Lawrence leads Wando to first 5A team title

By Adam Kopet, Dyestat Editor

A class realignment changed the SCHSL State Championships, moving from four classes to five. It meant a new crop of athletes were exposed to the state meet with the potential to earn a state title.

The defending 4A girls champions, Wando, used strong performances from junior Zeniyah Lawrence in the 100 meters (12.14), 200 (24.23) and long jump (19-6.50), as the backbone of another team state championship, this time in 5A.

Freshman Zariere Dumas of Hillcrest impressed in her two individual races, finishing second in the 200 (24.29) and winning the 400 (55.98). She also ran on both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Hillcrest narrowly beat Summerville in the 4x100, running 46.91 to Summerville's 46.92. Hillcrest also won the 4x400 in 3:50.28.

The distance girls of Riverside dominated the distance events, sweeping the top three spots in the 1,600 meters, winning the 3,200 and giving the state record in the 4x800 a scare with a time of 9:25.91.

On the boys side of Class 5A, Dorman came away big winners behind double state champions Jayson Massey, a senior with wins in the shot put (56-10) and discus (169-3), and Wynn Johnson, a junior with wins in the 1,600 (4:17.99) and 3,200 (9:20.80).

Ronald Fuller, a junior from Lower Richland, was the top sprinter on the day, running 10.74 for 100 and 21.32 for 200 in the 4A races. Jacory Patterson, a junior from 4A Dreher, had the fastest 400 meters of the day with a time of 46.98.

Class 3A featured some of the top jumpers in the meet. Semaj Anderson of Pendleton and Jamie Watson of Hanahan, both seniors, cleared 6-8 in the boys high jump. Anderson got the win. He also won the triple jump with a mark of 48-2.5.

For the girls, Kamiya Dendy, a Pendleton freshman, won the high jump with a 5-8 clearance. Tedreanna Britt, a junior from 2A Woodland, had the top mark in the girls discus with a throw of 154-5. Her pole vaulting teammate, senior Sommer Knight, cleared 13-0

King Keyshawn, a junior from 2A Liberty, had the top triple jump mark of the day at 48-5.

Team Champions

5A – Dorman boys 74, Wando girls 84.5

4A – Hilton Head boys 72, Hilton Head girls 51

3A – Hanahan boys 97, Bishop England girls 72.5

2A – St. Joseph's Catholic boys 80, Woodland girls 135

1A – Scott's Branch boys 163, Scott's Branch girls 105