Junior Kate Merritt set a new school record in the 1600m run with a time of 5:27.91 when the Coffee Trojans faced Bacon County in a dual meet. Merritt eclipsed the previous record set by Abbey Arnett, who is now a member of the Georgia Southern University track and cross country teams. Merritt also took first place in the 800 meter run (2:37.97) and was a member of the 4X800 meter relay team (12:28.00). Other team members of the 4X800 meter relay team were Brayden Bailey, Ainsley Myers and Jade Hamilton.
Jaiya Brown scored a first place finish in the 100 meter dash with a time of 14.12 seconds. Iyani Johnsonplaced first in the 200 meter dash with a 27.77 seconds run setting a new personal record. Justina Padilla won the 400 meter dash with a time of 1:16.51 and cleared 13 feet in the long jump. Senior Keilona Bennett won the 100 meter hurdles setting a personal record 19.22 seconds. The 4X100 meter relay team with Keilon Bennett, Iyani Johnson, Janiya Brown, and Jamiah Hudson ran a 54.02 second finish placing them at first in the event. Nykacria Brockington set a new personal record in the shot put with a winning throw of 27 feet and 8.5 inches. Tiarra Fletcher had a winning throw of 78 feet and 5 inches.
Freshman Tyrese Woodgett set a new personal record in the 100 meter dash with a hand held tiem of 10.72 seconds beating out Bacon County’s Xavier Williams’s time of 10.77 seconds. Senior Travis Adams made a big 1.58 second improvement in the 400 meter dash with a time of 56.82 seconds. Sophomore Will Bagwell ran a 10:34.17 in the 3200 meter run for a first place finish and a new personal record. Junior Nevin Swansonalso had a personal record in the 3200 meter run with a time of 10:36.84 for a second place finish. Freshman James Jarrard scored a first place finish with a time of 20.25 seconds. Senior Chris Staford scored three first place finishes in the 300 meter hurdles (43.34 seconds), triple jump (43 feet), cleared 5 feet and 8 inches in the high jump and was a part of the 4X100 meter relay with a time of 44.53 seconds with relay team members Tyrese Woodgett, Anthony Paulk, and Tyriq Edwards. Tyriq Edwards won the long jump clearing 19 feet and 5 inches for a first place finish. Senior Emarion Graham won the discus throw clearing 120 feet and 2 inches.
Coffee Middle School track athletes participated in the meet also. Eighth grader Iree Kennedy ran an impressive 12.58 seconds in the 100 meter dash and cleared 18 feet and 3 inches in the long jump. Ella Edge (7th), Denya Young (8th), Kashariona White (7th), and Iree Kennedy made up the CMS 4X100 meter relay team with a time of 55.10 seconds.
JaQuann Harrson (8th) ran 11.28 seconds in the 100 meter dash and recorded a 25.58 seconds in the 200 meter dash. Jaquarion Moore (7th) ran a 12.03 100 meter dash time and cleared 19 feet in the long jump. Kelvin Wooten (7th) finished the 100 meter dash in 12.21 seconds. Jordan Solomon (7th) ran a 12.26 seconds in the 100 meter dash and a 28.76 seconds in the 200 meter dash.
The Trojans will be competing in Vidalia at the Indian Invitational Meet on March 25, 2022. The Coffee Middle School team will attend the Big 5 Conference Championship on March 28, 2022 in Moultrie. Senior recognition will be March 29, 2022 at 4:00 at the Coffee High School track. The Trojans will also host Berrien County, Pierce County and Wayne County on March 29, 2022.