It was a day of high stakes and high jumps at Aiken High School on May 8, as local track and field stars punched their tickets to the state Class AAAA meet. With the big event set for May 14 at Richland Northeast High in Columbia, the competition was fierce among Aiken County schools and visiting teams from Lakewood, Crestwood, Gray Collegiate, Lower Richland, and Brookland-Cayce.
The Aiken Hornets are heading to state as region champions, and they've got a standout in James Howard, who claimed second in the 400 meters and first in the long jump. The Midland Valley Mustangs also made their presence felt, with Kaleb Hester taking second in the 200 meters and Bruce Hobbs blazing to first in the 400 meters. South Aiken's David Baker showed his endurance by winning both the 1600 and 3200 meters, while Aiken's Brayden Ramsey secured a solid second in the 3200.
The hurdles were a Mustang showcase, as Kaleb Hester swept the top spots in both the 110 and 400 hurdles. Aiken's Christopher Baxley wasn't far behind, taking second in the 400 hurdles. Midland Valley also earned a runner-up finish in the 4x400 relay, while the Hornets did the same in the 4x800.
Aiken County athletes dominated the field events. North Augusta's Ayden Young soared to first in the high jump, with South Aiken's Jamaal Wilson right on his heels for second. Aiken's Ayden Mcleod cleared the bar for a pole vault win, and North Augusta's Joshua Simpkins took second in the discus. In the shot put, North Augusta's Simeon Jones threw for gold.
On the girls' side, Aiken's Aubrey Shoaf ran away with the 3200 meters, and North Augusta's Jade Council grabbed second in the 400 hurdles. South Aiken's 4x400 relay team also earned a runner-up finish. In the throws, Midland Valley's Xanasha Geter placed second in the discus, and North Augusta's Celena Grant did the same in the shot put.
With these strong performances, Aiken County is poised to make some noise at the state meet. Whether you're gearing up for race day or just hitting the local track, make sure you've got the right gear to go the distance.