Despite the sweltering heat and the threatening storms, the SouthSide Pioneers concluded their team season at the 2006 Georgia Games Championships held at Marietta High School last weekend. All gold, silver, and bronze medalists have advanced to the 2007 State Games of America to be held next year at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Najee Pace (Sandy Creek), a triple jump novice at this year’s Games, took the gold medal in the Youth Boys Triple Jump with a fine first-time mark of 9.68 meters. Pace competed against three other experienced contenders. He also took fourth place in the Long Jump and eighth in the 400M.

Kendra Newsome (Sandy Creek), who also competed for the first time in her event, took the gold medal in the Youth Girls Javelin Throw with a spectacular first-time mark of 62’ 8.” She was coached by fellow teammate James Mathis (Sandy Creek).

Michael DeHaven (Sandy Creek) won the gold medal in the Young Men 200 Meter Dash with a time of 21.79 and the Bronze Medal in the Young Men 400 meter (48.69).

Jonathan Ross (Sandy Creek) took the silver medal in the Intermediate Boys 100 Meter Dash with a personal best time of 11.2. Ross also took a silver medal as part of the Intermediate Boys 4x400 Meter Relay along with Theo Echols (Starr’s Mill), David Mathis (Sandy Creek), and Terrell Tripp (Starr’s Mill) with a time of 3:53. Ross also took a bronze medal in the Intermediate Boys 200 Meter Dash with a time of 23.6.

Kobi Lain (Burch Elementary) took the silver medal in the Bantam Boys 800 Meter Run with a time of 2:50. Lain also placed fourth in the 400 Meter Run while his 4x100 Meter Relay team (Jamal Lain, Jovonte Lain, Khari Lain also of Burch Elementary) took fifth place.

Elliott Dixon (Sandy Creek) took the bronze medal in the Young Men High Jump with a mark of 5’ 2.” Dixon also placed fourth in the 400 Meter Hurdles and eighth in the 110 Meter Hurdles.
Other finishers were:

• Jovonte Lain, fifth place, 400 Meter Run

• Khari Lain, eighth place, Bantam Boys 200 Meter Dash

• James Mathis, fourth place, Young Men Javelin Throw

• Alyssa Rooks, fourth place, Discus Throw

• Sophia Danner-Okotie (Fayette County), fourth place, Intermediate Girls Triple Jump

• Brendan Fludd (Sandy Creek) also competed at the Games.

Graylin Ward (Northgate) will also represent the team at the 2006 USA Track and Field Junior Olympic Championships later this month at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. This will be Ward’s third consecutive national championship where he will compete in the Youth Boy’s High Jump.

The SouthSide Pioneers’ Bantam Boys 4x100 Meter Relay (J. Lain, J. Lain, K. Lain, K. Lain) and Intermediate Boys 4x400 Meter Relay of Echols, Ross, Mathis, Tripp and Thomas Frierson (Whitewater) will represent the team at the 2006 AAU Junior Olympic Games at Norfolk State University on Saturday, Aug. 5 along with Joy Ferrell (Westminster) and Joshua Ferrell (Pathway Christian). The Ferrells will compete in the Multi-Events, Javelin Throw, High Jump, Hurdles, and Long Jump.

If your corporation or local organization/business would like to assist these athletes in their quest for this national meet, please contact Coach Danielle Mathis at 770-712-0786. All donations can be made payable to: Fayette County Track Association, Inc., and sent to P.O. Box 1207, Fayetteville, GA 30214.

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