Oak Grove track qualifiers head to State Championship meet

By: Kirk McCarty

Staff Reporter

The Oak Grove boys’ and girls’ track teams are nearing the end of their season, and the end of the season brings the state meet in Pearl, MS at Pearl High School.

The boys qualified in three events, including the 4×4, 800M, and 1600M. The 4×4 team ran the relay in 3 minutes and 21 seconds at the district meet at Meridian High School. Senior member of the relay team John Addison Ford said, “We’ve been training for this last meet the entire season. It all comes down to this last week. We want a ring.” The 4×4 team hasn’t lost a race this entire season. Other boys’ qualifiers include Jeremy Trask in the 800M and Will Murphey, also a cross country standout, in the 1600M (one mile). Murphey has been battling a knee injury all season but still managed to qualify for State by winning District, coming in second in Regional, and second in South State. Murphey ran a 4:43 at South State, only a second behind the winner from Forest Hill High School in Jackson. Murphey has high expectations for State, however. “I want to win State and break 4:30,” Murphey said.

The girls’ track team has encountered much success as well. The girls qualified in multiple events including the 1600M, 3200M, 800M, pole vault, and the triple jump.

Junior Christie Stricker, who qualified in the 800M and pole vault, placed second at the South State meet at Gulfport High School with a time of 2:26. Stricker won the pole vault competition, jumping 8’ 9”. “I enjoy pole vaulting because a lot of people can’t really go out and clear heights nine feet high,” Stricker said. Stricker began pole vaulting in ninth grade and is now one of the best in the state.

The girls distance runners continue
to impress as senior Chloe Sanders qualified in the 1600M and fellow
senior Dana Dillistone qualified in the 3200M as well as the 800M. The final qualifier for the state meet is junior Reagen Woods, who qualified in the triple jump.

All of the qualifiers will travel to
Pearl High School in Jackson to compete for their respective State Championships on May 13.