in the high jump on Wednesday at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.
Middle School Track Results:
Girls
Tallulah Falls- 251
Summit Charter- 192
Highlands- 55
Rabun Gap- 10
Boys
Tallulah Falls- 295
Rabun Gap- 98
Highlands- 79
Summit Charter- 74
See full results HERE.
Four area middle schools competed at the first track meet of the season at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School on Wednesday.
Highlands Head Coach Jake Page said it was the team’s first meet and it was a learning experience.
“I thought all of our athletes did really well,” said Page. “First meet for a lot of the kids, so a lot are still learning, but I was very proud of the way our athletes competed. They really gave it their all.”
Highlands Conor Thorske competed in the long jump on Wednesday.
He added that Highlands had some top 3 finishes, including Connor Thorske who placed first in the high jump, with 5-00, a possible personal record, and Highlands relay teams all placed in the top 3.
Moving forward, Page said they’re going to need to work on exchanges to try and shave off some time in the relay department.
Highlands Olivia Cole runs the 400 M on Wednesday at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee.
Summit Head Coach Gretchen Kapity said the athletes exceeded expectations, especially being the first meet of the season.
“I am pleased with how my kids did,” said Kapity. “It was cold and rainy and miserable, but most persevered and did all of their races. We had a lot of kids get new PR’s, which is great. I am especially proud of my hurdlers and jumpers who haven’t gotten much practice. My two high jump girls haven’t practiced since last year since we don’t have a mat and they both got PR’s and placed 2nd and 3rd.”
Some say the stress of competition changes a person and we all have our breaking point, or athletes take a breather between heats and let off a little steam.
She added she is proud of Summit’s 6th graders who are new to the team this year and are working hard and putting in the effort to improve.
“The first conference meet is always a challenge because a lot of the kids haven’t been on a real track and there is a learning curve,” said Kapity. “Plus, the weather was not great. It is still sickness season, so we had a few athletes out as well.”
Highlands Olivia Cole made her rounds on both track and field competing in shot put, discus, and the 4×100 M relay. She earned a PR in discus with 50 ft. 7 in.
“I think I did good today,” said Cole. “I’m pretty glad I got a personal record.”
The first middle school meet of the season included discus, shot put, high and triple jump, and long and short races. and was on Wednesday at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.
Summit Anna Nichols competed in the shot put, discus, and 400 M race, and also scored a PR in discus with 50 ft. 2 in.
“I think I did pretty good in the scheme of things,” said Nichols. “I definitely did better than I thought I was going to do.”
It rained on and off throughout the Middle School track meet on Wednesday.
Summit Catelynn Couch said she had a couple first-time events on Wednesday and thinks she did well. After a strategy session with Cole, confidence was high minutes before Couch ran the 400 M.
“It’s all good, I know I’m going to kill it,” said Couch.
From left are Highlands Danny Hernandez and Landon Green running the 200 M dash.
Highlands Finneaus Garner competed in hurdles, long jump, 400 M, and 100 M. He said hurdles were a little tricky, but said if you maintain your balance when you clip a hurdle, you’re not necessarily going to fall.
“I thought I did really good,” said Garner. “I didn’t knock down every one (hurdle) so I’m pretty happy about that.”
The next middle school track meet is at 4 p.m. on April 9 at Rabun Gap.
Highlands Own Munoz gets set to through the shot put on Wednesday.
Four middle school competed in the first track meet of the season on Wednesday at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.
Highlands John Hayes Shaheen gets ready for the shot put at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee on Wednesday.
Reputations rise and fall in the high-stakes world of off-the-books underground street hurdles and when verbal challenges get tossed around, sometimes you have to represent like the athletes pictured above practicing hurdles between heats.
From left are Summit Anna Nichols and Highlands Olivia Cole.
Highlands Cooper Hall throws the shot put at the first meet of the season on WEdnesday.
Article and photos by Brian O’Shea
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