Pace Track Wins State Medals; Selmon Breaks State Records

Patch Staff Report

The Pace Academy varsity girls and boys track and field teams wrapped up successful seasons with equally successful outings at the Georgia High School Association state meets. Both teams, led by coach Jolie Cunningham, placed fourth in Class A and returned to Atlanta with award cups in hand.

For the girls, junior Lauren Hadley was the Knights’ top point winner. She placed first in the 300 hurdles, and was third in the triple jump and fifth in the long jump. Hadley also ran the anchor leg of the 4 x 100 relay, and she and her teammates (freshman Sophie Blasberg, sophomore Molly Marks and senior Shabrea Duffy) brought home bronze.

The 4 x 400 relay team of Blasberg, freshman Julia Ross, Marks and senior Katie Williamson ran an incredible race and placed second. Blasberg was seventh in the 300 hurdles, and Ross placed fifth in the 800 meters. Duffy, seeded seventh going into the 100 hurdles, finished in third place.

The Pace boys picked right up where the girls left off. Senior Josh Rogers finished in sixth and seventh place in the 1600 and 3200 meters, respectively. The 4 x 100 of freshman Deon Jackson, sophomore Xori Johnson, and seniors Jordan Brown and Kenny Selmon was fourth.

Selmon set a state record in the 110 hurdles with a time of 13.96, and went on to break a 20-year state record in the 300 hurdles, running the fastest time in all GHSA classifications.

The 4 x 400 relay team (Johnson, Rogers, Brown and Selmon) finished the day for the Knights. The boys ran their fastest time of the season and crossed the line as state champions.