The Cottage School high school track and field teams traveled to Albany, Ga. over the past few days to compete in the Georgia Independent School Association state track and field championship meeting of athletes at venerated Hugh Mills Stadium on their World-class Mondo track. Your Cougars earned the right to compete in the prestigious competition by winning the Atlanta Athletic Conference, GISA region I-AA, and placing among the top four at the region championship in their respective events. Phil Parker, our long-time Middle School and Assistant High School Coach (was born and died on the same day as the state meet-26 April) watched over us as always. Competing in near perfect unbelievably cool, dry weather, Grace Marriott placed 15th in the 800 (3:20) 15th in the 1600m (7:13) and clawed her way into the top 8 (the top 8 student-athletes climb atop the podium, earn awards, and score points) in the 3200m with a 15:00!
On the boys’ squad, Eric Vogel ran a 28:51 to place 15th in the 200m. Aidan Briggs placed 12th in the 400m with a 58:40. Nicholas Daugherty and Daniel Byman ran into lane one prior to the pole (J stagger), and were unfortunately disqualified from the 800m race even though they were on pace to place among the coveted top 8. In the 1600m run, Nicholas Daugherty was vindicated as he earned bronze with a 5:02, while Daniel Byman was out leaned in the final kick narrowly miss 8th at 5:22. In the 3200m, Daniel Byman unleashed a ferocious kick to finish in a near photo finish in 6th at 12:00. In the shot put, Toby Nwokedi placed 16th with a 31’ 6.75. Toby fought back in the discus and threw one deep into the sectors for 11th at 95’02”, while mate Shane Hendrickson earned 15th at 69’04”. In the long jump Briggs placed 14th with a leap of 16’11”, and earned 12th for a vertical leap of 5’00”. In the 4X100m relay, the A team of Kyle Kimble, Nick Daugherty, Shane Hendrickson and Aidan Briggs were disqualified for exchanging the baton outside the first exchange zone while the B team of Eric Vogel, Camden Michaud and Will Conroy placed 14th in 54:21. In the 4X400m relay, the A team of Briggs, Michaud, Daugherty and Conroy placed 14th in 4:01.81 while the B team of Hendrickson, Smith, Vogel and Parks placed 15th with a 4:14. In the 110h hurdles, Kyle Kimble placed 15th at 21:58, hurting his hamstrings in the process. In the 300m intermediate hurdles, Shane Hendrickson placed 13th with a 53.92 while teammate, Kyle Kimble placed 15th in 1:00.95.
Coach Melissa, Aaron and I appreciate everyone’s support of our team as they conclude another spectacular season. Please remember to continue the work you have begun by attending and competing in the all-comers track and field meetings of athletes each Tuesday beginning at 5:15PM at Emory University’s track throughout May and June. Moreover, distance runners will have training each Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 7:15AM -8:00AM at the volleyball courts on Riverside Drive over the summer (excluding the 4th of July week), and our annual Distance Runner’s Camp will be held on campus from 8:00-12:00PM daily from July 08-12.
