ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) -Mitchell County’s track and field teams claimed both region titles, with the boys overcoming an early deficit and the girls maintaining their lead throughout the meet.

The Lady Eagles entered the track events with a 52-point advantage after the morning field events and held on for the victory. The boys’ team trailed Early County by 9.5 points after field events but dominated on the track to secure the championship.

Boys’ team rallies on the track

Mitchell County took five of the first six track events. The Eagles opened with a victory in the 4x800-meter relay, finishing seven seconds ahead of Baconton Charter School. J.T. Willingham ran the second leg and helped lift the team to victory.

“Last year, we had a great team, a 4-by-8 team. And since they’re going, it’s kind of like a rebuild, like a restart rebuild,” Willingham said. “But honestly, it’s been great. These guys, I’ve seen these guys work hard at practice and push themselves. So, it’s been a great, great season so far.”

Darius Robinson won four gold medals while running personal bests in both individual events.

“Ain’t really nothing to it. Just a four-time field time. Ain’t nothing to it. It’s something simple. I’m really going for the state. That’s all I’m going to worry about,” Robinson said.

Mitchell County claimed the top two spots in the 100-meter dash. Kayden Kendricks finished first and Andrevion Lee second. Terrell County’s Caleb White took third with a personal best time of 11.12 seconds.

“It feels great, especially because I beat my kid and he beat me last year,” Kendricks said.

In distance events, Baconton’s Tyler Hayes finished third in the 1600 meters but won the region title in the 3200 meters.

“I was nervous getting into it because nobody’s times were pasted. But, you know, God bless us with a great race. So, can’t complain,” Hayes said.

Willie Davis won the 800-meter run and also ran a personal best in the mile.

The Eagles’ 4x100-meter relay team broke a school record previously set by coach Jessie Atkins when he was a student.

“Monday, I told them to break our record. And if they didn’t break our record, they were slow. So, they came and broke our record. And the first thing they said to me was, Coach, y’all boys slow,” Atkins said.

Girls’ team dominates throughout

Randolph Clay’s Angel Hardy won four medals, setting a personal record in the open 200 meters.

“I just wanted to play as a team player. My main focus is winning on the relays as a team because it is a team sport at the end of the day. Even though it looks like an individual sport, it is a team sport,” Hardy said. “I just trusted in God, trusted in my training, trusted in my practice, and trusted in my coach. And mostly, I trusted in my team, for one, to be able to win and come in first. And I’m honestly thankful for my parents and God.”

Mitchell County’s Akia Seymour swept both hurdles events, winning the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles.

“I knew I had it. I had to make my squad longer and my three stilts, and I did it,” Seymour said.

Seminole County’s Kelly Curran won the 3200 meters, finishing 45 seconds ahead of teammate Maggie Hornsby.

“I’m thinking, God’s going to get me through this and get me around those laps. Because that’s a lot. This is just a mental game,” Curran said.

Mitchell County won the final event, the 4x400-meter relay. The Lady Eagles won their second consecutive region championship.

“It feels good, you know, as a senior, we did that, y’all. We did that,” one senior said.

“This is special to me because this is my freshman class. They are seniors now. And it just mean a lot to see them grow from freshman to seniors and keep the train rolling,” Atkins said.

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