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The Bainbridge Decatur County Recreation Department wrapped up its second Youth Track and field season under Georgia Recreational and Park Association District 3 this past spring. The program produced 25 individual state qualifiers. Heather Smith, the owner and head coach of Valley Coast Running in Southwest Georgia, and assistant coach Kregg Close, both community volunteers in Bainbridge, Georgia, lead the development track and field program. 

GRPA District 3 Track & Field was held at Thomasville Middle School Track Stadium in Thomasville, Georgia, which hosted teams from across Southwest Georgia. To qualify for the state meet, individuals needed to place in the top three in their age group event or place first in a team relay. 

10U Hawaii Johnson: 100m Champion, Tristan Nix: 800m second/1600m third, Mariah Freeman: Long Jump second, Sophia Smith: 800m Champion, Javelin Champion, 400m second, Kai Johnson: 50m third/Standing long jump third, Ryan Davis: 400m second, Softball Throw third, Mason Tucker: 400m Champion, 200m Champion, Long Jump Champion, Kalvin Cooley:

400m Champion, 4×400 relay Champion, Kade Cooper: 100m third, Long Jump Champion, King Douglas: 100m third, 200m third, Long Jump Champion, 4×400 relay Champion. Kyrie Turner: Long Jump third, David Turner: 4×400 relay Champion, Keymon Canty: 4x400m relay Champion. 

8U Mariah Freeman, 10U Sophia Smith, 14U Amaya Parris, 10U Mason Tucker, 9U Kai Johnson, 8U Kade Cooper, 10U King Douglas, 10U David Turner and Canty.

Eight of the 14 made the trip and competed in 16 events in two days at the GRPA Class B/C State Track & Field Meet in Commerce, Georgia. Of those 16 events, multiple event qualifiers 12U King Douglas, 10U Mason Tucker, and 10U Sophia Smith combined for nine events.

8U Kade Cooper Champion 100m/Long Jump Eleventh, 8U Mariah Freeman Long jump, 8U Kai 50m/Standing Long Jump, 8U Ryan Davis 400m thirteenth place/Softball Throw fifteenth place, 10U Mason Tucker Champion 400m/200m ninth place/LJ, 10U Sophia Smith: Champion 800m/Javelin and 400m, King Douglas: Champion LJ and 100m  with a thirteenth place finish in the 200m and an eleventh place finish in the 4x400m relay.

The BDCRA team qualified 14 athletes across various disciplines, including distance, sprints, relay, and field events. “The goal is always to run, jump, and throw your best at the end of the season, specifically at the Championship Meet,” Coach Smith said. “It doesn’t always happen, but you celebrate those victories when it does.” 

The BDCRA Track & Field team achieved seven state podium finishes and set numerous personal records, placing them among the top eight in Georgia.

Mariah Freeman: Long Jump, eighth place, Kai Johnson: Standing Long Jump, fifth place, King Douglas: Long Jump, fifth place. Mason Tucker: 400m eighth place, Sophia Smith 800m fifth place, 400m sixth place, Javelin sixth place. Sophia Smith was the top-scoring BDCRA athlete with 13 points at GRPA State.