ALBANY — Bulloch Academy senior Ethan Lovett set a new state record in the 300-meter hurdles during the qualifying heats of the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) Class AA state track and field championships Thursday.
Lovett ran a blistering 39.83 on the rubberized composition surface at Hugh Mills Stadium to set the new state mark. The Region 2-AA champion in the event easily outdistanced his competition on the warm April afternoon to qualify for Saturday afternoon's finals.
"I am very proud of Ethan," said BA head boys' and girls' coach Clint Morgan. "He's worked hard to accomplish this goal. He had it in his mind that he could get it done (state record) and he did it. He'll be pushed on Saturday which will probably get him an even faster time."
He also qualified in the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.42 and ran the anchor leg of the 400m relay team of Jordan Walker, Troy Poulin and Chan Newton (45.49).
Both the Gator girls' and boys' squads qualified the majority of their entries in the running events and scored points in the 1600m run, which was run as a final in Thursday's schedule of events.
In the girls' distance race, sophomore Kelcie Jacobs ran a 5:53.0 to finish fourth while eighth grader Haley Burke ran a 6:08.23 for eighth place. The showing gave Bulloch six total points, putting the Gators in a tie for third place. Gatewood's Katherine and Elizabeth Lacksen finished first and fifth for 14 points. Heritage's Elizabeth Ginn was second (eight points) and Briarwood's Emily Henderson was third (six points).
"Strategically speaking," said Morgan, "I thought they (Kelcie and Haley) ran a great race. A lot of that credit goes to Coach (Beth) Burke. Haley went out very strong early and set the tone, which got the other girls out of their rhythm. Then Kelcie ran her usual fantastic race. They both had personal bests for the year and I was very pleased with their efforts."
In the boys' race, junior John Manack ran a 4:58.74 for fourth place and five points. Heritage's Will Pattiz won with a 4:45.31 to collect 10 points. Gatewood's Jordan Keck was second (eight points) and Trinity's Michael Caneega was third (six points).
"John ran a fantastic race and we are already a couple of points ahead of where we thought we'd be," said Morgan.
All three GISA classifications (AAA, AA and A) ran separately in the season-ending meet. Each race in each division had two heats to reduce the 14 or 16 runners to the final seven or eight. The finals for all running events, with the exception of the 800m, will be held Saturday. The 800m finals will be held this afternoon, after the completion of the field event finals.
Other Bulloch qualifiers include all four 400m relay teams and and runners in every event except one.
"We only lost two entries in the boys' races and none in the girls," said Morgan. "We know that the girls' race is going to be tight and qualifying every entry shows the strength of our team, which is our depth."
The girls' number one 400m relay team of Taylor Collins, Kinsley Mallard, Kaylee Lanier and Rachel Gilbert qualified with a 53.78 while the foursome of Jacobs, Kaylee Dennard, Whitney Hinson and Heaven Hinton had a 55.83.
The boys' number one team of Lovett, Walker, Poulin and Newton won its heat with a 45.49 while the number two team of Ellis Lane, David Poole, Michael Kimbrell and Darion Carter crossed the line in 47.60.
Dennard qualified in the girls' 100m hurdles with an 18.36 and David Poole will move into the boys' finals after running an 18.06.
Bulloch's girls dominated the 400m as both Gilbert and Collins won their heats to move into the finals. Gilbert clocked a 62.97 while Collins had a 64.22. Poulin won his qualifying heat with a 53.96.
The Lady Gators will have two entries in the girls' 300m hurdles final. Dennard crossed the line in 53.56 while Hinton had a 55.46. Poole will join Lovett in the 300m hurdles.
Bulloch's boys clocked the best times in the 200m. Poulin had a 23.84 while Carter posted a 23.88. The Gator girls also will have two runners in Saturday's finals. Gilbert qualified with a 26.94 and Collins crossed the line in 29.04.
All field events and the 800m run will be held today.
