The Greenville High School boys and girls track teams have both concluded one of their best seasons in recent memory. After winning regionals and coming in second at North State, the Hornet girls finished with a fourth place finish at the MHSAA Class 5A State Track Meet in Pearl on Saturday. The Greenville boys, meanwhile, finsihed in ninth place after winning the regionals earlier this spring.
Highlights for the Hornets at Saturday’s state meet include two school records. Precious Smith broke the school’s long jump record with a leap of 17-feet and 6.25 inches which gave her a second place finish. Smith also finished third in the state 400 meter dash.
The Greenville boys 4X800 relay team of Jacob Turner, Willie Wilson, Brycen Davenport and Lamarien Dillard also broke a school record, running the relay in 8 minutes and 45 seconds.
“We have been building the program for about six years and then COVID happened and slowed the progress down, but I think we are on the right track now. We are headed in the right direction on the road to winning,” Greenville coach Monica Turner said. “I haven’t seen both programs thrive this good since about 2009, the year Coach Kable won the state championship.
This year’s Greenville track teams were led by senior Courtney Adams and Jacob Turner. Adams, who has been a key leader for a number of years, will be greatly missed by her team.
“I think we did very well and I am very proud of the team,” Courtney said. “We had a lot of people come to state this year, which was new for us. We had a full team this year. It shows the track team is doing better.”
Said Jacob Turner, “It was great being a part of the track team this year. By being the boys captain, I had to lead. I especially had to help the eighth graders coming up who were coming up.”
Junior hurdler David Newsome had one of the best meet’s of any Hornet at state. Newsome finished in second place in the boys 300 Meter Hurdles with a time of 41.01 and in fourth place in the boys 110 Meter Hurdles with a time of 15.60. Next year Newsome has his eyes on capturing a state championship.
“This year was really exciting. I used to fall a lot of times last year. I just learned to keep going.
I am going to work really hard and during the summer and I am determined to have an even better year next season.”
Other Greenville High top finishers at the state meet include:
• Brandon Leslie who finished third in the boys discus
• Sheridon Brady who finished second in the girls 800 Meter run.
• Bethany Stanford who finished second in the girls shot put
• Brianna Lance who finished seventh in the girls 100 Meter Hurdles
• Zaniya Jackson who finished sixth in the girls triple jump
• Jacey Thomas who finished fourth in the girls discus
