TIFTON — Tift County’s Bailee Williams’s first shot put attempt at the Region 1-6A meet went 40 feet, more than enough for Williams to easily win first for the third straight year.
It was one of three Lady Devils victories Tuesday, all in events that qualify them for sectionals. In addition, Caitlyn Burgess won the high jump and the 4×200 relay team finished in 1:44, nearly four seconds ahead of all other schools. Burgess cleared five feet in high jump, with teammate Makayla Bryant placing second at 4-10.
Williams, who also placed third in discus at 98-1.5, threw the shot four times and scratched twice. The four throws that counted were the top four throws of the meet, 38 feet, 36-8 and 35-3 being the others. The best throw from any other competitor was 33-3.
Day two of the region meet begins at 4 p.m. Thursday at TCHS’ mini-stadium, featuring finals in nearly all track events.
The top eight from Tuesday will compete in the finals held Thursday. From there, the top four will head to sectionals. In finals completed Tuesday, the top four punched their tickets to sectionals.
Antonio Burgess was quickest in the 110 hurdles, which he ran in 14.9 seconds.
Tift’s boys were fourth in the 4×200 relay, which was a final. Ahmadre Woods cleared six feet to place fourth in high jump. Trendon Miller was third in triple jump at 42-9.5.
Anthony Pace had the best finish for any of Tift’s boys, second in pole vault. He and Chance Anderson of Veterans both cleared 11 feet, with Anderson earning first on a tiebreaker.
Besides their win in the 4×200, the advanced to sectionals with a third place in the 4×800 in 11:27.
Diamond Wallace earned second in long jump at 16-7. Trinity Parker’s 31-4 in shot put advanced her to the sectionals in fourth place.
Also qualifying for track finals:
Girls 100: Burgess and Wallace.
Girls 200: Nairobi Graham.
Boys 400: Jalon Miller and Marshall Howard.
Girls 400: Graham.
Girls 100 hurdles: Lily Bruce and Aziyah Lockett.
Boys 110 hurdles: Burgess and Jordan Gaskins.
Boys 300 hurdles: Burgess and Gaskins.
Girls 300 hurdles: Mackenzie Holiday and A’myriona McTear.
Tift will have entries in the 4×100 and 4×400 for boys and girls.
In addition, the 1,600 and 800 meters are on the schedule, neither having preliminaries Tuesday.