Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Calhoun County claim Class A track titles
Columbia – As the regular season progressed, Bamberg-Ehrhardt girls track coach Travis Wilson felt more and more confident about the chances of his team competing for a 2025 state championship.
Wilson’s team peaked at the right time, winning the Class A state championship on May 15. It was the first state title in school history and came after two years of being a top five finisher in the state meet.
“Been a long time coming but we just continued to build towards being a champion,” said Wilson, who is in his 14th season as coach. “It took a total team effort. We had girls really step up and some performed better than they had all season. It takes that kind of effort to win a state title.”
Bamberg-Ehrhardt edged out runner-up Dixie in the final team standings, finishing with 96 points to Dixie’s 92 points. Dixie did more of its damage in the distance events, led by Ansley Prescott’s individual wins in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter runs.
“I knew Dixie would be the team to beat because of their strength in the distance events,” Wilson said. “I told the girls all I could ask for was their best effort and we would see how it all ended up. We were able to get key points in a few events. Every point counts.”
Bamberg-Ehrhardt had three individual state champions. Carmyn Folk won the 400 meter hurdles. Ezariah Williams won the discus and Briaunjunal McMillan was the javelin state champion. Depth, however was the key to the team victory,
Williams gathered key points in the shot put (second), and Keshauna McMillan was third in the shot put. Folk finished fourth in the long jump while Jayna Sanders finished fourth in the 800. Daisha Etheridge was fourth in the 100 hurdles.
“The goal was to finish in the top 10 in as many events as we could and see how it all ended up,” Wilson said. “Just do your best. Depth is so important. I was nervous going into the meet because I knew we had a chance if everyone did what we needed. It was a real blessing to see them compete at the highest level and be so committed to helping the team.”
Wilson also credited the work of his assistant coaches for the win. Those include Rell Haynes, Marcus Cann, Shaniya McMillan and Z Sellers.
Calhoun County won the Class A boys title, also using depth to earn key points. The Saints finished with 108 points. Abbeville finished as the runner-up with 77 points. The championship was the first for Calhoun County but coach Wayne Farmer has coached 10 state title teams.
“This team continued to be consistent all season,” Farmer said. “For me, as a coach, I really enjoy the process and the grind that it takes. It’s very satisfying to see the kids perform at their best and earn the opportunity to celebrate. It was a total team effort. I’m so proud of these kids. They truly learned how to be champions and what it takes to become champions.”
Leading the way for the Saints were individual state champions Kamari Kelly (800), Amerr Guinyard (triple jump), Jamari Canty (shot put) and Elijah Glover (javelin).
Clark Prochaska was second in the pole vault while Kelly was second in the 400. Guinyard was third in the javelin and Jayden Parker was second in the shot put.
“They stepped up and we got some points that we may not have expected,” Farmer said.
Lamar sprinter Xavier Jackson won two gold in the 100 and 200 meter events. Abbeville’s Karson Norman was second in the 100 and third in the 200.
Class A individual results
Girls 400 relay – Baptist Hill; Boys 400 relay – Ridgeland; Girls 3200 relay – Dixie; Boys 3200 relay – Calhoun County; Girls pole vault – Ivy Stroble, St. John’s; Girls long jump – Jade Exley, Ridgeland; Boys long jump – Jamarion Kirkland, Blackville-Hilda; Girls 100 hurdles – Janiya Fludd, Baptist Hill; Boys 110 hurdles – Nykeis Btown, Abbeville; Girls 100 meter dash – Breyanna Williams, Blackville-Hilda; Boys javelin – Elijah Glover, Calhoun County; Boys shot put – Jamari Cantey, Calhoun County; Boys 100 meter dash – Xavier 0Jackson, Lamar; Girls discus - Ezariah Williams, Bamberg-Ehrhardt; Girls 1600 – Ansley Prescott, Dixie; Boys 1600 – Abram Suggs, Green Sea Floyds; Boys pole vault – Jayden Press, Governor’s School; Girls 400 – Breyanna Williams, Blackville-Hilda; Boys 400 – Karson Norman. Abbeville; Girls 400 hurdles - Carmyn Folk; Bamberg-Ehrhardt; Boys 400 hurdles – Nykeis Brown, Abbeville; Boys high jump – Xavier Jackson, Lamar; Girls 800 – Ansley Prescott; Dixie; Boys 800 – Kamari Kelly, Calhoun County; Girls high jump – Kandyce Mathis, St. John’s; Girls 3200 – Ansley Prescott, Dixie; Boys 3200 – Abram Suggs, Green Sea Floyds; Girls 1600 relay – Carver’s Bay; Girls Triple jump – Tanisha Myers, Green Sea Floyds; Boys triple jump – Amerr Guinyard, Calhoun County; Girls shot put – Mykeryah Holmes, Lee Central; Boys discus - Antaevion Donald, Dixie; Girls javelin – Briaunjenal McMillan, Bamberg-Ehrhardt; Girls 200 – Breyanna Williams, Blackville-Hilda; Boys 200 – Xavier Jackson, Lamar.
