JMA posts region track winners, qualifiers for state

Apr. 22—The John Milledge Academy track and field teams are getting ready for state after some strong performances at region Wednesday.

The region meet was held at First Presbyterian Day School where the Trojans and Lady Trojans lined up against athletes from the big four Macon private schools. Top-three finishers automatically qualified for state, which is being held at Brookstone School in Columbus Thursday through Saturday.

In the boys events, senior Jaden Dorsey came away as JMA's big winner. He and classmate Javian Butts went 1-2 in the 100-meter dash with Dorsey (11.18 seconds) edging out the running back Butts (11.27). Butts, the All-County Football Offensive Player of the Year for 2023, did win the 200-meter in what was a tight race that saw the top four all cross the line within a second of one another. Dorsey also won the long jump at 21 feet, 4 inches, and in the process set a new school record. He broke the previous mark of 21 feet shared by Ryan McDonel and Dwayne Boone. The former Trojan track great McDonel saw his nearly 30-year-old record fall firsthand Wednesday as he was actually at the region meet watching his sophomore son Bryce compete.

B. McDonel along with Dorsey, Butts, and Jalan Butts were crowned region champs in the 4-by-100 relay, beating the team from Stratford by a second and a half.

Junior MJ Mitchell was king of the hurdles for the Trojans. He won the 110 (15.45) and the 300 (42.09) to punch his ticket to state in those two events.

The Lady Trojans had two region champions across three events Wednesday. Junior Kylie Steinmeyer won the one-mile (6:03) in a competitive finish and the two-mile at a comfortable 24-second margin. Junior Calah Foston had a good showing in the shot put, winning that event with a throw of 31 feet, 9 inches.

While the top-three finishers automatically qualified for this week's GIAA Class AAA state meet, other top times across the regions were taken into account to round out the fields in each event. Also heading to state for JMA are: the girls 4-by-100 relay of Ella Matthews, Taylor Johnson, Addie Latimer, Victoria Byrd, and Lucy Elliott (alternates are allowed on the roster); Matthews in the girls 100-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash; Elliot and McDonel in the girls and boys 400-meter respectively; Jordan Prestridge in the girls 300-meter hurdles; Jalan Butts in the 200-meter; the 4-by-400 girls relay team of Matthews, Johnson, Elliot, Addie Latimer, and Lizzie Rogers; the 4-by-400 boys relay team of Jav. Butts, Jal. Butts, McDonel, Bud Veal, Dorsey, and Mitchell; Maggie Prestwood, McDonel, and Veal in the triple jump; McDonel in the long jump; and the girls 4-by-800 relay of Steinmeyer, Kingslee Pruitt, Karlee Skinner, Morgan Farrelly, and Katie Grace Cox.

State begins Thursday morning.