Pinewood Christian Academy’s track teams traveled to Georgia Southern University on Wednesday, April 13 to compete in the 2022 Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) region 2-AAA track meet. 

The patriots claimed back to back region titles when they brought home this year’s title with a team score of 177.  Trinity Dublin Christian School (TCDS) followed as runner-up with 148 points and Bulloch Academy (BA) with 120. 

“It hurt losing a big group of seniors last year, but one of the things that group did was bring back the wining mentality to the boys track team.  It was a challenge for this year’s seniors and the team to go back to back region champs. I told this year’s team we have some holes to fill from last year. We definitely have the potential, but it was all up to them. I said, ‘be comfortable with being uncomfortable… embrace it and go prove yourself as a team.’ They did just that by bringing home another region title. I am so proud of this year’s team and what sacrifices have been made so far. As a coach you want to see your kids pushing through challenges and succeed. We are not done yet with State track coming up. We will go see if we can’t make some magic happen,” Head Coach Garrett Blaxton said.  

Jade Bradley, son of Ricky and Jennifer Bradley of Glennville, claimed the high point award for the boys with a total point score of 42 points in five combined track and field events.  He earned Region Champion in four out of his five events including long jump, 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and the 1600-meter relay. 

“It was great strategy and team work that helped us capture the region championship again. I am looking forward for state with a team that is determined to do their very best this year,” Bradley said.

The lady patriots took third place with a team score of 123 behind TCDS who took home the region title with a team score of 189. BA was named region runner-up with 150.  

“After graduating several key seniors, I was very proud of our young team for finishing third in an extremely competitive region and for qualifying 16 members for the state competition. The future looks good for Lady Patriots track,” Coach Paula Johns said.

Abi Scott, daughter of Jesse and April Scott of Claxton, claimed the only region champion award for the girls’ team as she cleared the high jump bar at 4’11”.  She also was the top point earner for Pinewood as she earned 34 points across 4 track and field events.  

“I will always be thankful for the gifts God has given me.  I’m also incredibly thankful for the love and support of my coaches and everyone around me has given me.  I wouldn’t be half the athlete I am without them,” Scott said.

Those taking champion status through 4th place earned a spot at the state meet. A full breakdown of events with each runner's placement, racing times and field distances is as follows:

3200 Meters 

Girls:

4th – Ella Johns (15:09.25) 

6th – Claire Mullis (18:40.56) 

Boys:

3rd – Bryson Croft (13:13.02) 

6th – Yug Patel (17:07.60) 

4x100 Relay

Girls: 

3rd – Riley Nevil, Jena Bradley, Cassidi Lynn, Katelin Smith (54.12)

7th – Mattie Spacek, Emma Strickland, Ava Woolard, Milli Anderson (57.77) 

Boys:

1st – Preston Rowe, Jade Bradley, Kaeden Arnold, Mic Wasson (44.62)

4th – Luke Scott, Banks Durrence, Jake Rogers, Tyson Swindell (46.78)

100 Meter Hurdles

Girls:

2nd – Abi Scott (17.65) 

5th – Mary Lucy Dasher (19.89) 

110 Meter Hurdles

Boys:

4th – Tyson Swindell (19.3) 

5th – Seth Dekle (23.61)

100 Meter Dash

Girls:

4th – Katelin Smith (13.61) 

5th – Riley Nevil (13.69) PR

Boys:

1st – Jade Bradley (10.96) 

2nd – Mic Wasson (11.43) 

1600 Meter Run

Girls:

3rd – Payton Cowart (6:23.04) 

7th – Laci Stone (6:45.44) 

Boys:

5th – Bryson Croft (5:59.74) 

8th – Jesse McLendon (6:48.99) 

400 Meter Dash 

Girls:

2nd – Lilly Griffin (1:05.92)

3rd – Ginny Nutting (1:07.73) 

Boys:

2nd – Banks Durrence (54.73) 

4th – Jake Rogers (56.82)

300 Meter Hurdles

Girls:

2nd – Abi Scott (50.13) 

5th – Priscilla Dillion (1:18.33) 

Boys:

1st – Luke Scott (45:72) 

5th – Tyson Swindell (48.89) 

800 Meter Run

Girls:

4th – Lilly Griffin (2:54.27)

6th – Libby Kate Blocker (2:57.69) PR

Boys:

5th – Pearce Dutton (2:27.37) 

7th – Luke DeLoach (2:34.62) 

200 Meter Dash

Girls:

2nd – Katelin Smith (28.70) 

6th – Jena Bradley (31.28)

Boys: 

1st – Jade Bradley (22.94) 

3rd – Mic Wasson (23.77) 

4x400 Relay

Girls:

2nd – Abi Scott, Lilly Griffin, Payton Cowart, Riley Nevil (4:27.96) 

5th – Ella Johns, Laci Stone, Priscilla Dillon, Ginny Nutting (4:52.64)

Boys:

3rd – Banks Durrence, Luke Scott, Kaedan Arnold, Jake Rogers (3:50.86)

5th – Preston Lowe, Bryson Croft, Jade Bradley, Mic Wasson (3:59.65)

Long Jump

Girls:

5th – Jena Bradley (14’6”) 

6th – Mattie Spacek (13’6”) 

Boys:

1st – Jade Bradley (21’5.75”)

5th – Kaedan Arnold (18’4.25”) 

Triple Jump

Girls: 

5th – Mattie Spacek (28’9.25”) PR

6th – Ava Woolard (26’7.75”) 

Boys:

1st – Kaeden Arnold (40’6. 5”) 

2nd – Tyson Swindell (40’3”) 

High Jump

Girls:

1st – Abi Scott (4’11”) 

Boys:

4th – Luke Scott (5’6”) 

5th – Jake Rogers (5’4”)

Shot Put

Girls:

2nd – Jaeley MacGregor (30’6”) 

7th – Lara Durrence (24’1”) 

Boys:

2nd – Peyton Williams (41’2”) 

3rd – Mic Wasson (40’8”) 

Discus

Girls:

2nd – Jaeley MacGregor (86’1”) 

4th – Lara Durrence (72’1”) 

Boys:

1st – Peyton Williams (141’9”) 

4th – Cade Beecher (100’) 

Pole Vault

Girls:

4th – Mary Lucy Dasher (7’0”) 

5th – Ava Woolard (6’0”)

Boys:

1st – Jackson Fries (12’6”) 

3rd – Jesse McLendon (9’6”) 

The Georgia Independent School Association 2-AAA state meet will take place this Thursday, April 21 through Saturday, April 23 at Strong Rock Christian Academy in Locust Grove.  Qualifying rounds will be Thursday with field competition on Friday and final races on Saturday.