Back-to-back: Whale Branch girls track team repeats as state champions

The Whale Branch girls repeated as Class A state track and field champions on Monday night.

The Warriors finished with 78 points to win the title over St. Joseph’s (68) at Lower Richland High School. The meet was originally scheduled for Thursday but moved back because of weather.

Whale Branch’s Destiny Prior won the 100 and came in third in the 200. The Warriors had a 1-2-3 finish in the 100 hurdles with Talaijah Bartley, Imani Blackwell and Grace Bing.

Whale Branch also won the 4x100 and 4x400 relay races.

In the boys race, Whale Branch finished fourth with 78 points. Southside Christian won the title with 126.5 points.

WB’s Bradford Thompson won the discus and finished second in the shot put. Jesse Richardson was second in the 1,600 and 3,200 and third in the 800. The Warriors finished second in the 4x100 relay race.

The Lowcountry also had several top performances in the other championships over the weekend.

In the Class 4A girls championship, May River’s McKenna Swinton won the shot put and teammate Macey Dowe was third in the javelin and discus. MR’s Anya Arroyo was third in the 3,200 and Hilton Head Island’s Cynthia Gudaitis was third in the 1,600.

In the Class 4A boys championship, Hilton Head Island won the 4x400 relay. HHI’s Janile Roberson was second in the 200 and May River’s Darrion Perry was second in the 400 hurdles.

In the Class 3A girls championship, Beaufort’s Yzeult Antia was second in the 1,600 and Anaiya Houseal third in the 100 hurdles.