Editor's note: Due to weather concerns, the 2A/4A state track meet has been postponed from Friday, May 1, until Tuesday, May 5.
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For only the second time in school history, both Charleston High School track teams, boys and girls, won first-place trophies in competition at the Class 2A North State Track and Field Championships, held April 21 at Pontotoc High School.
The only other time both CHS squads won north half titles in the sport during the same year was 2023.
Both North State wins have occurred as Charleston competed in Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 2A.
In final team standings, the CHS ladies edged second-place finisher Myrtle, 90 to 89.5. Other top teams among the 19 participating schools were Baldwyn, 77 points; Velma Jackson, 72; J.Z. George, 66; East Union, 56.50; Water Valley, 51; Northside, 37; M.S. Palmer, 35; and Philadelphia, 30.
The CHS men won the male division with 119 points. M.S. Palmer was a distant second with 82 points. Others placing in the top 10 were Baldwin, 68 points; Northside, 59; J.Z. George, 54; Strayhorn, 45; Myrtle Attendance Center, 42; East Union, 40; Velma Jackson, 37; and Leland, 28.
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In addition to two nice trophies, the big takeaway from the April 21 North State meet is that both Charleston squads will be sending a nice contingent of athletes to compete at the State Track and Field Championships on Friday. CHS girls will contend in nine events at state, and CHS boys will do battle in 13 events.
The Class 2A and Class 4A state meets will be held Friday (May 1) at Pearl High School’s Woody Barnett Track and Field Complex. Meet admission is $15 for an all-day pass. Gates open at 8 a.m. The meet is scheduled to start at 10.
“Our Charleston High School track and field program — both girls and boys — has had an outstanding season thus far,” noted East Tallahatchie School district Athletic Director LaDon Taylor. “We are proud to have won our region meet, followed by a strong showing in the Super Regional, and most recently competing at the north half championship.”
“Our athletes have put in the work. They’ve trained with purpose, competed with heart and embraced their roles — whether in individual events or as part of our relay teams. That kind of buy-in is what builds a program, not just a season,” said Taylor, who added, CHS “athletes are prepared, and we look forward to representing Charleston with pride.”
Taylor lauded head coaches Mandy Moore and Wesley Love, and assistants Dequan Street, Ahmad Alexander and Lester Haynie, for their “commitment and leadership” in “doing an exceptional job leading and developing our student-athletes.” He thanked the district superintendent and school board for “providing the resources necessary for our program to succeed.”
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At the Class 2A North State meet, the following Charleston athletes finished in the top four places in their respective events to qualify for the MHSAA State Championships:
Girls
» 400-meter dash: Keasia Goliday, first place, 1:03.28
» 4x100 meter relay: Jady Leavy, Keasia Goliday, Kassidy James and Francheska Robey, second place, 51.91
» 4x200 meter relay: Jady Leavy, Ke’Asyah Lee, Alilliana Kuykendall and Kassidy James, fourth place, 1:52.96
» 4x400 meter relay: Carmis Hill, Alilliana Kuykendall, Ke’Asyah Lee and De’Moria Shannon, third place, 4:28.46
» High jump: Jada Leavy, second place, 4-10.00
» Pole vault: Tambria Price, third place, 36-00.00
» Long jump: Keasia Goliday, second place, 16-05.00
» Shot put: Shamiya Bass, second place, 32-11.00
» Discus throw: Shamiya Bass, first place, 102-01.50; and Zyon Moody, second place, 96-02.50
Boys
» 100-meter dash: Deandre Booker, second place, 10.76
» 200-meter dash: Deandre Booker, second place, 22.58
» 400-meter dash: Mac Crawford, second place, 51.53; and Aybekia Bradley, third place, 53.80
» 800-meter run: Lapatrick Goliday, fourth place, 2:10.17
» 110-meter hurdles: Ta’marcus Taylor, second place, 15.92
» 300-meter hurdles: Quay Kimble, first place, 41.60
» 4x100 meter relay: Deandre Booker, Demarion Johnson, Daevon McCord and Lezelrick Taylor, first place, 43.15
» 4x200 meter relay: Deandre Booker, Demarion Johnson, Daevon McCord and Tristen Flowers, first place, 1:30.42
» 4x400 meter relay: Mac Crawford, Lezelrick Taylor, Aybekia Bradley and Ron’darius Stamps, second place, 3:36.79
» 4x800 meter relay: Lapatrick Goliday, Aybekia Bradley, Amarius Hudson and Laryce Bradley, third place, 9:12.97
» Long jump: Demarion Johnson, second place, 22-02.00
» Triple jump: Demarion Johnson, first place, 45-06.50; and Quay Kimble, second place, 41-09.00
» Discus throw: Demoria Shannon, fourth place, 115-02
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The CHS girls are four-time state champs: 2012 and 2013 in Class 3A, and 2023 and 2024 in Class 2A.
The CHS boys track team’s best showings at state have been second-place finishes in 2004 and 2016.
Last year, both CHS squads finished in third place at state.
