Outstanding performances by Joseph Ausgood and Shawn Samuels paced the Bainbridge High School boys’ track team to a record-setting championship performance Saturday in Albany.

They bested the second place Westover High School Patriots from Albany and 13 other Georgia teams in the 21st annual L.C. Smith and Winfred Benson Relays at the Hugh Mills Memorial Stadium Track.

The BHS girls’ track team finished tied for third with the Lowndes County High School Vikettes behind the host first place Monroe High School Lady Tornadoes and second place Valdosta High School Lady Wildcats in a strong 15-team girls field.

Paced by the performances of Ausgood and Samuels, the Bearcats were dominant.

Ausgood was the meet’s most valuable performer. He won the 400-meter run in a time of 50.92 seconds and the 800-meter run in a time of 1 minute, 57.42 seconds and anchored the Bearcats second place 4-by-400-meter relay team.

The 4-by-400 relay team, comprised of Ausgood, Octavious Scott, Ryan Edwards and Dylan Thomas, had a time of 3 minutes, 25.67 seconds.

Samuels beat Mitchell County’s Justin Scott-Wesley in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, which Scott-Wesley set records in at last year’s State Class AA Meet. Samuels did it with a personal best 11.04 second 100-meter dash time and a 22.14 second 200-meter dash time.

The Bearcats Jamar Venisee-Cosby won the high jump, clearing the bar at a height of 6 feet. BHS teammates Steven Crowell was third in the shot put with a heave of 49 feet, five inches, while Dewayne Gurley placed fifth in the discus with a throw of 162 feet 5 inches.

Also turning in a strong effort for the Bearcats in Albany was Scott, who was third in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 40.45 seconds. Ramerio Fields was sixth with a time of 41.12 seconds.

Ryan Edwards was second in the 400-meter run with a time of 51.63 seconds. Dylan Thomas was fifth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 7.14 seconds.

Rohan Gaines was third in the triple jump with a leap of 44 feet, 8 inches and fourth in the long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 7 inches.

The 4-by-100 relay tam of Aaron Hall, Samuel, Brandon Handsford and Scott placed 4th with a time of 42.99 seconds.

The 4-by-200 relay team of Dontavious Jackson, Terry Lewis, Quincy Fortson and Alton Miller placed 4th with a time of 1 minute, 32.96 seconds.

Girls

The Lady Cats were led Saturday by Kadeejah Cooper, who won the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 47.51 and finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 17.14.

Diamond Bouie finished third in the high jump with a leap of 5 feet, 3 inches and sixth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 17.17.

Porchia Green was second in the 300 hurdles with a time of 49.31 and placed 4th in the high jump with a leap of five feet.

Ashley Mango finished 3rd in the 800 meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 30.98 seconds.

The 4-by-400-meter relay of Cooper, Mango, Raven Burney and Bouie won in a time of 4 minutes, 6.44 seconds.

The 4-by-100 team of Cooper, Tearnee Harvin, Bouie and Burney placed 5th in a time of 50.99 seconds.

Khadeedra Sparrow was third in discus with a throw of 87 feet, six inches and 7th in the shot put with a throw of 30 feet, seven inches.

Both varsity teams will be competing in the Lowndes County High School Invitational Meet, to be held this Saturday in Valdosta, Ga.

The 9th and 10th Grade track team members will be competing this Wednesday, at the Freshmen-Sophmore Invitational Meet, to be held at Chiles High School in Tallahassee, Fla., beginning at 4 p.m.