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Bulloch Academy's Burke nets state title in mile run
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Bulloch Academy's Ashley Burke powers toward the finish line in winning the GISA Class-AAA 1600 meter run. - photo by Special to the Herald

 

ALBANY — Bulloch Academy freshman Ashley Burke checked off one of her goals Thursday during the opening day of the GISA Class AAA state track and field meet at Hugh Mills Stadium.

"It was my goal coming in to win the state championship in the mile," said the 14-year old. "I knew it was going to be tough but I thought I might have a chance to do it."

Burke blew past Trinity Christian’s Katie Rose Alligood in the final turn of the race and held off Deerfield-Windsor’s Virginia Moore to win the state title in the 1600-meter run.

"It feels amazing," she said. "I think I beat my best time by five seconds."

Burke clocked a 5:32.74 to win the 16-runner event. Moore came on hard at the end, finishing second with a 5:32.99. Alligood finished fourth with a 5:37.63.

But from the opening gun, it was Burke and Alligood. The pair was very familiar with each other’s strengths and weaknesses because BA and TCS athletes are Region 4-AAA rivals and routinely compete against each other.

"My legs were a little tight and I had nervous cramps at the beginning of the race," said Burke. "My plan was to stay behind her until the last 100 meters and use my kick."

Burke stayed on Alligood’s hip as she stuck with her strategy on the first lap and most of the second as the pair pulled away from the pack. The BA distance queen lunged ahead in the third turn and kept a slight advantage for the majority of the lap.

"I think Katie Rose’s strategy was to take off and pull away from everybody," said BA head coach Barbara Conner. "Ashley wasn’t going to let that happen. It wound up backfiring on her because Ashley has more of a kick that Katie Rose does."

With 100 meters to go on the third lap, Alligood retook the lead but Burke passed her as the duo began the bell lap. The Lady Crusader went back ahead again in the second turn and down the back stretch until Burke began her kick.

"At around the 200-meter mark, I started kicking it," she said. "I didn’t think I had that much but I felt pretty good. I really like this track. It’s smoother and doesn’t hurt your feet."

As Alligood faded, Moore came on strong and was a step behind the Lady Gator at the finish line.

The first-place finish gives the Bulloch girls 10 points in their quest for the Class AAA state title.

"I think we could win (the state title) if we do our best," said Burke, who will compete in today’s 800m run final. "We’ve got a good chance."

The 1600m run was the only final Thursday in the afternoon of running qualifiers.

Juniors Anna Newton and Mary Margaret Reeves posted two of the best times in the 400m dash to qualify for Saturday’s races. Newton clocked a 1:01.58 while Reeves had a 1:03.66. The girls’ 4x100m relay team of Newton, Reeves, Collins and Pate Lomax turned in a 53.08 to qualify for the finals.

"It’s kind of what we were expecting," said Conner. "Friday will be a big day for us. We can pull a lot of points in the field events. Our biggest challenge will be doing our best. If the girls do what they are capable of, we will be in the position we need to be in come Saturday."

In the boys’ meet, junior Forrest Spence qualified in the 110m hurdles (17.80) and the 300m hurdles (43.37). Classmate Harrison Averitt ran a 52.29 in the 400m dash to advance to Saturday. Senior Jaylen Evans clocked an 11.35 in the 100m dash to qualify. The 4x100m relay team of Averitt, Evans, Matt Sheppard and Aaron Best posted a 45.06 to get a chance to run Saturday as well.