COLUMBUS — Columbus track and field is going to party like it’s 1999.
On May 15, the Falcons had six athletes sign to continue their careers at the next level, five of them receiving full rides to their respective colleges.
The last time the Falcons had this many track and field athletes sign for college athletics was under the leadership of Bernard Jones 24 years ago.
“I’ve just been trying to continue the same message that our previous coach, Bernard Jones, did,” Columbus track coach Jessica Davis said. “When I came in in 2019, my task was to build Columbus back up what we used to be 20 years ago. … This year’s seniors were freshmen when I came in, so I told them if you believe in yourself, I can get you to the next level.”
Cierra Crusoe, Jakiya Lewis and Johnasia O’Neal, all from the girls team that just finished third at the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A state meet, will be headed to Lemoyne-Owen College in Memphis.
Crusoe just won an individual state title in shot put with a throw of 37 feet, 3 inches, finishing more than two feet ahead of second place. A multi-time state champion in shot put, also placed second in discus with a throw of 96 feet, 5 inches.
Lewis, a multi-sport athlete for the Falcons, finished second in shot put at the state meet in Pearl with a throw of 34 feet, 10 inches.
O’Neal ran both the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles for Columbus, finishing fifth in the 100-meter and fourth in the 300-meter at the state meet.
“They didn’t think they were that good,” Davis said. “They were on the team just to be on the team, but once I sat down with them, they opened up to me and put their trust in me. … I sent out their film and stats, and after that, a lot of coaches came back and contacted me.”
Three athletes from the boys team also signed, including Khristian Watson and Fradell Cook, who will continue their careers at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, and Tyrie Payne Sherrod, headed to West Alabama.
Watson was a state champion this season in high jump, taking first place after clearing a jump of six feet, 10 inches, at the state meet. His future college teammate, Cook, medaled at the state meet with a third place finish in shot put and a throw of 43 feet, 2 1/2 inches.
Sherrod ran the 100-meter and 200-meter dash for Columbus, finishing second in the 100 meters with a time of 10.97 seconds, and just missing out on a top-three finish in the 200 meters with a fourth-place time of 22.59 seconds.
“It was amazing seeing all of the seniors who wanted to go to the next level get those opportunities,” Davis said. “… There are a lot more kids now that are interested in track now.”
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