GREENE COUNTY
After a successful track-and-field season for both programs, Greene County sent 15 boys and nine girls to the GHSA Class A Division II state meet last Saturday in Columbus.
The Tigers placed high in multiple events throughout the day, but the biggest result came in the 4x100-meter relay. Senior leader Arkiyus Wright and his three teammates finished with a time of 43.68 and came in first overall for the event.
Wright, who is committed to playing football at Cumberland University, told the Lake Oconee News that the day was filled with personal records and that the Tigers were prepared for the moment.
“We knew what the expectations were coming into the race, and we all knew what our jobs were – to get a ring,” Wright said. “Everybody on the team had a determined mindset and was locked in. We came in first in the 4x100, and I came in fourth in the 400-meter with a personal best time. We all had a personal best in pretty much every event.”
The finish in the 4x100 earned Greene County a ring at the state level, and the competitive performances didn’t end there.
The Tigers two other relay teams for the 4x200 and the 4x400 races also broke into the top five in their respective events. Greene’s 4x200 team finished third overall with a time of 1:31.53, while the 4x400 team finished fifth with a time of 3:37.95.
On the individual level, sophomore Henry Mitchell and junior Deyshawn Copeland also placed inside the top five in the events they competed in. Mitchell finished fifth overall in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.83, while Copeland finished fourth overall in the shot put with a total distance of 45-09.25.
Not only did the boys' team perform well, but Greene County’s girls’ team saw multiple top-10 finishes at the state level, too.
Sophomore Kimora Harper led all Lady Tigers in podium placement after finishing ninth overall in the 800-meter event with a time of 2:49.16. She was also followed shortly after by Sherlyn Camacho, who finished 11th overall with a time of 2:50.90.
Greene County’s girls’ team also had multiple freshmen step up for the occasion. Carla Dunn broke into the top 10 in the 400-meter race with a time of 1:06.34. Felicity Thomas and Brianna Tirado also competed for the Lady Tigers in the long jump and 1,600-meter events, respectively.
Ultimately, Greene County saw its track-and-field athletes compete at the highest level while having success, and Wright believes that’s what Greene County track and field is all about.
“We got to see the hard work pay off in the end,” Wright said. “Our performances at the state meet met the standards we set for ourselves going into it. To be successful takes sacrifice, dedication and commitment, and that’s what we have at Greene County.”