Marley Richard completed her first event Saturday by setting a personal record in the long jump.
“As soon as I did that, I knew it was going to be a good day,” Richard said.
A good day would be putting it mildly.
Richard stormed through the Class 5A state track and field championship meet at LSU’s Bernie Moore Stadium, capturing state championships in a whopping four different events.
Richard won the girls long jump with a leap of 20-2.5. Her triple jump of 30-00.25 earned first there as well. Richard won the 100 with a time of 11.53 and the 200 with a mark of 23.85.
It was a strong day for St. Charles Parish across the board. Destrehan’s Phillip Wright and DHS boys 4×100 relay team also represented the Wildcats as state runner ups, while Madison Bailey did the same for Hahnville.
But Richard was the star of the show.
“I had a good feeling. But I don’t know that it has,” said Richard on whether she’s completely processed her achievement. “It happened so fast … I just know I’m glad it happened.”
As great as her times were on the track, she had to make good time off of it as well on Saturday.
As there is overlap between some events at a track meet, Richard had to lock in to even ensure her entry into her events – with four in total, that proved a challenge, and one she said she expected.
“In my freshman and sophomore year (at the state meet), it was the same thing, everything was overlapping,” said Richard. “So, in that way I was used to it, but I thought I’d probably focus on three events. My dad thought I should do all four.”
Father knew best.
It just wasn’t necessarily easy.
“After the long jump, I had the 100 and the triple jump at the same time,” Richard said. “I had to check in to the triple jump, then run back to the 100, and check into the 100. As soon as I finished, I ran back to the triple jump, and I had to be there for a certain time … I was out of breath.”
She had enough energy to score her third championship of the day there. She got to enjoy a bit of rest before her fourth and final event, the 200, where she made it four-for-four.
“A lot of people have been like, ‘wow, girl, how did you do that? How’d you get through that?’” Richard said.
“I’m just built for it, I guess. And I did what I had to do.”
As proud as she is of the championships, Richard was about as proud of her mark in the long jump – that personal best mark was something she’d been pushing to reach for some time.
“To do it at my last high school meet made it so very special,” Richard said.
It won’t be her last meet at Bernie Moore Stadium, however, as the senior will be attending LSU on a track and field scholarship.
She began this track and field season injured and sidelined, which she said frustrated her. But once she was cleared to return, it did not take long for her to begin racking up accolades.
It was also a great day for her family as a whole, as a matter of fact – Destrehan’s Damien Richard, Marley’s brother, earned his way onto the podium with a 3rd place finish in the boys long jump with a mark of 23-06.
Leading the way for the Destrehan boys at LSU was Phillip Wright, who captured 2nd place in the 200 with a time of 20.80. He also took 3rd place in the 100 meters with a time of 10.44. Destrehan’s boys 4×100 relay team (Jordan Zeringue, Wright, Jhase Thomas and Jabari Mack) finished as state runner-up with a time of 40.89.
For Hahnville’s girls, Madison Bailey finished as the state runner up in the 400 (53.85), just barely edged out by Barbe’s Kennedi Burks’ time of 53.82. Bailey also took 4th in the 200 with a time of 24.72. A’Kjha Kenner earned 4th in the girls shot put (37-03). Mariah Mott finished 9th in the triple jump with a mark of 34-03.50. The 4×200 relay team (Bailey, Mott, Amani Williams and Deja Tuckerson) finished 7th (1:44.41). Dihlynn Mitchell finished 6th in the 300 meter hurdles (46.00). The 4×400 meter relay team (Mott, Mitchell, Kylah Mixon and Bailey) took 7th (4:04.33).
Among Tiger boys, the 4×200 relay team (Savayon Weber, Jamal Moore, Jeremiah Allen and Avonte Smith) finished 8th (1:30.91). The 4×400 relay team (Preston Mire, Moore, Weber and Al Johnson) finished 7th with a time of 3:25.98.
REGIONAL RESULTS: Hahnville hosted the Region III-5A championship meet on April 30. Earning top 3 finishes to qualify for state were:
Destrehan’s Marley Richard earned four regional championships in the girls 100, 200, long jump and triple jump.
For Wildcat boys, Phillip Wright took 2nd in the 200 and 3rd in the 100, while Damien Richard took 2nd in the long jump and 3rd in the triple jump. The 4×100 relay team took second place.
Hahnville’s Madison Bailey captured the regional crown in the girls 400 and 2nd in the 200. Mariah Mott earned 1st place in the 300 meter hurdles and third in the triple jump. A‘Kjha Kenner was best in the shot put, taking 1st place in that. Dihlynn Mitchell took 2nd place in the 300 meter hurdles. The 4×400 relay team captured the girls regional crown while the 4×200 team took second.
Among Tiger boys, Al Johnson captured third in the 800. The 4×200 and 4×400 relay teams each earned 3rd.
