The streak continues.
Actually, make that streaks.
Aiken High’s track and field programs were again victorious on their home turf Wednesday at the Region 5-AAAA championships. For the girls, it’s the seventh consecutive region championship, and it’s a three-peat for the boys.
“They needed to know what we needed to do, and then just executed,” said Aiken head coach John Hostetler, moments after a celebratory ice bath from senior thrower Triston Williams. “They knew that they needed to run things that they didn’t run. They knew that they needed to participate things that they don’t always participate in all the time. And they run with that, and they know how to compete when it matters. I appreciate them.”
It was a runaway win for the girls, who racked up 252 points and won all but four events. The Hornets won the 4x100-meter and 4x400 relays, then got individual victories from Region Female Athlete of the Year Victoria Colon-LaBorde (800, 1600, 3200), Jordyn Mobley (100, 200), Diamond White (400), Anaya Jones (400 hurdles), Elaysia Walker (pole vault), Lailah Howard (long jump, triple jump), Kezia Jones (discus throw) and Eliza King (javelin throw with a national top-10 distance).
“It feels really good,” said Colon-LaBorde. “I’ve worked every year, and every year I’ve come so close. Like a month ago I hurt my ankle, so I wasn’t sure if I would be able to run. To be able to run just feels so good.”
South Aiken was second with 117 points, and Marlena Lee picked up an individual title in the high jump. Midland Valley was third with 100, with Talea Dunbar winning the shot put. Airport was fourth with 93 points, and North Augusta was fifth with 85 points a region title in the 4x800 relay.
The boys’ title race was a little closer, but Aiken still won comfortably with 239 points.