(Photo by SCHSL) – Blythewood girls
By Thomas Grant Jr.
The Northeast’s girls’ track and field dynasty added another title to its trophy case.
Blythewood High School achieved a ‘4-peat’ on May 14 at Harry Parone Stadium. It dominated the Class 5A Division I track and field championships with a score of 125 points.
It outdistanced second place Dorman by 50 points in repeating at Division I after winning two straight when the classification was consolidated in 2023 and 2024. Spring Valley finished in ninth place.
“Our girls are real committed,” Blythewood head coach Aleshia Hawkins said. “The goal is to just always give something to our young girls to look up to and so, with the older girls and mid-age girls, they just keep coming.”
Peyton and Hayley Hightower both won individual medals to go with their state titles won in girls’ basketball in March. The Lady Bengals also won the 4×100 and 4×400 meter relays.
“This journey has been really amazing,” said younger sister Peyton, who’s a junior. “I’m just blessed to share with my sister and run with the same track team. I really love her and I’m super proud we’re both state champions in our last year.”
Blazers, Redhawks Place 2nd in boys
Ridge View boys
On the boys’ side, both defending champion Ridge View and Division II Westside placed second in its respective Class 5A divisions. The Blazers battled Wando to the final two events before getting outpointed 84-78.
Ridge View’s Elijah White won the 400-meter hurdles and the 4×400 meter relay team closed out the track portion of the final with a victory.
Spring Valley’s Cameron Holmes took first place in the high jump. The Vikings finished tied for fifth, while Blythewood was ninth in the team standings.
The margin of defeat was even closer for Westwood. Despite three gold medals in the 100, 200 and 400 meters by Jayden Wilson and the 4×800 meter team setting a school record in one of three relay events won by the Redhawks, edged out 95-94 by Fort Mill.
The Yellow Jackets capitalized on two high finishes in the pole vault as they and the girls’ team swept Division II. Westwood girls placed ninth as Alexis Jones (400-meter hurdles) and the 4×100 meter relay team won gold medals.
RICHLAND NORTHEAST
Westwood will compete in Class 4A next year where fellow Richland District Two school Richland Northeast placed fourth in the girls’ division on their homefield.
Winning gold was Lacey Samuels (400-meter hurdles) and the 4×100 meter relay team. She also placed third in the 110-meter hurdles, while Demya Porterfield did the same in the 100 and 200 meters.
