Gilmer High opened its home track schedule and also hit the road for an invitational.
GHS hosted Pickens, Lumpkin and Fannin last Wednesday, and the Bobcats and Lady Cats both finished third in their respective standings. The Bobcats and Lady Cats combined for 22 top-three finishes, which included seven in first place.
Gilmer’s Kenzie Sewell was the top 100- (13.57) and 200-meter (27.70) runner at the event. Lady Cat Taylor McCormick continued her state title defense in the high jump with a first-place leap of 5’ 2”. Teammate Kayleigh Robbins’ long jump of 14’ 9” was the best on the day.
For the Bobcats, Will Kiker led the pack in the 100 meters (11.56). His mark of 41’ 1/2” in the triple jump secured first place as well. Gilmer’s 4x400 relay team’s top time was 3:55.17.
Lady Cats Amayah Jones (13.75) and Jayla Walker (15:52.93) were runners-up in the 100 and 3,200 meters, respectively. The 4x400 relay team clocked in at 4:55.96 for second.
The Lady Cats’ 4x100 (55.24) and 4x800 (13:55.54) teams both took third. Remaining individual third-place finishers included Stephanie Velasco (3,200, 19.01.26), Jones (long jump, 13’ 5”) and McCormick (triple jump, 29’ 6”).
Kiker also placed second in the discus throw (111’), and Kendal Sanders turned in runner-up finishes in the 300-meter hurdles (46.68), and triple jump (37’ 7”). Relay runners-up included the 4x100 (47.84) and 4x800 (9:52.48) teams. Michael Little went on to finish third in the 800 meters (2:29.7), and John Keener secured the same placement in the pole vault (10’ 6”).
Fannin (73 points) ran away with first place in the boys standings ahead of Lumpkin (38), Gilmer (32) and Pickens (seven). The girls standings followed the same order as Fannin (69) was ahead of Lumpkin (35), Gilmer (32) and Pickens (five).
GHS traveled to Canton Saturday for the annual Creekview Invitational. The Lady Cats and Bobcats were 13th out of 15 and 16 teams, respectively.
McCormick was the No. 1 high jumper once again and replicated her height of 5’ 2”. Sewell also secured a top-10 placement when she finished eighth in the 200 meters (27.50).
Bobcat Matthew Grice cleared 10’ 6” in the pole vault for fifth, and Keener topped out at 10’ to finish seventh. Sanders landed in eighth place in the 110-meter hurdles (18.28) and triple jump (38’ 3”). The 4x400 relay team crossed the finish line in 3:56.47 for fourth.
GHS will host a home meet Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m.