From STAFF REPORTS

The Southland Academy Raiders Track Team was edged by long-time region rival, Deerfield -Windsor at the Region 3-IAAA Track and Field Championships, held April 13 at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany.
Deerfield held a 149.5 to134 point advantage over the Raiders at the end, with Westwood coming in third (70), followed by Tiftarea (55.5), Brookwood (37), Terrell Academy (30) and Valwood (24).
The Raiders won numerous individual region champion honors at the tournament. Wright Calhoun was a triple winner, taking the titles in the 800-meter race (2:04), the 1600-meter race (4:35), and the 3200-meter event (10:17). Calhoun was also the overall region men’s individual high points winner for the second year in a row.

In the field events, Stephen Turton was the region champion in the disc event, throwing 127′ 7″. Brody Shattles won the pole vault, clearing 11 feet.
Townsend Ray took first place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24:08. Bennett Carey won the 110-meter hurdles in 17:79. Billy Calcutt earned honors as the region champion in the 400-meter dash iwith a time of 54:00.
Region Runners-up were Ellis Ivey in the 300-meter hurdles (46:82) and Stephen Taggart in the shot put with a throw spanning 42′ 3″.
Other Raiders who qualified for State were Billy Calcutt (third place in the 3200-meter race); Logan Morris (third place in the pole vault);  Jamal Rice (third place in the 200-meter race); Ellis Ivey (third place in the 110-meter hurdles); and the number-one 4 x 400 Relay Team of Calcutt, Brian Miller, Ridge Roland and Calhoun that finished in third place with a time of 3:46.
Others who scored points were the number-two 4 x 400 relay team of Ivey, Morris, Ray, and Morgan Youngdale that finished fifth with a time of 3:55;  Rice (fifth place in the long jump with a leap spanning 18′ 11″); Turton (sixth place in the shot put wit a throw of 39′ 3″); Roland (sixth place in the 400-meter race with a time of 57:69); Ray (sixth place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11:83); and Carey (fifth place in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 48:22).
In the women’s competition, Deerfield defended its region title with 216.5 points, followed by Westwood with 87, Southland with 62.5, Tiftarea with 62, Valwood with 37, Brookwood with 21 and Terrell Academy with 10 points.
The Lady Raiders had two distance runners qualify for state: Ryleigh Bell (third place in the 3200, third place in the 1600, and fourth place in the 800); and Calyn Fort (fourth place in both the 1600 and 3200).
Sydney Payne earned honors as region runner-up in the high jump event, clearing five feet, and finished third in the long jump. Kaitlyn Smith qualified as well, taking fourth place in the disc competition. Jordan Sanders earned a spot in the state meet with a fourth-place finish in the triple jump, clearing 28′ 5.5″.
The 4 x 400 Relay Team of Alex Exum, Lilli Dickens, Fort, and Bell finished in third place with a time of 4:38 to make a return to the state tourney.
Others who scored include: Exum, clearing seven feet in the pole vault for fifth place (breaking her own school record); Lauren Barthell (fifth in the high jump); Anna Kate Ivey (fifth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 1:02.39);  Calyn Fort (fifth place in the 800); and Olivia Perry (sixth place in the shot put).
The state tournaent begins on April 28 at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany. Southland will send a total of 12 men and seven women on to the state championships.
Nathan Hammack is the head track coach and specializes in the throwing events. Doug Parrish works with the team’s jumpers. Mike Shattles coaches the pole vaulters. Patrick Calcutt handles the distance runners with the assistance of Chad and Angie Bell and team distance consultant Bruce Skiles.