Senior Aliyah Trotter readies to hand off to Sophomore McKayla Thornton in the 4x100-meter relay. Also in the 4x1, is Senior Alexus Jones and Freshman Ari Williams, earning 1st team-All State.
Track & field personal & team victories abound
This year the girls’ track team is breaking records. The year of the lioness is here. With plenty of new-comers this season, the ladies’ team is a success this year, and shows potential next year.
The girls 4×1, consisting of Seniors Aliyah Trotter, Alexus Jones, Sophomore McKayla Thornton, and Freshman Arihana Williams won first place in the TAPPS 4A state meet last week.
Trotter won first in the 100-meter dash with Williams coming behind her in 2nd place. The girls 4×4 team, consisting of Jones, and Juniors Lauren Kelley, Jayci Campbell, and Jaydin Campbell placed 4th in the 4A district, and the team ended the competition with a 4th place ranking overall in the state.
Freshman Ari Williams ran a personal best time of 25.75 seconds this year in the women’s 200-meter dash, which is unusual for a freshman running varsity.
“High school track is not how I imagined it,” said Williams. “I’m used to summer track and top-notch runners, and this is new to me.”
Williams has ran track for eight years and plans to fight for a spot in the 2020 Olympic Track Team.
Williams says there is still much work to be done, although her times are record-breaking for her age.
“The sky is the limit, no one can stop us, but us!” said Head
Track and Field Coach Chad Pegues about the girls’ team.
Running nearly head-to-head with Williams is Senior Aliyah Trotter. She currently holds the school record of 24.4 seconds in the 200-meter dash. Trotter has now attended Grace Prep for three years, and she believes that GPA has prepared her not only athletically, but also academically. She will be attending Oral Roberts University on a full ride athletic scholarship to continue her track and field career.
“I have learned a lot from my time running track here,” said Trotter. “I will especially take a stronger faith in God with me and the confidence I’ve gained from that.”
The team ran into a small snag before the state meet, but worked it out quickly.
“The enemy tried to derail us, but God had us covered and we won state,” said Coach Pegues.
Both Trotter and Williams have competed in the district meet to make it to state. The two placed first and second in the 100-meter dash, and also the 200-meter dash with Trotter coming in first and Williams second.
Not only have the girls’ team performed at the top, but the boys’ team has succeeded as well. In the district meet, our boys’ team relays advanced to regionals and state.
“The boys have exceeded above and beyond our expectations at district, I believe they have a great chance to advance to state at regionals in a few weeks, in all events,” said Coach Pegues.
They did advance to state.
The boys placed 7th in the 4×100-meter relay at the State 4A TAPPS meet. High jumper Colin Toulouse placed 7th at state, and the 4×200-meter relay won 6th at state.
Toulouse jumped at 5’11 at the Trinity Tiger Relays which created a great start to the season. Through all of his dedication to the season, he advanced to state.
“After so many years of high jumping, it’s nice to see my hard work paying off,” said Toulouse. “I love the comraderie of the team and how we’re always there for each other.”
The 4×100-meter includes Seniors Brendan Walters and Trey Carter-Coleman, along with Juniors Jeremiah Tucker and Tyler Osborne.
The 4×200-meter relay includes Senior Brendan Walters, Junior Jeremiah Tucker, Sophomore Matthew Tucker, and Freshman Brandon Lawrence.
The relays advanced to regionals and state along with Seniors Colin Toulouse and Taelor Hawkins in the boy’s high jump. Toulouse has been competing in track and field for 4 years at Grace.
The coaches see the potential this year and in years to come. With Grace expanding next year, the team plans to carry on what they have accomplished.
