O’Bannon High School’s Jaheim Grant, Jada Shaw and Arniecia Thomas all made it to the podium at the MHSAA Class 2A state track meet last week at Pearl High School.
Grant, Shaw and Thomas all finished in third place in their respective events. Thomas, a ninth grader, finished third in the 200 meters. Shaw, a senior, finished third in the high jump with a leap of 4 feet, 8 inches. Grant, a junior, finished third in the hurdles despite this being only his first season running track.
“All three of them did really well, and my whole team did well considering all the obstacles we have had to overcome,” O’Bannon track coach Charles Moore said.
Moore said his biggest obstacle this season was finding enough athletes to form a team. Last fall, a number of O’Bannon High School’s best athletes transferred out of the district because it was unclear whether or not they would be allowed to participate in high school sports.
“We also had a hard time finding anywhere to practice, and we also had to share our athletes with the softball and baseball teams,” Coach Moore said. “It wasn’t easy but we are very proud of these kids. The girls won the district and the region, and we are only losing two seniors. I predict that they can come back and win the whole thing if they are focused.”
Perhaps no O’Bannon trackster has as bright of a future as freshman Arniecia Thomas, Coach Moore said.
“Arnecia can be very special if she develops a work habit.”
