Tift track to host Anthony Bateman Invitational Saturday

Published 9:00 am Wednesday, March 9, 2022

TIFTON — Fifteen teams are scheduled to be on hand this Saturday for the inaugural Anthony Bateman Invitational at the Tift County High track.

Blue Devils coaches are bringing in a full list of schools from South Georgia for the meet and Tift coaches have their fingers crossed that no alterations will have to be made. Coach J.C. Clark said they will be looking at the weather charts for the weekend. Currently, rain is predicting a 40% chance of rain Saturday morning.

Besides the hosts, teams ranging from Appling County in the east to Dougherty and Monroe in the southwest have signed up. Two of Tift’s current region opponents, Colquitt County and Lowndes, will be there. Others listed are Dodge County, Furlow Charter, Irwin County, Lee County, Sumter County, Terrell County, Turner County and Worth County.

Before they run on their own track, the Blue Devils and Lady Devils are scheduled to participate in a quad meet at Colquitt County Wednesday. Odds of rain Wednesday are double that of Saturday.

Tift teams have participated in three meets so far this season, the Alice Coachman Invitational at Monroe, the Rams Invitational in Sylvester, and a quad at Valdosta High. Both teams finished in fourth place at the most recent, the Rams Invitational last Saturday.

Jalon Miller finished in first in the 400 meters, turning in a time of 51.58 seconds.

Trevor Gebhart was second in the 800 meters at 2:16, with Bernard Tindall second in the triple jump. Tindall’s distance was 40’2.5”. For the Lady Devils, Skye McCrae burst to second place in the 400 meters, running in 1:05.

Others placing in the top eight in their events, according to official results, were:

Boys 200 meters: Jaylen Green (8th).

Boys 110 hurdles: DeAverette Matthews (4th).

Boys 300 hurdles: Matthews (4th).

Boys 4×200 relay: 6th.

Boys 4×800 relay: 3rd.

Boys 4×400 relay: 2nd.

Boys high jump: Aguido Jackson (7th) and Jason Parsons (8th).

Boys pole vault: Amarion Nelson and Gebhart (both 3rd).

Boys long jump: Tindall (3rd) and Donterrius Whitaker (7th).

Boys shot put: Liam Gray (6th) and Justin Davis (7th).

Boys discus: Gray (3rd) and Ethan Jackson (4th).

Girls 100 meters: Diamond Wallace (4th).

Girls 200 meters: McCrae (5th).

Girls 800 meters: Dinae Robinson (5th).

Girls 1,600 meters: Kathryn Payne (4th).

Girls 3,200 meters: Ava Wilson (3rd).

Girls 100 hurdles: KaLiyah Barber (4th) and Lily Bruce (5th).

Girls 300 hurdles: Bruce (4th), Barber (5th) and Daisy Robinson (7th).

Girls 4×800 relay: 3rd.

Girls 4×200 relay: 5th.

Girls pole vault: Savannah Hawsey and Wilson (both 3rd).

Girls shot put: Debraysia Doward (5th) and Trinity Long (6th).