THE LHSAA CLASS C GIRLS' STATE TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONS -- GIBSLAND-COLEMAN!
Before the bus left the school parking lot this morning, Gibsland-Coleman senior Ke' honesty Williams told head coach Andrew Haulcy "I just want to win a championship."
She wasn't talking about individual state championships. Since she was in the seventh grade, she has been an individual state champion. She wanted a team title, and that's exactly what she got as she helped Gibsland-Coleman score 98 points, 13 more than the defending girls' Class C champions, Reeves.
"It means, a lot," Coach Haulcy said. "Especially to Ke'honesty Williams since she's a senior on the team. She is the only senior. She has won an event every year since she was in the seventh grade."
Another motivating factor, according to Coach Haulcy, is the fact that most of the girls on the track and field team finished as runner-ups in basketball.
Williams came away from Bernie Moore Stadium with four gold medals hanging around her neck. It started with a state championship in the long jump (17-0.75). She then moved to the track, where she picked up another win in the 100 (13.09). Her day ended with a state championship in the 200 (27.14).
Williams fourth gold medal came in the 400 relay (53.79).
She wasn't the only Lady Bulldog who won four events. Williams' first cousin, freshman Samora Sampson also won four events.
Like Williams, she started off her day with a win in the field events, where she won the triple jump (35-3). On the track, Sampson won both the 100 hurdles (16.97) and 300 hurdles (50.28).
Sampson was also on the winning 400 relay.
Gibsland-Coleman also had a good day in the high jump, where they picked up a second place from LA Jordan Allen (4-8) and a fourth place finish from Destiny Hardy (4-6).
The Lady Bulldogs also got eight points from a second place finish by Baleigh Haulcy in the triple jump (32-9).
"It feels good," Williams said. "As I told my team, we have to bring it home this year. It's a must. It's my senior year. I've got to go out loud."