The 2011 track and field season ended with David Emanuel Academy taking numerous team and individual awards at the recent GISA state meet in Albany. Leading the way was Laura Cardell who won the girls high jump championship for the fifth consecutive year and also won the triple jump and Cody Burnett who won the boys shot put and discus throws. In the team competition DEA finished third overall in the girls and fifth in the boys division.
Cardell, who also finished third in the long jump and ran a leg of the third place 4X100 and fourth place 4X400 relay teams, finished third overall in the individual points standings with 28.75 points. The five consecutive state championships in the high jump is a record that can only be tied at the GISA level.
“Laura is an all around athlete and her talent really shows in the sport of track and field” said Coach Andy Callaway. “I’m so happy for her that she could end her outstanding track and field career in this manner.” Cardell, who is headed to East Georgia College to play softball, has also excelled in basketball and plays a prominent role on DEA’s baseball team.”
Cody Burnett, who is bound for Kentucky Christian College to play football, finished sixth in the overall points standings in the boys competition. “I’m proud of what Cody has done as well” said Callaway. “He has worked hard and continues a DEA tradition of winning the shot put at the state level”. Spencer Lanier and Dawda Njie both won state championships in that event during the past seven years.
Westwood School ran away with the girls team title with a whopping 222 point to easily outdistance Randolph Southern who scored 121. DEA was third at 103 followed by Thomas Jefferson at 86 and Twiggs at 26. Westwood also won the boys championship with 192 points to hold off second place Thomas Jefferson at 186. Randolph Southern was third at 73 followed by John Hancock at 54 and DEA at 44.
Girls other than Cardell that finished in the top eight and scored team points included Amy Wells- 4th 300 meter hurdles and 8th 100 meter dash, 3rd 4X100 relay and 4th 4X400 relay, Jasmine Phillips-5th high jump, 3rd 4X100 relay and 4th 4X400 relay. Caitlin Lamm- 5th 3200 meter run, 6th 1600 meter run and 7th 4X400 relay, Madison Mercer- 7th long jump, 4th 4X400 relay and 6th 4X100 relay, Jordan Brett- 6th 800 meter run, Jerica Burnett- 5th 400 meter run, 6th discus and 7th 4X400 relay, Regan Brannen- 6th 100 meter hurdles, 5th 300 meter hurdles,6th 4X100 relay, Kristan Rigdon- 5th discus, McLean Sullivan- 7th 100 meter dash and third 4X100 relay, Kirsten Lamm- 3rd 3200 meter run, 8th 1600 meter run and 6th 4X400 relay, Tori Hilliard- 4th 100 meter hurdles, 7th 200 meter dash, 6th 4X100 relay and Rebecca Durden- 7th 400 meter run, 7th 800 meter run and 7th 4X400 relay.
Boys other than Burnett that were top eight finishers from DEA included Jacob Wheeler- 3rd long jump, and 5th 100 meter dash, Baba Gana- 5th 1600 meter run, Blake Patterson- 5th long jump, 6th triple jump and Seth Durden- 6th 100 meter dash.
“Overall it was another good season for us” said Callaway. “For the most part everyone made steady improvement during the season and had their best marks at the state meet.”
Cardell and Burnett win State Championships
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