By Guest Columnist April Williams
The East Rankin Academy (ERA) Patriot Track & Field teams returned to district championships to defend their titles. The meet concluded April 18 with both teams winning for the third consecutive year.
Due to a controversial realignment of MidSouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS), this year featured upheaval within the association, pitting much smaller former 5A schools against the two-to-three times larger 6A schools, both groups now representing the association as 4A. The twenty current 4A programs are additionally split into four districts, with ERA in District 2 competing directly against Hartfield Academy, Starkville Academy, Lamar School and Heritage Academy. Because of an additional new feature, each of this year’s four district winners were able to directly qualify their full team of competitors for the 4A championship, skipping the regional north or south state meets.
With both boys’ and girls’ varsity teams defending their district championship, the varsity girls will face Madison Ridgeland Academy, Bayou Academy, and Silliman Institute. The varsity boys face Madison Ridgeland Academy, Jackson Prep and Jackson Academy. East Rankin Academy is the only former 5A school to qualify both boys and girls directly to the championship.
Among the many performances from the varsity teams, the following athletes or relays were district champions: Ethan Butler (110 hurdles), Emma Raines (300 hurdles and 400 meter dash), Taylor Stroh (800 meter run), Jewel Baker (800 meter run, 1600 meter run and 3200 meter run), RT Tate (3200 meter run), Gage Crapps (discus), Jillian Breland (discus), Taitum Thomas (high jump), Leyton Phillips (long jump), the boys 4x100 relay (Ethan Butler, Jon Riemann, Aiden Carlisle, Channing Diveley), the boys 4x400 relay (Zack Price, Jon Riemann, Taylor Stroh, Channing Diveley), the boys 4x800 relay (Zack Price, Taylor Stroh, Walker Sartin, RT Tate), the girls 4x400 relay (Savannah Smithers, Isabella McLeod, Chandler Hunt and Jewel Baker) and the girls 4x800 relay (Alex Burkard, Hadley Erickson, Caroline Thornton, Jensen Baker).
During the course of the district competition, two East Rankin Academy school records fell, both nearly a decade old. Both were boys hurdle events.Sophomore Ethan Butler breaking the 110 hurdles record that was set in 2016 and junior Jon Riemann breaking the 300 hurdles record set in 2017.
“The team returns to competition on May 1 to contend for field events at Jackson Academy and May 2 at Jackson Prep to contend for running events, culminating in a … Championship,” Coach David Hopper said.
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