Northside boys lead the way into GHSA state track meet

The Northside boys finished fourth overall in the 2013 state track meet, and have been trying to get themselves back to that level ever since.

Earlier this year, a win at the Columbus Relays for the first time in program history served notice that the team might just have the pieces to make another run at a top five finish or better at state.

And while there are no guarantees, Patriots coach Joe Sanders said that the goal for his team as it begins competition on Thursday in Jefferson.

“I really like our chances this week,” he said after listing off a host of individuals who will be participating in the Class 5A meet. “We have eight individual events and two relay teams to qualify, which places us in the top five or six teams in the state. We just have to score early and qualify for the finals on Saturday, and I believe our guys can win it all.”

He said this team compares closely with the 2013 squad that was led by Tay Sears to the fourth-place finish, but noted that this group may be even a bit more talented and deeper.

Freshman Jonathan Myrthil won two sectionals events in the 800 and 1600 and will have a chance to place highly at state in both. He is ranked among the fastest overall and the No. 1 freshman in both events.

Austin Kidd will be in the 3200, Tyrris Mitchell in the 200 and 100, and Alec Tanksley in the 300 hurdles. The team will be in both the 4x100 and the 4x400 relays. In field events, Duke Haslam will be in the discus and Cordale Scott in the high jump.

The key, Sanders said, will be overcoming some youth and inexperience on the team.

“The competition will be very tough, but it is expected to be that way at this time of the year,” Sanders said.

Northside will be joined in the 5A competition by individuals from Carver, Hardaway, Shaw and Harris County. U.S. Beasley (Carver) and Deyon Hicks (Hardaway) will compete in the 200, Cadarius Dixon (Shaw) in the 400 and the 4x100 team from Harris County. In field events, J.J. Hutchinson (Harris County) will be in the pole vault, Jeremiah Trammell (Harris County) and Sacred Vigil (Carver) in the triple jump and long jump.

In Class 2A, Michael Guy (Chattahoochee County) will participate in both the long jump and 300 hurdles and Anthony Hernandez (Chattahoochee County) in the 1600.

In Class 3A, Jomera Pickett (Jordan) and D’Andre Snead (Jordan) will be in the 300 hurdles, Dashae Hubbard (Spencer) and Tommy Davis (Kendrick) in the 400, Jemarius Holloway (Kendrick) in the 100, Darin Lewis (Jordan) in the 110 hurdles, and Justin Perry (Jordan) and Ameir Abrams (Spencer) in the 800. Holloway will also take part in the 200 and Perry in the 3200. The 4x400 relay team from Spencer will also compete.

Marion County’s Mykelle Kelley will represent his team at the A-public event, and Brookstone will send Aleks Slavich (pole vault), Wesley Tillman (110 hurdles) and Joel Brown (300 hurdles) for the A-private meet.

The event will be held on Thursday-Saturday, with finals for each event being held on the last day, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.

This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Northside boys lead the way into GHSA state track meet."