By By Matthew Nascone
The word massacre would not come close to describing what the Escambia Academy JV boys' track and field team did to the rest of the field at the AISA Junior High State Tournament in Atmore April 21.
The boys ran away with the meet, scoring 174 points and placing at least one athlete in each of the 14 events of the day. Of those placing, five Cougars won their events. Two of these winners were state records and the nearest team to the Cougars was Cornerstone Academy with 91 points.
"It was an impressive day for these guys," EA head coach Heath Gibson said. "This says a lot for the young talent we have here at EA."
The competition pitted the best of the athletes in grades sixth through ninth against each other and the Cougars prowled all day.
The 174 points racked up by the Cougars set a state record for most team points in a state JV meet.
"This just shows the consistency throughout our athletes," Gibson said. "We don't have one strong point or one weak point, we are consistent throughout. This is a very talented and well rounded group of individuals with good speed and strength."
Brett Wilkins tied the state record in the shot put and the team of Nick Flowers, Cameron McGhee, Jon Dean and Jake Taylor in the 400-meter relay broke the state record.
Wilkins tossed the shot 40 feet, 6 and 3/4 inches. The 400-relay team ran the event in 49.22 seconds, breaking the record of 49.67 set last year in Tuscaloosa.
Other winners for the Cougars include, Thomas Moore in the 800 with a time of 2:31, Wade Matthews in the two-mile with a time of 13:27 and Flowers in the triple jump with a jump of 32-6.
Coming in second place for EA were, Wilkins in the discus with a throw of 100-7, J.P. Solomon in the shot put with a throw of 38-10, Taylor in the high jump, Braxton Chastang in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 20.16 seconds, Thomas Moore in the one-mile with a time of 5:46, Dean in the 400 with a time of 59.96, Dean in the 200 with a time of 25.97 and the 1,600 relay with a time of 5:07.
The 1,600-relay team consisted of Moore, Sawyer, Jamie Vaughn and Brandon Goddard.
Third place finishers for the Cougars included, Dean in the long jump with a jump of 16-3 1/2, McGhee in the 100 with a time of 12.93 and Flowers in the 400 with a time of 1:01.41.
Finishing fourth for the Cougars were, Dakota Carter in the discus with a throw of 95-4 1/2, Taylor in the 100 with a times of 12.94, Matthews in the one-mile with a time of 6:08 and Taylor in the 200 with a time of 26.95.
The EA girls finished third with 63 points. Lacey Flowers won the long jump with a jump of 13-1 1/4.
Kristen Matthews finished second in the one-mile with a time of 7:03, second in the two-mile with a time of 16:23 and fourth in the triple jump with a jump of 23-8 1/2. Grayson Emmons finished third in the 800 with a time of 3:15 with Taylor Hubbard on her heels in fourth place with a time of 3:18.
Madison Matthews finished third with a time of 17:27 in the two-mile. Charla Stark finished fourth in the 400 with a time of 1:16 and the EA 1,600-relay team of Emmons, Flowers, Hubbard and Stark finished third.