Goose Creek Gators preparing for home stretch in track and field

Rob Gantt • April 17, 2025

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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.

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By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.