By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Last week Bartlett High School hosted the 2022 Sectional Track Meet featuring some of the best Class AA talent.
Area schools Millington Central, Munford and Brighton performed well and had several athletes qualify for the May 24 State Track & Field Championships to be held at Middle Tennessee State University Dean Hayes Stadium.
Brighton is known for field athletes reaching the big stage. In 2022 the Cardinals will have sprinters on the track. Munford’s proud track tradition continues decathlon, pentathlon, field and track competitors. Millington Central had a resurgence this season with three relay teams and senior Micaiah Halliburton reaching State in the 200m.
“She thought the 400m was her event,” Millington Head Track Coach James Edwards said. “But I told her the 200 might be her ticket. And it all worked out in her favor. I’m so proud of her.”
Thomas Walters and Benard Ivie were busy Sectional week with several athletes representing the Cougars. Munford won both the boys and girls team standings.
Cougars like Christian Perez, Jace Hodgin, Malik Curry, Breona Connor and Emily Bey helped rack up the points.
Up the road in Brighton, Cardinals Head Coach Courtney McGinnis is excited to see Maddux Anderson and TJ Leggett on the big stage of the Dean Hayes Stadium track.
When it came to a track, the Millington competitors didn’t have a home venue in 2022 with renovations underway. The Trojans practiced around campus and used the facilities of Bartlett High School. Also former Millington coach Jerry Knowlton provided the program with the track at Greenhill Stadium in Frayser.
The work paid off for Payton Wasson, Solomon Marshall, Evan Anderson and Christopher Barnes (4x800m); Chase Scruggs, Carlos Davis, Jay’Kwon Walker and Solomon Marshall (4x200m); and Khalik Green, Carlos Davis, Solomon Marshall and Jay’Kwon Walker (4x400m).
“We’re just glad to have the opportunity to compete,” Edwards concluded. “We’re happy to be able to represent our area up there.”
In Class AA Sectionals, the top two finishers qualified for State. Two of the best shots at a gold medal are Ryan Coley of Munford with a time of 9:46.43 in the 3200m. His team is second best after Tucker Allen of Chester County 9:44.85.
The Millington Central 4x400m relay team posted a time of 3:30.38, third best time after Volunteer and Austin-East.
2022 AREA CLASS 2A STATE QUALIFIERS
BOYS
Division I-AA Decathlon
Christian Perez 4870
Jace Hodgin 4224
Malik Curry 3803
Class AA Pole Vault
Maddux Anderson (Brighton) 10-06.00
Christian Perez (Munford) 9-06.00
Jace Hodgin (Munford) 9-00.00
Boys 4×800 M Relay
Millington Central 8:47.07
Boys 100M Dash
Braxton Sharp (Munford) 11.05
Boy 4x200M Relay
Millington Central 1:31.34
Munford 1:32.61
Boys 1600M Run
Ryan Coley (Munford) 4:37.75
Boys 4x100M
Munford 43.80
Boys 400M Dash
TJ Leggett (Brighton) 50.41
Boys 300M Hurdles
Christian Perez (Munford) 41.31
Boys 800M Run
Ryan Coley (Munford) 2:03.25
Boys 3200M Run
Ryan Coley (Munford) 9:46.43
Boys 4x400M Relay
Millington Central 3:30.38
GIRLS
Division I-AA Pentathlon Girls
Breona Connor 1836 Munford
Emily Bey 2079 Munford
Girls Pole Vault
Kaelyn Coker (Munford) 6-06.00
Girls Triple Jump
Emily Bey (Munford) 31-02.25
Girls High Jump
Breona Connor (Munford) 4-08.00
Girls 1600 M Run
Cara Bruce (Munford) 6:07.50
Girls 4x100M Relay
Brighton 52.88
Girls 300M Hurdles
Sarah Rice (Munford) 50.99
Girls 800M Run
Kaelyn Coker (Munford) 2:34.81
Girls 200M Dash
Micaiah Halliburton (Millington Central) 27.76
Girls 3200M Run
Cara Bruce (Munford) 12.38.80
Girls 4x400M Relay
Munford 4:25.90
