The Bryan County Middle School’s boys and girls track teams fared well at the recent Southeast Georgia Region meet.
The BCMS girls finished first, compiling 120 points. Antoniqua Gianes led the way for the Lady Redskins with four first-place finishes and earned the high point award, which is given to the "best athlete at the meet," according to BCMS boys’ track coach Mario Mincey.
"This was a total team effort for the young ladies," he said. "Several of the girls were part of the region champion basketball team and their will to win was obvious as they clinched the region title in track. I was really proud of the girls’ and coaches."
Mincey especially had praise for girls’ track coach Cassandra Donaldson.
"(Donaldson) has done a wonderful job this year. She led the girls to title in basketball and now in track," he said. "She really dedicates herself to making the girls the best that they can be. I am just glad to have the chance to work with her and she shares the same desire for the kids as I do."
Mincey noted the team is only in its second season and finished as region runner-up last season.
"The scary thing is that most of this team is made up of sixth- and seventh-graders," he said. "So they could have a chance to repeat."
The boys finished in second place behind Reidsville Middle School after a comeback of sorts. The Redskins were in third after the first day of the competition.
"I told the guys that we really had to run our best on day two of the meet and they did."
The squad’s 4x100 relay team started things off with a second-place finish, then Marcus Geiger, Darron Jones and Kimonti Murray "turned in very impressive individual efforts which got the team closer to second place," Mincey said.
Isaiah Tillman and Nic Markles then turned in fast times in the 400 to move the Redskins into a battle for second with Glennville Middle School. Bryan County’s 4x400 team then knocked off Reidsville in what Mincey called "an epic race," to claim the runner-up trophy.
"I was really proud of the boys and happy to see them battle back when they could have easily given up," he said. "Myself and coach Allen Wallace really had a great time coaching these guys. Most of them played basketball for us and claimed region runner up in that as well, so they knew what we both expected out of them."
Mincey had praise for his assistant coach, as well.
"Coach Wallace has been a big part of our success this year here at Bryan Middle and I am glad to have him coaching with me," Mincey said. "It was just a great thing to see the girls and boys represent Bryan County so well at the meet."
Girls roster:
Jabrai Boyd, Yasmaine Crawford, Laquesha Davis, Ternayah Davis, Dykenia Dukes, Alyssa Edwards, Caroline Foglia, Antoniqua Gaines, Alyssa Gholston, Shelby Gunn, Jalaya Kendrick, Katie Marsh, Delanee McFarland, Arielle Moody, Kristin Roberson, Amy Roundtree, Laurissa Shuman, Marissa Shuman, Lydreah Simmons, Patricia Smith, Morgan Walker, Rosie Walker, Morgan Waters, Jessie Wilkes, Alana Williams
Boys roster:
Tyson Amory, Nathaniel Brannen, Arkail Brown, Warren Crawford, Terron Dixon, Levon Gaines, Marcus Geiger, Issac Hardy, Darron Jones, Blake Joyce, Willie Lavant, Nic Markles, Cole Morrison, Kimonti Murray, Isaiah Tillman, Tyree Whiters, Syrdre Williams.