Gilmer High’s Aspen Hataway and Lilyan Cook proved they are the best in Region 7.
The Bobcats, Lady Cats and six more schools met for the region meet last week in Cleveland. In addition to Gilmer’s region champions, five more placed in the top four to qualify for sectionals.
Hataway was one of five pole vaulters to clear 11’ 6”, but he did it on his first attempt to secure first place. Teammate and fellow senior John Keener also cleared 11’ 6”, and he placed fourth.
Freshman Cook’s top finish is the latest in her string of first-place marks this season. Her winning throw of 108’ 10” beat out White County’s Matelyn Allison’s distance of 107’ 6”.
Amayah Jones was a runner-up for the Lady Cats in the shot put. Jones (35’ 7 1/2”) was narrowly defeated by Pickens’ Jaden Dean (36’ 11 1/2”). Kenzie Sewell also solidified her sectional spot with a mark of 4’ 4” in the high jump for fourth.
GHS freshmen Douglas Callihan and Dawson Richard will head to sectionals in throwing events. Both placed fourth, and Callihan competed in the shot put (39’ 9 1/2”) and Richard in the discus (114’ 6”).
In three events, the Lady Cats will serve as sectional alternates after placing fifth at region.
Cook threw the shot put 31’ 1”. The 4x100 team of Kayleigh Robbins, Addie Vick, Sofia El Khorchi and Jones clocked in at 54:12. Aliza Chastain, Cook, El Khorchi and Maria Raymundo made up the 4x400 team who turned in a time of 4:37.02.
Also scoring team points but falling short of sectionals were Jones, 100-meter dash (sixth place, (13.59); Addie Vick, 400 meters (seventh, 1:06.66); Robbins, triple jump (seventh, 27’ 2”) and Maddy Patterson, discus (eighth, 82’ 10”).
In the 4x800, Liz Gonzalez, Madison Hall, Raymundo and Sofia Riblet finished sixth in 13:25.56. Dulce Mares finished the 300-meter hurdles in 1:02.60 for sixth as well.
Bobcats Hunter Britain, Callihan, Bo Cronic and Matthew Grice were sixth in the 4x100 (46:93). The 4x800 team was sixth (9:59.39) as well and made up of Keener, Michael Little, Edward Marietta and Talyn Mesner.
Grice landed in sixth in the pole vault (11’), and Dylan Pospisil was eighth in the triple jump at 37’ 5”.
Wesleyan was first in the boys standings and followed by White County (145), Lumpkin County (126), Dawson County (86), West Hall (71), Gilmer (38) and Pickens (29).
Final girls standings: Wesleyan (261), White (109), Dawson (94), Pickens (64), West Hall (51), Gilmer (49) and Lumpkin (46).
Gilmer athletes will head to sectionals Friday and Saturday at Franklin County High School.