GIRLS TRACK WINS 5A STATE TITLE
May 17, 2007
The Madison Central Lady Jag Track and Field team won their first ever 5A State Championship at Pearl High School on Saturday, May 5th. The Lady Jags outscored runner-up Columbus High 73.5 to 54 to post a comfortable margin of victory. The team ran roughshod over their opponents through the last month of competition with the smallest point separation being 17 points. They won the district at Vicksburg on April 12, then the Regional meet at Madison, the North State Championship at Columbus, and finally the ultimate championship at Pearl.

The Lady Jags were led all spring by a trio of spikettes. Candice Polk, a junior, was the 5A champion in the 100 meter dash, anchored the winning 4 X 100 meter relay, and placed 2nd in the 200 meter dash and the 4 X 200 meter relay. Candice scored 23 of MC's points in the State Meet.

Alex Ruhl, also a junior, was the state leader in the 100 meter hurdles in April, but fell on hard times in the hurdle races at North State and State. She ran on the champion 4 X 100 relay and the runnerup 4 X 200 in the state meet. She ran sub-60 second 400 meter relay splits at both the Regional and North State meets.

The third major star is 8th grader Katelyn Walker, who joined the high school team at the conclusion of the middle school season. She completed an undefeated season at 1600 meters and was the 5A State Champion at Pearl. Her only loss at 800 meters came at the State Meet. Katelyn ran an impressive 5:17.00 1600 at North State and won by 10 a second margin. Katelyn scored 19 points at the state meet.

Other girls who played important roles in this most successful season were Telicia Gayden, April Weathers, and Christie Moore. Weathers ran on all three relays and was especially impressive on the 4 X 100 and the 4 X 200. Gayden ran on the 4 X 1 relay and the 4 X 400 relay, and Moore ran on the 4 X 200 and 4 X 400. All three earned first or second place medals at the State Meet.

Earning a silver medal in the Triple Jump at State was the lone senior on the squad, Allison Pace. She had her longest jump ever in the championship competition. Two more girls placed 7th in field events in the state meet for the victors. Tiaudra Artis scored in the discus throw, as did Audrey Aldridge in the Pole Vault.

"What a pleasure to have these young ladies to work with. I have know all of them from past years at Madison Middle and as a high school assistant, and they have made this year most memorable," said Coach Billy Lamb, in his first year at the helm of both girls and boys team at MC. Assistant coaches were Kris Strickland, Ronnie Smith and Doug Jones.