Goose Creek Gators preparing for home stretch in track and field
Goose Creek's Julian Whitfield, who finished first in the long jump with a mark of 6.84 meters.
By Rob Gantt
Special to The HSSR
GOOSE CREEK – Goose Creek High School’s track and field athletes have proven to be some of the best in their area and are aiming to finish strong as the season funnels into the Class 5A state championship meets in mid-May.
During the Berkeley County championship in late March at Cane Bay, the Gators reached the top of the three-person awards podium multiple times. For the Lady Gators, hurdler Kourtney Horne doubled up in the 100- and 400-meter hurdles. She won the 100 hurdles in 14.16 seconds and the 400 hurdles in 1 minute, 8.24 seconds, edging teammate Trinity Freeman. Kaprice Manigualt-Garrett finished first in the 800-meter run 2:25.84. Also for the Lady Gators, the 4 x 400 relay team won its event. Garrett added a third-place finish in the 400-meter dash and the 4 x 100 relay was third.
Leading the Goose Creek boys was Julian Whitfield, who finished first in the long jump with a mark of 6.84 meters. Wisdom Johnson placed second in the 110-meter hurdles and Alexander Ravenel finished third in the high jump.
In the Cane Bay Invitational a few days later, Horne finished first in the 110-meter hurdles in 14.23. For the boys, Ravenel placed seventh in the high jump and the 4 x 100 relay squad was seventh.
During the Tri-County Meet of Champions April 9 at Cane Bay, the boys 4 x 100 relay team was runner-up while the girls 4 x 100 relay team finished third. Johnson chipped in a third-place finish in the 400 hurdles and was fourth in the 110-meter hurdles. Garrett was fourth in the 400-meter dash.
The Class 5A Div. II state championship meet is set for May 15 in Columbia at Spring Valley High School.
