Morgan County High School’s track and field team recently competed at the Class AAA state meet.
After a strong showing at the sectionals meet, Morgan County traveled to Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany to face some of the best competition in their classification. They had 22 competitors — 11 boys and 11 girls — with four alternates making the trip in head coach Kelan Fraise’s first year in charge.
Fraise was proud of his athletes’ accomplishments and for them making it to the state’s highest level.
“The state track meet went well for the Morgan County track and field team,” Fraise said. “We also set some new school records. Not only did we want our athletes to make it to state, we also wanted them to experience it. The environment going against the best in Class AAA was great.”
Morgan County sophomore sprinter Dallas Dickerson highlighted the team’s performance. During the individual events, Dickerson made it to the podium by placing sixth in the 100-meter dash, posting a time of 10.85, and seventh in the 200-meter dash with a mark of 21.92.
Morgan County’s Christian Monfort also finished at the podium on Thursday during the field events portion of the meet. The sophomore placed seventh overall in Class AAA in the high jump event.
Other notable individual performances for Morgan County’s athletes were Crayman Burke, who finished ninth and 13th in the triple jump; Jaquallious Jones, who placed 10th in the high jump; Javeria Gresham, who placed 16th in the 100-meter dash; Dylan Smith, who placed 16th in the 400-meter dash; and Jamari Mundy, who finished 11th in the discus. Morgan County also had two relay teams score points and end up on the podium.
The girls’ 4x100-meter relay team, consisting of Layla Veasley, Aziyah Robertson, Javeria Gresham, and Jada Keely, finished seventh. The boys’ 4x100-meter relay team, consisting of Dallas Dickerson, Decoree Kitchen, Jeremiah Wimbush, and Jaocby Simmons, also placed fifth overall.
Morgan County track and field returns a majority of state qualifiers next season. Fraise wants to send more of his athletes to the state meet next season and is excited about the program’s future.
The first-year head coach wants his kids to keep working hard and stay in shape during the offseason so when practice starts next January, his athletes can pick up where they left off this year.
“We’re young and heading in the right direction,” Fraise said. “Ninety percent of the team is returning next year. We’re proud of our team across the board. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”