Destrehan’s Tayler Tabb led the way for a contingent of St. Charles Parish competitors at the Class 5A state track and field championship meet at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium on Saturday, taking runner up in the girls javelin event.
Tabb’s winning throw traveled a distance of 117-02 to net her the high finish. It was short of the championship throw of Eden Adams, a mark of 127-10. But Tabb far outpaced the rest of her field, with third place Kelyanna Monette of Pineville notching a throw of 109-01.
“She went up, then down to 95 … then she got back up to 108 and finished with her last throw of 117 in the finals to close it out,” said Destrehan track and field coach Lynette Matthews. “She’s a competitor. Once her mind is set to something, she’s gonna get it done.”
Prior to the season, Tabb, a senior, set that mind to the goal of reaching the state meet, after coming inches short of qualifying to make it in regional competition as a junior.
“We did a big vision board early in the season, and that was her goal, to make it there. She did more than that,” Matthews said. “State runner-up … she did an amazing job.”
She reached that lofty height just two years after taking up track and field for the first time in her sophomore year. Tabb also starred for the Ladycats soccer team, which established itself as an elite program during her tenure with finishes in the state semifinals and quarterfinals over the past two years.
“We kind of recruited her over from there, and she’s been exceptional,” Matthews said. “She’s so competitive and her work ethic is so outstanding.”
Three Destrehan boys also earned berths to compete at the event by taking top regional finishes. Devon Christopher of Destrehan finished eighth in the 400 (51.05), Jalen Richard took eighth in the shot put (45-02.50) and Dylan Whitted eighth in the discus (114-04).
Hahnville, meanwhile, sent several standouts to the state meet after a strong season team-wide that saw its boys earn a third consecutive district championship and its girls finish as runner up, just five points short of a title.
At state, the Tigers’ Noah Zeringue finished sixth in the javelin with a throw of 156-08. The boys 4X200 relay team (Syre Lewis, Dylan Lorio, Gevon Hill and Channing Canada) earned sixth place (1:28.27), as did the girls 4×200 team (Kevell Byrd, Yelah Moses, Alexandra Johnson, Marigny Clay, 1:44.92).
Kevell Byrd took sixth in the girls 100 meter dash (12.19). Allen Mire’s time of 57.620 earned him sixth in the boys 800. The girls 4×100 relay team (Yelah Moses, Niara Simmons, Lejonne Blackmon and Marigny Clay) earned seventh (50.91). Alexandra Johnson finished ninth in the girls 400 (1:00.96). Hahnville’s Yelah Moses was eighth in the girls 300 meter hurdles (52.87).
Individual District Champions:
For Hahnville’s boys, Gevon Hill took the championship in the 200 meters (22.39). Jerry Spencer took first place in the boys triple jump (42-07). Norvell Revader earned championship honors in the high jump (6-03). Noah Zeringue was top competitor in the javelin (156-06). The 4×100 relay team (Syre Lewis, Gevon Hill, Jerry Spencer and Dylan Lorio) was first with their time of 42.70 and the 4×200 team (Syre Lewis, Dylan Lorio, Gevon Hill and Channing Canada) finished first by running a 1:28.78. Taji Sullivan was first in the 110 hurdles (15.95).
Among Hahnville girls, Kevell Byrd and Yelah Moses emerged as district’s most decorated competitors this season. Byrd was champion of the 100 (12.39) and the 200 (25.57). Yelah Moses finished with top honors in the high jump (5-01) and 300 meter hurdles (48.77).
Both helped anchor a pair of winning relay squads as well. The 4×400 relay team of Yelah Moses, Kevell Byrd, Marigny Clay and Alexandra Johnson took the top mark of 4:12.74, while the 4×200 team (Kevell Byrd, Marigny Clay, Yelah Moses and Alexandra Johnson) took first with a 1:43.88 time. Alexandra Johnson captured the 400 (1:01.09).
For Destrehan’s boys, Dylan Whitted took the discus championship (135-10). Jalen Richard’s throw of 47-05.50 earned the shot put crown. The 4×400 relay team (Devin Boutte, Ryan Walker, Devin Christopher and Nathan Higdon) took the 4×400 event with a time of 3:29.10 and the 4×800 relay team (Devin Boutte, Ryan Walker, Devin Christopher and Nathan Higdon) ran a mark of 8:35.53 for first. Ezeikiel Fernandez-Brown captured the 300 meter hurdles title (42.34).
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