BY RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

East St. John’s Quinton Johnson shined for the Wildcats over the weekend, as he took Outstanding Track Performer honors Hahnville’s track and field meet Friday.

Johnson won the 200 meters with a time of 22.7, and placed second in the 100 (11.1) and the 400 (51.30). Johnson traded victories with Destrehan’s Henry Lenox, who took first in the 100 (11.1) and second in the 200 (22.9).

Meanwhile, ESJ’s Patrick Lewis finished second in the shot put (50-7) and third in the discus (122). The Wildcats’ Alex Singleton placed third in the shot put with a throw of 46-9.75.

In addition, the Wildcats’ 4×200 (Dechris Strong, Todd Muse, Isreal Guy and Richard Miles) and 4×100 (Darien Evans, Miles, Johnson and Joshua Brumfield) relay teams each took third place finishes with times of 44.82 and 1:32.40 respectively.

Overall, ESJ took a sixth place finish of the seven competing teams. Hahnville finished second to first place Jesuit (147-122 final points). Destrehan finished third.

“I’m seeing marked improvement,” said ESJ boys coach Eleno Rodriguez. “It just takes times for a group of children to come together. Even in the events we didn’t place, like the 4×4, I could see a much better effort.”

Rodriguez speaks highly of his current group.

“This is the best group I’ve had,” he said. “They’re highly motivated, and there’s no quit in any of them. It’s a lot of fun to coach them.”

East St. John’s Jacobi Wilson took first place in the girls 100 meters with a time of 12.45, edging teammate Deznee Wilson (12.98).

It was the first of two second-place finishes for Deznee Wilson on the day, as she also finished second in the 200 (26.42).

“She’s a real good athlete,” said ESJ girls coach Tiffany Wilson. “Every single week, she brings something to the table. She’s a great competitor.”

Dynekia Sanders took third place in the triple jump (33-6) and the 400 (1:05.16).

East St. John also took first place finishes in the 4×100 (Deznee Wilson, Jacobi Wilson, Sanders and Darichelle Sampson) and the 4×200 (same runners) relay events.

After high placements in three individual events in each of the last two meets, Jacobi Wilson did not run in the 200 or 400 meter events after feeling a twinge in her leg after the 100.

“We decided to just shut it down at that point,” Tiffany Wilson said.

ESJ finished fourth at the seven-team meet with 90 points, a hair ahead of fifth place Destrehan (88.5). Hahnville finished second to the meet’s winner, Cabrini (127 points).

Other local first place finishers among boys were: St. James’ Mason King (discus), Darrel Ambrose (javelin), and Roman Broden (long jump), Hahnville’s Da’Mon Scott (triple jump) and Bryce Deruise (110 hurdles), and Destrehan’s Brian Blackwell (300 hurdles).

Among local girls: Hahnville’s Rikia Preston (shot put), and St. James’ Donrielle Melancon (high jump).

NATHAN ROLLS FOR RAMS AT PLAQUEMINE — Terrance Nathan placed third in the 400 meters at Plaquemine’s meet on Friday, the heist placement of any WSJ track team member.

He recorded a time of 50.1.

“That’s our lone senior,” said WSJ coach Martin Sylvain. “He’s the guy a lot of the kids on our team looks up to.”

A number of other Rams recorded season bests at the meet. Corey Warmington’s time of 2:14 was good for fifth place. Ravon Owens took fifth in the 100, and helped the 4×100 relay team (with Nathan, Jordan Triche and Kenneth Dabney) notch a season best time of 1:32 — also good for fifth at the 10 team event.

“The important thing is that we just keep getting better,” said Sylvain. “We didn’t win this meet, but once we get down into our district and class, we’re gonna compete. I thought our guys did real well.”