As Hahnville prepares to host the District 8-5A championship meet on Wednesday, the Tigers head in on a wave of momentum after sweeping the Ulysses Frontha Relays with both the boys and girls teams taking home championship honors.
Individual highlights at the meet included Hahnville’s Madison Bailey and Dihlynn Mitchell and Destrehan’s Marley Richard and Damian Richard each earning multiple first place finishes.
And perhaps the event that drew the most eyes – and noise – from the crowd was the 200 meter dash, which saw two of Louisiana’s fastest runners square off in a race that lived up to the hype, with Bailey just edging Marley Richard for the win, 24.43 to 24.47.
“That was crazy,” said Hahnville head track and field coach Brittany Bonnaffons. “I didn’t know Madison had won until it flashed – they had this little scoreboard at the end, like you see on TV when you’re watching the Olympics … it was exciting for all of us.”
Bailey is the reigning 800-meter indoor state champion, a feat she captured in February, and has rode that momentum into what’s been a stellar outdoor track season thus far.
“She’s just worked so hard,” said Bonnaffons. “She’s been able to see the results of all that work, and I think you see it showing in not just one specific race, but in her performance as a whole. She carried herself like a great athlete from the start, even as a freshman, and it’s amazing to see how far she’s come. It’s just been beautiful to watch.
“You always yell kids that hard work pays off, that when you put in the hours, the time, the dedication, you see results. And she’s the true example of that.”
As is Richard – she and Bailey have all but rewritten their respective schools’ record books. Bailey owns the Hahnville records in the 800 indoors and outdoor 400, and is part of the record-holding 4×800 squad. Richard has Destrehan’s records in the long jump, triple jump, 100 and 200.
Destrehan girls track and field coach Lynette Matthews said Richard is just getting into the swing of things this outdoor track season – her first 200-meter event of the season came at the River Parish Relays at St. James at the end of March, a race she won in dominant fashion, and that Richard and the rest of the Wildcats are looking to finish strong.
That process starts with a big performance in the district meet.
FRONTHA RELAYS RESULTS:
For Hahnville’s boys, Al Johnson captured first in the 1600 (4:49.59). Braden Genius took first in the 3200 (11:17.89). Kevias Singleton earned first in the 300 hurdles (42.09). The HHS 4×200 (1:30.24) and 4×400 (3:31.98) relay team also captured first.
Destrehan boys saw Phillip Wright finish first in the 100 (10.87). Brian Reed captured first in the 200 (22.78). Sergei Williams finished first in the 800 (2:02.90). Ty Singleton took first in the 110 hurdles (15.85). The Wildcats’ 4×100 team took first place as well (41.84).
In the boys’ field events, Destrehan’s Damian Richard was first in the long jump (22-9) and the triple jump (43-8).
Hahnville’s Tahj Glenn earned first in the high jump (5-10). Kace Elliott captured first in the pole vault (11-0) and Frederic Downing was first in the discus (128-8). Calvin Smith’s shot put (44-4) also earned him first on the day.
Among Destrehan girls, Marley Richard took first in the 100 meters (12.01), while the 4×100 relay team captured first as well (49.40).
Richard also made her mark in the field events, winning the girls’ long jump (18-11.5). Kyla Jones was tops in the discus (101-6) and Kaylee St. Pierre took first in the javelin (85-2). For the Hahnville girls, Madison Bailey took first in the 200 meters (24.43) and 400 meters (58.84). Olivia Lendle took first in the 800 meters (2:44.70). Avery Oertling captured first in the 1600 (6:08.92). Reagan Tregre took the top spot in the 3200 (13:45.01). Jaimie Perkins earned first place in the 100 meter hurdles (16.97). Dihlynn Mitchell earned first in the 300 meter hurdles (46.74), and the Lady Tigers took first in both the 4×400 (4:14.55) and 4×800 (11:21.36) relays.
In the field, Mitchell took first place in the high jump (5-2). Mariah Mott earned first in the triple jump (33-10). Madyn Romero captured first in the pole vault (7-3) and A’Kjha Kenner was best in the shot put (34-5).