"While we think the strength of our teams are in the running events, we have the talent to do well Friday in the field events," said Morgan. "We should have a great opportunity to be leading after Day 2."
Lovett ran a blistering 39.83 on the rubberized composition surface at Hugh Mills Stadium to set the new state mark. The Region 2-AA champion in the event easily outdistanced his competition on the warm April afternoon to qualify for Saturday afternoon's finals.
"I am very proud of Ethan," said BA head boys' and girls' coach Clint Morgan. "He's worked hard to accomplish this goal. He had it in his mind that he could get it done (state record) and he did it. He'll be pushed on Saturday which will probably get him an even faster time."
He also qualified in the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.42 and ran the anchor leg of the 400m relay team of Jordan Walker, Troy Poulin and Chan Newton (45.49).
Both the Gator girls' and boys' squads qualified the majority of their entries in the running events and scored points in the 1600m run, which was run as a final in Thursday's schedule of events.
In the girls' distance race, sophomore Kelcie Jacobs ran a 5:53.0 to finish fourth while eighth grader Haley Burke ran a 6:08.23 for eighth place. The showing gave Bulloch six total points, putting the Gators in a tie for third place. Gatewood's Katherine and Elizabeth Lacksen finished first and fifth for 14 points. Heritage's Elizabeth Ginn was second (eight points) and Briarwood's Emily Henderson was third (six points).
"Strategically speaking," said Morgan, "I thought they (Kelcie and Haley) ran a great race. A lot of that credit goes to Coach (Beth) Burke. Haley went out very strong early and set the tone, which got the other girls out of their rhythm. Then Kelcie ran her usual fantastic race. They both had personal bests for the year and I was very pleased with their efforts."
In the boys' race, junior John Manack ran a 4:58.74 for fourth place and five points. Heritage's Will Pattiz won with a 4:45.31 to collect 10 points. Gatewood's Jordan Keck was second (eight points) and Trinity's Michael Caneega was third (six points).
"John ran a fantastic race and we are already a couple of points ahead of where we thought we'd be," said Morgan.
All three GISA classifications (AAA, AA and A) ran separately in the season-ending meet. Each race in each division had two heats to reduce the 14 or 16 runners to the final seven or eight. The finals for all running events, with the exception of the 800m, will be held Saturday. The 800m finals will be held this afternoon, after the completion of the field event finals.
Other Bulloch qualifiers include all four 400m relay teams and and runners in every event except one.
"We only lost two entries in the boys' races and none in the girls," said Morgan. "We know that the girls' race is going to be tight and qualifying every entry shows the strength of our team, which is our depth."
The girls' number one 400m relay team of Taylor Collins, Kinsley Mallard, Kaylee Lanier and Rachel Gilbert qualified with a 53.78 while the foursome of Jacobs, Kaylee Dennard, Whitney Hinson and Heaven Hinton had a 55.83.
The boys' number one team of Lovett, Walker, Poulin and Newton won its heat with a 45.49 while the number two team of Ellis Lane, David Poole, Michael Kimbrell and Darion Carter crossed the line in 47.60.
Dennard qualified in the girls' 100m hurdles with an 18.36 and David Poole will move into the boys' finals after running an 18.06.
Bulloch's girls dominated the 400m as both Gilbert and Collins won their heats to move into the finals. Gilbert clocked a 62.97 while Collins had a 64.22. Poulin won his qualifying heat with a 53.96.
The Lady Gators will have two entries in the girls' 300m hurdles final. Dennard crossed the line in 53.56 while Hinton had a 55.46. Poole will join Lovett in the 300m hurdles.
Bulloch's boys clocked the best times in the 200m. Poulin had a 23.84 while Carter posted a 23.88. The Gator girls also will have two runners in Saturday's finals. Gilbert qualified with a 26.94 and Collins crossed the line in 29.04.
All field events and the 800m run will be held today.
"While we think the strength of our teams are in the running events, we have the talent to do well Friday in the field events," said Morgan. "We should have a great opportunity to be leading after Day 2."