By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

BATON ROUGE – Some of the River Region’s most impressive athletes earned a place on the winner’s podium at last week’s state track and field championship meet, standing before a massive crowd that gathered for the three day event at LSU. 

The West St. John boys 4×100 relay team of Jeremy Jackson, Kylum Favorite, Quan Scott and Justin Bethancourt finished second in the state in the Class 1A boys 4×100 relay event. Riverside’s Michelle Mayes captured third place in the Class 2A girls discus. Jawane Jenkins, Brandi Johnson, Taylor Payne and Daijah Washington lifted Lutcher to a third place finish in the Class 4A girls 4×100 relay. And Hahnville’s Brock Bourgeois finished second in the discus and third in the shot put and javelin in the para-ambulatory competition.

West St. John’s 4×100 squad notched a time of 44.58, just behind the winning mark of Haynesville; Haynesville pulled ahead of the Rams down the final stretch in a dramatic finish to capture first.

For a Rams’ team that entered as the top seed in the event, it was something of a bittersweet finish. But Scott said that he still felt much pride.

“My teammates are a little down,” said Scott, “but at the end of the day, second in the state is pretty good. We’ve never made it to state before … It was a special experience running with these guys this year. I’ve never been part of a team this fast.”

Scott also finished fourth in the long jump with a mark of 21-05.50. Last year, Scott captured second place in the long jump (22-01) and triple jump (44.06.75) events at state.

“It wasn’t my best day,” said Scott. “But just to participate here at state is a blessing.”

Mayes, meanwhile, made a major breakthrough after competing at state a year ago. Her heave of 98-04 in the discus was good for third place; Mayes finished in ninth in the javelin event a year ago. She nailed down the mark on her second throw of the final round.

“I was nervous last year, being my first time out here,” said Mayes. “I just did my best to keep my mind clear and free this time. I’m very excited about it.”

For Lutcher’s 4×100 team, the finish on the podium was vindication after a string of near misses – including one earlier in the day, as the same quartet finished fourth in the 4×200 event (1:44.25). LHS recorded a time of 49.02 to earn the third place finish.

“It’s my fourth and final time at state, so I knew I had to go all out,” said Johnson, a senior. “We’d get here and always finish in fourth. Our anchor (Washington) was in a walking boot all week, she pushed herself through. It just feels awesome to break through here.”

Lutcher track and field coach Chad Carter said Washington, who is suffering from what he said they believe to be severe turf toe, put her competitiveness on full display for everyone in attendance.

“It was phenomenal,” Carter said. “You don’t expect a kid with that kind of injury to compete.

“She literally cried afterwards, she was in so much pain. But she refused to stop running. She told me before, ‘Coach, I don’t care about the pain. You have to let me run.’ She’s got a lot of courage.”

Bourgeois competed in the para-ambulatory events, which are open to those who are visually impaired, amputees or have cerebral palsy, scoliosis or another verifiable disability. He finished second in the discus (60-01), third in the javelin (81-01) and shot put (21-00.75) and fourth in the 100 (18.36).

Those weren’t the only locals who competed among the best.

Among Class 5A boys, the East St. John 4×100 relay team (Leonard Davis, Darius Lipps, Xavier Lewis and Jacob McNeil) finished in fourth (42.62), overcoming having to run in the outside lane.

“We did alright. The lane really killed us … in a better spot, I think we’d have finished second or third easily,” said Lewis, a sophomore. “It was too easy to come back on us from the inside.

“But the good thing is three of us will be back next year. (Gerard) is a senior, so we’ll need to pick up a fourth leg, but we should be in really good shape entering next year.”

Hahnville’s Bryce Robinson took fourth in the 1600 (4:25.22) and fourth in the 3200 (9:41.87). Hahnville’s Brandon Singleton finished fourth in the 110 meter hurdles (14.63). Destrehan’s RaeJuan Marbley took fifth in the shot put (50-8.50). The East St. John 4×200 relay team (Xavier Lewis, Jacob McNeil, Darius Lipps and Leonard Davis) finished sixth (1:29.14). Lipps also finished sixth in the 100 (10.97). East St. John’s 4×400 relay team (Davis, Jevaughn Albert, Donald Stirgus and Darren Darensburg) took seventh (3:28.39). Hahnville’s Richard Preston took eighth in the javelin (158-04). Hahnville’s Beau Robinson finished eighth in the 1600 (4:39.39) and in the 3200 (10:20.21).  East St. John’s Jevaughn Albert finished eighth in the 800 (1:59.83).  Destrehan’s Brandon Scott took ninth in the long jump (20-8). Destrehan’s Will Mathews finished ninth in the discus (110-05).

In Class 3A, St. Charles Catholic’s Pierre McGraw finished sixth in the boys 1600 (4:47.00), and St. James’ Irwin Simmons finished seventh in the boys 110 hurdles (15.87).

Among Class 2A boys, Riverside’s Evan Kirkwood finished eighth in the javelin (139-00).

In the Class 1A boys events, West St. John’s Joshua Borne finished ninth in the 400 (57.06).

Among 5A girls, East St. John’s Elizabeth Scioneaux captured fifth in the 5A long jump (17-00.25). Destrehan’s Dymon Joseph finished seventh in the 5A high jump (5-02). The East St. John 4×200 relay team (Ra-Jane’ Morris, Bianca Holmes, Ann Marie Jenkins and Scioneaux) finished eighth (1:49.76). Ra-Jane’ Morris also finished eighth in the 800 (2:31.79). Hahnville’s Breanne Bias took eighth in the 200 (26.20).

Among Class 2A girls, Riverside’s Channan Simmons competed in three individual events,  finishing sixth in the high jump (4-10.00) as well as in the 100 (12.87) and 200 (26.87). Riverside’s Kendra Turner finished seventh in the triple jump (33-04.75) and ninth in the shot put (29-02.75). The Rebels’ 4×200 relay team (Taylor Terrio, Kennedy White, Kaitlyn Masters and Rae Alexander) finished eighth (1:53.43).

For Class 1A girls, West St. John’s Tahajenik Melancon finished ninth in the javelin (25.17).