Jim Hamilton is curious.
The Columbus High School boys track and field coach had expectations last week entering the Class 6A, Region 1 meet last week at Tupelo High School.
While some of the things Hamilton thought might happen didn’t, he was pleasantly surprised by the performance of freshman Alex Lipscomb, who finished second in the 110-meter hurdles (16.02 seconds) and second in the 300 hurdles (42.68).
Hamilton isn’t sure who will deliver an unexpected performance Saturday when the Columbus High boys and girls compete at the Class 6A North State meet at Mississippi State University, but he is anxious to see who takes the next step and qualifies for the overall state meet.
“Even though Madison Central has two of the top four hurdlers in the state in the 110, I think Alex has an outside shot of making it to the state meet in the 110,” Hamilton said. “If everything keeps clicking like it has been, he and George (Lowery) have a good shot in the 300 hurdles.
“The 4×100 relay still has the fastest posted time in Class 6A, so they should go to the next level.”
MSU also will play host to Starkville, West Point, and the rest of the Class 5A North State squads and Class 2A schools. Action is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. with the pole vault, field events, and the 3,200. Other track finals are scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.
The top four individuals and relay teams will advance to the overall state meet next week at Pearl High.
For the Columbus boys, Roshad Meeks was second in the high jump (5-10) and Justin Verner was third in the shot put (47-5). He scratched on a throw of more than 50 feet. Byerson Cockrell and Damien Baker were second and fourth in the 100 (11.07, 11.3), and Cockrell was second in the 400 (50.85). Lowery was third in the 300 hurdles (42.61).
For the Columbus girls, Sky Samuel won the 200 (25.5) and was second in the 100 (12.39). The girls 4×200 team took first (1:43.35) and the 4×400 team was first (4:15.33). ShaRissa Spencer was second in the triple jump (33-11 1/2).
In Class 5A, Starkville will look to build on a host of qualifying times from its Region 2 meet.
On the girls side, Madayshia Lofton won the 200 (25.04), Mary Elizabeth Stringer won the 800 (2:30.66), and Kate and Walker Mattox took first and second in the 1,600 (5:24, 5:50.7; 11:48.40; 12:56.6). The 4×400 team was second (4:20).
On the boys side, Grant Woomer and Charlie Henderson went first and second in the pole vault. Both competitors cleared 11-6, but Woomer took the title based on fouls and numbers of jumps. The Yellow Jackets 4×400 team also won a region title with a time of 3:24.
Damien Grady was second in the 1,600 (4:41.07), Alex Ross was second in the 3,200 (10:55.7), Jalan Catledge tied for second in the long jump (19-9 1/2) and was second in the triple jump (43-7 1/2), and Lee Edwards Jefferson was second in the discus (114-5).
The Class 3A and Class 4A North State meets will be at Charleston High, while the Class 1A North State meet will be at Coldwater.
In Class 1A, West Lowndes High’s Shanwika Washington won the 200 (28.64) at the Region 3 meet. She also qualified in the 100 (third, 14.05). Zabasjia Price (fourth, 300 hurdles, 58.35) is the only other member of West Lowndes’ girls team to qualify.
On the boys side, Korey Wilson won the shot put (43 feet, 8 1/2 inches) at the Region 3 meet, while Demarcus Hill placed second in the discus (115-2 1/4). Eric Harris (third, 100, 12.17; fourth, 200, 24.49), the 4×100 team (fourth, 47.04), and the 4×400 team (fourth, 4:06) also qualified.
At the Class 1A, Divison 5 meet, Washington won the 200 (29.41), Kovi Rice won the 11 hurdles (18.96), Wilson won the shot put (41-8), and Hill won the discus (116-11).
The girls team was third with 75 points and the boys team was third with 70.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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