Dalton flexes muscles

Dalton High’s track teams responded magnificently on a sun-kissed day to sweep the team championships in the 14th Northwest Invitational in Tunnel Hill.

The Catamounts amassed 123 points in running away with the title on Saturday. Host Northwest Whitfield finished second with 76.6 points, Southeast Whitfield was third with 71 and Cass (61) and Gordon Central (55) rounded out the top five. Calhoun had 51.5 points, Ridgeland 33, North Murray 32 and Pickens County 28.

It was the same finish among the top three girls teams. Dalton won with 150 points, Northwest had 121.5 and Southeast 106.5. Gordon Central followed with 63, Pickens 22, North Murray 21, Cass 15.5, Ridgeland 10 and Calhoun 9.5.

Dalton captured three top individual awards at the spring’s first big track and field meet. On March 27, Dalton will host the Rotary Invitational, another prestigious area event.

Markisha Washington was the Most Outstanding Field athlete, Annalee Houston shared the Most Outstanding Runner award and Tre Beck was named the Most Outstanding Runner in boys competition.

“A big difference was that we’ve been in the weight room,” coach Pam Brackett said of the Lady Catamounts’ repeat championship. “We’ve also been working a lot on the treadmills. Coach Thompson (boys’ coach Scott) teaches most of our girls in conditioning classes, as well as the boys. Most of our girls had been in other sports and that helped them to stay fit as well.”

The Cats finished fifth last year, but it was a different story this time around.

“Everybody just stepped up,” Thompson said. “We had somebody to score in every event and that was certainly big.”

Beck swept the two sprints, winning the 100- and 200-meter events in 11.01 and 22.71 seconds, respectively. He also ran on the winning 400 relay team that turned in a 44.41-second effort. Chas Thomason, Tre Bonds and Trae Washington joined Beck on the relay team.

“This is my first year for running high school track,” said Beck, a junior. “I want to get faster for football. Coach Thompson knows what he is doing.”

Beck was the area’s leading rusher in 2009, gaining 1,360 yards, with a single-game high of 294 against Rome, and scored 12 touchdowns.

Christian Pineda won the 800 in 2 minutes, 10 seconds and Thomason captured the high jump at 6 feet, 6 inches.

For the Lady Cats, Annalee Houston, a junior, won the 200 (27.22 seconds) and the 400 (1:02.98).

“I was very surprised with what I did today,” said Houston. “It was probably the best times that I’ve had and a lot of weightlifting has helped.”

Washington claimed wins in the triple jump (33 feet, 9 inches), long jump (14-11) and 100-meter dash (13.47 seconds).

“Track helps my basketball,” said Washington who has signed a basketball scholarship to Fort Valley State.

“It’s gotten me faster and I’m able to jump better.”

Dalton’s Bekah Houston won the 1,600 in 5:52.

Calhoun’s Xavier Howell won the long jump (20-4) and triple jump (39-1) and shared the Most Outstanding Field honors. Gordon Central’s Leanne Autry shared the Most Outstanding Field award for the girls by sweeping the hurdles (100, 16.71; 300, 53.13).

Host Northwest came up with two individual wins from Emily Payne and Keionce Lovelace, and despite a lack of practice time due to inclement weather in recent weeks, their coaches seemed happy with the results.

“Our teams performed well, and the meet went off without a hitch,” said Lady Bruins coach Nick Bridges, who directed proceedings with boys coach Jason Jackson. “Like all other coaches, we wanted to compete and not throw snowballs.”

Payne took the pole vault (8-0).

“She has only been a pole vaulter for two weeks,” said Bruins community coach Keith Woodason, who specializes in the event. “It helps that she’s a gymnast. Since she’s a junior, I will have another year to work with her.”

Lovelace captured the 400 dash in 54.0.

Southeast coach Chad Brewer was pleasantly surprised by his teams’ performances.

“We had some juniors and seniors who showed leadership and some young kids did well in their first meet,” he said.

Three Lady Raiders won individual events: Briana Sosebee in the discus (104-5), Shelby McFarland in the 800 (2:36) and Brianna Coppock in the 100 dash (12.85).

Southeast also swept both relays (50.81, 400; and 4:28, 1600). Amber Young, Summer Faith, McFarland and Coppock made up the 400-meter unit. Young, Faith, McFarland and Sosebee ran the 1,600.

North Murray’s Jessica Mauldin won the high jump (5-0).

Gordon Central’s David Anderson won the discus (137-3) and shot put 47-9). Two other Warriors also won: David Totherow in the pole vault (11-0) and Zachary Taylor in the 110 hurdles (17.27).

Cass got a top spot from Mason Walker in the 3,200 run (10:51) and the Colonels’ 1,600 relay (3:45) also won.

Other boys top spots came from Justin Weaver of Pickens, 1600 run (4:45); and D.J. Adams of Ridgeland, 300 hurdles (42.97).

Medals went to the top three finishers and points were awarded for the top eight finishers.

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