P-G Track Wins Back-to-Back State Titles
Coach Larry Salley
Posted May 7, 2012
The Cyclone track team capped off an outstanding season by hosting the SCISA State Championship Meet on Saturday. The boys' team kept their 3-year unbeaten streak at home alive by winning the state title--the first time that P-G has earned back-to-back state track championships since entering SCISA! The girls' team greatly exceeded expectations, placing 6th overall, a single point behind 5th-place Orangeburg Prep. This represents a huge step forward for the Lady Cyclones' program.
On the individual side, Bailey Allen placed 6th in the 200 meter dash, Mikhala Cooper placed 5th in the 400, Marla Sagetelian placed 6th in the 800 meter run, and Simone Handfield placed 5th in the 400 meter hurdles. As usual, the PG relays were solid, with Caroline Seymour, Lillian Saul, Adia Mottola, and Marla placing 6th in the 4x800 meter relay, the 4x100 team of Hailey Turner, Mikhlala, Jordan Hollingsworth, and Bailey placing 6th, and the 4x400 team of Simone, Hannah Clarke, Mikhala, and Bailey placing 5th. The girls' team was very strong in field events, with Jordan and Lillian taking 2nd and 4th in the high jump, Bailey placing 3rd in the long jump, and Mi'kola Cooper placing 3rd in the shot put. The highlight of the day was Pilar Bennett winning the state title in the pole vault while notching a new personal-best and school-record of 9'0".
The boys were strong in the field, with Trey Pierce placing 5th in the long jump, David Salley taking 6th in the triple jump, Blake Barnett placing 4th in the shot put, and Travis and Blake Barnett taking 2nd and 3rd in the discus throw. The boys' only championship in field events went to David Salley in the Pole Vault, whose 12'0" vault was the best by a Cyclone in 30 years. For the boys, the only points scored on the track in non-distance events were by Shannons: Cole Shannon was 4th in the 400 meter dash, while Blake Shannon was 5th in the 110 meter hurdles.
But distance events were dominated by the same Cyclones who won back-to-back cross-country titles. In the 3200 meter run, Brent Demarest, Cameron Kane, and Brendan Ward pulled off a 1-2-3 sweep. In the 1600, the Cyclones grabbed control of the meet with Layne Mather, Brent, Cameron, Brendan, and Landon Sanford sweeping the first 5 places to score 30 of 31 possible points. And in the 800, late in the meet, Layne, Brent, and Cameron assured victory with yet another 1-2-3 sweep. Additionally, Alex Dahlstrom, Bradley McClelland, Landon, and Layne coasted to victory in the 4x800 relay. Then, in the last event of the meet, with the team championship already assured, the 4x400 relay of Cameron, Bradley, Layne, and Cole came from behind against an inspired Ben Lippen team to win the Cyclones' 3rd consecutive state title in what has become P-G's signature event.
The girls' team finishes the season as Region Champions for the first time in a dozen years, and the boys have earned their first back-to-back state titles since entering SCISA in 1995. Despite the graduation of 15 seniors, both teams look very strong for next season.
Thanks to everyone for your support in this amazing season.
