Devils heading to Jefferson

By Steve Carter/Sports Editor

May 06, 2008 10:41 pm

— TIFTON — Fresh off of their first region title since 1982, the Tift County Blue Devils will be heading off to Jefferson this weekend for the state Class AAAAA track-and-field meet.
The event will begin at noon tomorrow with field events and will continue on until Saturday.
Coach Ben Simmons’ squad will leave this afternoon after football practice.
Simmons is enthusiastic about his squad. He also pointed out the new track at the high school has played a big role in the team’s success in 2008.
“This has been an exciting year for Tift County track. Getting top-notch facilities and equipment was an added bonus to us maximizing our top potential,” said Simmons. “I fully expect our boys to go out and compete to the best of their ability.”
Tift will have a chance to get on the scoreboard early when Lucas Hand competes in the pole vault, the first event on schedule for Class AAAAA teams.
Hand’s success, as well as other successes, can be tied to his assistant coaches, Simmons pointed out.
“I have two of the best assistant coaches ever — Anthony Bateman, who works with our jumpers, and Jason Slimp, who coached a region winner in the pole vault,” said Simmons.
Kevin Brown will go in the high jump for the Devils, while Zach Allen and Tabias Walker will both represent Tift County in the shot put.
Jamal Denson will throw the discus for the Devils at the state meet.
Blake Reddick will go in as the Region 1-AAAAA champion in five different events, one of which being the long jump, with another being the triple jump.
In the 4x100m relay, Reddick will be joined by Henry Green, Kaream Hess, Tevin Loyd, Jakevian Rhodes and Joseph Delva.
If qualifying times are any indication, Reddick has an excellent chance to shine in the 100m dash. The senior’s region championship time of 10.610 was the best among the 16 runners that will compete.
“Looking at the qualifying times/distances, we do have a great opportunity to score points at the state meet,” said Simmons. “Blake Reddick and Zach Allen have been our top scorers all year on the track and in the field, respectively and these guys should do well.”
Hess and Johnathan Kelly will go in the 110m high hurdles for the Devils. Kelly will also run in the 300m intermediate hurdles.
Finally, in the 4x400m relay, Tift County will be represented by Hess, Zimmy Mack, Reddick, Rhodes, Bobby Gordon and Christian Neal.
Simmons is looking forward to the weekend.
“In other events, our competitors and teams will have to make a personal best on times and/or distances, but it is well within our reach,” said Simmons.
The first day of competition as well as the relay events will be crucial in determining how well the Devils will do as a team.
“Coming out of the field events with points Thursday is important for Tift County. Provided we do as expected, the key event for the Tift County team will be the 4x1 and 4x4 relays. If these teams can qualify for the finals on Saturday, then we will have a good shot at scoring big points in the state meet and this has us extremely excited,” said Simmons.
There will be other competitors from the Tiftarea at the state meet in their respective classifications, as well.
In the Class AA high jump, Cook’s Tevin Sims will compete, while his teammate Ryan Johnson will go in the long jump, and in the 200m dash.
The Cook High 4x100m relay team of Jernato Harris, Mike Henley, Sims, Johnson, Trey Register and Josh Miles will also be there to represent their school. Harris will also run in the 400m dash.
Cook will also have a representative team in the 4x400m relay. That squad will include Appollo Harris, Register, T.J. Payne, Jernato Harris.
Fitzgerald’s Austin McDonald will go in the 1600m run, and the 800m run in Class AA. His teammate, Octavious McGee will compete in the 110m high hurdles.
Berrien High’s Chad Novack will participate in the Class AA 3200m run.
Irwin County’s Terry Ashley will compete in the Class A shot put. Another Indian, Lonnie Johnson, will go into the 100m dash with one of the fastest times in Class A.
Also in Class A, Turner County’s Lester Green will compete in the triple jump, while another Rebel, Josh Singleton, will run in the 110m high hurdles, and in the 300m intermediate hurdles.
Green’s teammate, Chris Chambers, will run in the 1600m run. Another Turner County Rebel, Hiawatha Parker, will compete in the Class A 400m dash.