GREEN OAKS BOYS CELEBRATE AFTER WINNING THE DISTRICT 1-2A CHAMPIONSHIP
Loyola College Prep head coach Sherrod Lewis and Green Oaks head coach James Bradford have a few things in common. For starters, they are both finishing up their fourth year at the helm of their respective programs. Another thing they have in common is that they left Lee Hedges Stadium on Wednesday with District 1-2A championship team trophies.
For Lewis, it was the fourth straight District title for his Lady Flyers, who scored 188 points and won by a 70-point margin.
That was not for case for Bradford, who led his boys' team to a District 1-2A for the first time since anyone at 2550 Thomas E. Howard Dr. can remember.
Bradford called his principal, Steven Grant, shortly before the conclusion of the meet to see if he knew. Grant told Bradford that he has been at the school for seven years and they have not won a district track and field title during that time.
"It feels amazing," Bradford said. "It's been a long year. We've prepared since indoor. I'm proud of my coaches.Coach Peoples, Coach Collins, Coach Alexander. Perseverance has been a big thing for us trying to make sure we peak at the right time."
Green Oaks' boys team scored 163 points, 34 more than runner-up Loyola.
GREEN OAK'S JAMES BRADFORD ON BOYS' DISTRICT 1-2A TITLE!
While Bradford was proud of all of his Giants, he was especially proud of jumper Cortaveus Dorsey, who had a personal record of 21-0 in the long jump to win the district championship. Dorsey's closest competition in the long jump came from his teammate Amarion Dorsey (19-7).
While the Dorsey duo picked up 18 points for Green Oaks in the long jump, they also picked up 16 points in the triple jump. Cortaveus, who had a big PR last week of 45-3 at the Caddo Parish championship meet, jumped 42-6 while Amarion Dorsey jumped 37-6 for third place.
But the jumps wasn't the only event where the Giants loaded up on points. The Giants also scored big in the hurdles 18 points in both the 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles. Raymond Johnson won the 110m hurdles with a time of 18.12 while Jomariyion Collins (19.31) finished second.
The two hurdlers traded places on the podium after the 300m hurdles. Collins (44.74) was the district champion while Johnson (45.88) was the runner-up.
In the relays, Green Oaks won the 4x100 (44.37) and finished second in both the 4x800 (9:44.96) and 4x200 (1:32.78).
It didn't take Lewis long to answer when asked what impressed him the most about his team on Wednesday.
"The leadership of these seniors," Lewis said. "I've had them for four years. Just the growth they've had. And this is a big freshmen class. So for them to take that step in a sport based on so much athleticism, I'm extremely proud of how all of my groups have come together. Sprints. Middle distance. Long distance. Hurdles. Jumps. Throws. We put it all together on the most important day."
Seven different Lady Flyers left Lee Hedges Stadium on Wednesday having won individual District 1-2A championships.
Grace Shepherd (1:05.12) won the 400m. Emily Anderson (2:28.11) won the 800m. Mary Elberson (6:00.54) won the 1600m. Maddie Crawford (19.62) won the 100m hurdles. Landry Hooper (4-10) won the high jump. Saniyah Paglialunga-Simo (29-1.5) won the triple jump, and Amari Jackson (29-7) won the shot put.
In the relays, the Lady Flyers won the 4x100 (51.42) and 4x800 (11:10.86).
LCP'S SHERROD LEWIS ON THE GIRLS' FOURTH-STRAIGHT DISTRICT TITLE!
Last week, at the Caddo Parish meet, Anderson was the only Lady Flyer to come away with a gold medal in the 800m. But she would have traded the color of the medal to break 2:30 in the 800m. She just missed it by .13 of a second.
Anderson's personal record time of 2:28.11 was especially sweet.
"In the first 200m I told myself 'today is the day. You are ready for this. You were born for this. Let's go. So I really pushed it," Anderson said. "The last 100m hurt, but it was so worth it because I saw the clock running. I was like 'time is running out so we have got to go. It was an indescribable feeling to see that time."
More important to Anderson than her individual success was seeing her team succeed.
"I love this team with my entire soul," Anderson said. "I'm sad that I'm a senior, but I'm glad we've made this last year really great."
Now, the Flyers and the Giants will turn their attention to next week's Region 1-2A Meet in Mansfield on Wednesday.
READ MORE: DISTRICT 1-2A MEET BITTERSWEET FOR LCP'S TRIPP ROEMER