Abbeville Track And Field Looking To The Future With A Young Team
Abbeville Tielle Killinsworth hands baton to Tayden Sutton 4x400 relay.
By Neill Kirkpatrick
Special to the HSSR
Columbia - It has been a learning experience for the Abbeville track and field teams during the 2026 season as head coach Jeremiah Boyd has a young team that has the potential to very good as they mature but this season was about preparing for next season and the season’s to come.
“We have a very young team, so the number one goal is to get experience at a high level meet. We had several athletes who were in the mix to get on the podium which is always exciting but we need them to understand not only what it takes to get to the state but what you have to do to get better,” said coach Boyd.
While the state meet did not go as planned the Panthers girls team did bring home two medals and it was the younger girls who brought them home. Freshmen Jayla Paul captured silver in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:10.78 which was just off her personal best of 1:10.78. She also scored points in the 100 meter hurdles finishing 7th. During the year she also ran the 200, 400 and competed in the long and triple jump.
The girl’s 4x400 relay team earned a bronze medal as they posted a season best of 4:25.56. Joining Paul on the team were Tielle Killingsworth, Tayden Sutton, and Alivia Usher.
Coach said this of his 4x400 relay team, “We also have an incredibly talented girls 4x400 team. They are coming off of a dominant win at the Upper State Championships and are just now putting together all of the pieces to a great relay. They have their work cut out for them at the State Meet with about 4 teams within 5 seconds of each other in the 1A rankings. It should be an exciting race.”
110 meter hurdler junior Khari Gray had the best finish among the boys team when he finished fourth with a time of 15.33.
Coach felt going into the meet that senior Isaiah McNair had the best chance to medal in the 400 meter hurdles. He ran a good race but finished fifth.
On of the biggest surprises of the year was 9th grader Micah Hall qualifying in the 3200 meter run. He finished 11th but ran a personal best of 11:50.33. Coach feels he is going to be one to watch.
“I think the takeaway from this season at Abbeville is how much young talent we have. As our young kids develop I expect we will make a bigger appearance at the state level over the next couple of years. I am proud of how hard our team has worked this year and I am very excited to watch our best athletes compete at state. Obviously, we hope to come home with medal, but this is a year to learn how to perform in high stakes competitions,” coach Boyd said.
