steve.carter@gaflnews.com

TIFTON — The 25th Annual Tifton All-Comers’ Track Meet began on Tuesday at the Eighth Street track. It is the first of three such events that will be held this month.



In its 25th year, the All-Comers’ meet has become a Tifton tradition.

“Back in 1976, a group of volunteers led by John Prince got together and decided to put on this event,” said Tift County Recreation Department Director Craig Sowell. “It involved the high school, the track parents and several community leaders.”

“In 1984, the recreation department took over and we have run it since then with the help of the Tifton Sertoma Club,” Sowell said. “We have also had the help of the high school athletic department as they have allowed us to continue to use this facility.”

Sowell says the event was in its heyday when it was combined with similar events in Valdosta and Albany.

“We used to rotate it and have a good competition with those cities. I think we’re the only ones around that does it now, however,” said Sowell.

Even with Tifton and Tift County having the only such event in the area, the numbers have dropped in recent memory.

“We have had less participation in the past few years,” said Sowell. “We don’t have many out here tonight and that is the way it has been recently. I am hoping it will pick up with our last two meets (July 17 and 24).”

Even though there have been fewer people taking part, there are still regulars at the events.

“Lamar Dickens has been out here every year, with the exception of the time he had heart surgery. Ernest Lang has also been out here for a number of years,” said Sowell.

“That is the fun part about this, we have people that have been out here every year and we have kids as young as one year old coming up for their first meet,” Sowell said.

“This is a great family experience for everyone involved,” said Sowell. “Everyone that comes out has a wonderful time.”

With the limited number of participants during the first meet on Tuesday, there were several events that featured only one contestant. However, there were other contested events, as well. Here are the results of those events.

Girls (1-4) – Softball Throw: Reede Johnson, 1st; Megan Bowen, 2nd. 100-yard Dash: Johnson, 1st; Bowen, 2nd. 50-yard Dash: Bowen, 1st; Johnson, 2nd; Alania Strozier, 3rd. Boys (1-4) – Softball Throw: Charlie Reinhardt, 1st; Matthew Allen, 2nd; Charlie Massey, 3rd. 100-yard Dash: Massey, 1st; Allen, 2nd; Austin Stripling, 3rd. 50-yard Dash: Allen, 1st; Massey, 2nd; Stripling, 3rd.

Girls (5-6) – 50-yard Dash: Ann Lockett, 1st; Sara Bowen, 2nd. Softball Throw: Bowen, 1st; Lockett, 2nd. 100-yard Dash: Lockett, 1st; Bowen, 2nd. Boys (5-6) – 50-yard Dash: Michael Massey, 1st; Taylor Shrum, 2nd; Marlon Nichols, 3rd. 100-yard Dash: Massey, 1st; Nichols, 2nd; Shrum, 3rd.

Boys (7-8) – High Jump: Stephen Sumner, 1st; Bobby Bruce, 2nd. Long Jump: Garrett Holloway, 1st; Sumner, 2nd; Bruce, 3rd. 50-yard Dash: Bruce, 1st, Sumner, 2nd, James Fisher, 3rd. Girls (7-8) – 50-yard Dash: Taylor Nichols, 1st; Sherry Adamson, 2nd.

Girls (9-10) – Long Jump: Jade Evans, 1st; Laura Brewer, 2nd. Girls (11-12) – Long Jump: Abbey Sumner, 1st; Rachel Holloway, 2nd. Boys (11-12) – Long Jump: Craig Garey, 1st; Janeen Brewer, 2nd. Men (50-up) – 800m: Ernest Lang, 1st; Lamar Dickens, 2nd.

“We want to urge everyone to come out during the final two meets,” Sowell said. “They will still have a chance to earn high-point awards, but they must compete in two meets to do so.”

The next All-Comer’s Meet will be Tuesday at the Eighth Street track. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.