If running is involved, keeping an eye on Bleckley County kids is always wise, whether it’s cross country in the fall or track & field in the spring.

          It’s spring, and eyes are on Bleckley County in the GHSA state track meet through two days of action.

          Bleckley County’s girls are on top in AA with 38.5 points, Elbert County next with 29.5. East Laurens is good for sixth with 16 points.

          Bleckley County’s boys lead in AA, by six over Elbert County, with Dodge County in sixth.

          Houston County is second in Class 6A boys, four points behind Northview, while the girls are in seventh, 19 points behind leader Dunwoody.

          Veterans is second in Class 5A girls, 5.5 points behind Woodland-Cartersville. Mary Persons’ boys are third with 22.5 points, a half-point out of second.

          Hancock Central is fifth in A Boys Public. ACE is sixth and Crawford County eighth in Class A Public girls. Stratford’s girls are in eighth in 1-A Private with 13 points, Landmark Christian in first with 61.

          Mary Persons’ Justin Wachtel got the day rolling with a solid win in the boys 4A 3,200, adding a third place in the 1,600.

          McKinley Thompson of Stratford racked up his third state title in the high jump, with teammate Jack Miscall sixth and FPD’s Ben Corbin eighth.

          Austin Perez of Bleckley County followed up on Thursday’s second-place finish in the 3,200 by winning the AA girls 1,600, teammate Emily Youngblood taking fourth.

          Veterans’ Mackenzie Walls took the girls 5A 3,200 title.

          Here are Friday’s Central Georgia scorers, with – for context – the winner in the event, and second place behind area winners. Send any corrections or updates to centralgasports@gmail.com

5A
Girls
3,200
1. Mackenzie Walls, Veterans, 10:55.90; 2. McKenna Trapheagen, Woodland-Cartersville, 11:11.65; 5. Laney Doster, Jones County, 11:41.70
Boys

4A
Girls
3,200
1. Hannah Miniutti, Blessed Trinity, 11:09.87; 8. Jordan Rozier, Howard, 11:37.30
Boys
3,200
1. Justin Wachtel, Mary Persons, 9:24.13; 2. Leif Anderson, Marist, 9:31.97
1. Ian Rome, Columbus, 47-6; 8. Daniel Dorsey, West Laurens, 44-4.25
Long jump
1. Matthew Harris, St. Pius, 23-6.5; 8. Enrico Harden, Mary Persons, 21-5
Triple jump
1. Ian Rome, Columbus, 47-6; 8. Daniel Dorsey, West Laurens, 43-4.25
High jump
1. Sultan Simms, Woodward Ac., 6-6; 3. Desmond Williams, Mary Persons, 6-2; 6. Exzavier Lewis, West Laurens, 6-0
Shot put
1. Tanner Duffin, St. Pius, 66-10.5; 4. Antwan Fann, Perry, 50-0.75
1,600
1. Wesley John, Oconee County, 4:18.21; 3. Justin Wachtel, Mary Persons, 4:26.66

3A
Girls
Boys
Triple jump
1. Elijah Williams, Monroe Area, 47-1.25; 5. Davion James, Peach County, 44-0
Long jump
1. Roy Dixon, GAC, 23-8.5; 8. Noah Whittington, Peach County, 21-10.5

AA
Girls
Shot put
1. Shakira Ardister, Elbert County, 39-2; 4. Nikeria Albritton, 35-0.75; 5. Deasia Lowther, East Laurens, 34-7.5
Triple jump
1. Ikeria Hamilton, East Laurens, 37-8; 2.Myesah Hall, Vidalia, 36-6
High jump
1. Megan Kent, Model, 5-4; 6. Europe Brown, Dodge County, 5-0
Long jump
1. Myesha Hall, Vidalia, 17-8; 6. Tabitha Mimbs, Washington County, 16-4
1,600
1. Austin Perez, Bleckley County, 5;26.67; 4. Emily Youngblood, Bleckley County, 5:34.84; 7. Kennedee Williams, East Laurens, 5:45.56
Boys
Long jump
1. Metrius Fleming, Elbert County, 24-0.5; 5. Malyk Walker, Washington County, 20-11; 6. Demarcus Griffin, Northeast, 20-10
High jump
1. Jyheem Rollins, Butler, 6-8; 3. Deandre Pitts, Bleckley County, 6-4; 5. Keldrick Beck, Dodge County, 6-2
Discus
1. Caleb Hartley, Toombs County, 165-6; 5. Caleb Fluellen, Dodge County, 145-0
Triple jump
1. Zoryan Hendricks, Rockmart, 46-6; 3. Darrell Smith, East Laurens, 45-1.25; 5. Lazerionta Taylor, 44-8
Shot put
1. Zaylin Wood, Heard County, 55-2.25; 4. Jadin Johnson, Dodge County, 49-3.5
1,600
1. Guy Gober, Rabun County, 4:29.15; 2. Garrett Rogers, Bleckley County, 4:30.98; 3. Jaylen Thigpen, Bleckley County, 4:36.69

A Public
Girls
3,200
1. Gracie O’Neal, Gordon Lee, 11:27.52; 2. Katelyn Taylor, ACE, 13:14.79; 4. Isabella Strickland, Crawford County, 13:33.51
Boys
3,200: 1. Jake Lee, Gordon Lee, 10:18.96; 3. Treveon Crayton, Hancock Central, 10:37.58
Discus
1. Zack Brown, Turner County, 140-6; 3. Kaben Hunt, Hancock Central, 128-3
Long jump
1. Shannon Segars, Commerce, 22-2.5; 2. Qeontavious Ivey, Hancock Central, 21-7
High jump
1. Wiley Heming, Gordon Lee, 6-2; 8. Zanders Shamon, Dooly County, 5-8

A Private
Girls
High jump
1. Savannah Samuel, St. Francis, 5-4; 6. Claudia Pope, Stratford, 4-10
Shot put
1. Jada Farrell, Holy Innocents, 41-11; 2. Sydney Artis, Mount de Sales, 36-6.25; 3. Erin Fortson, FPD, 36-4
Long jump
1. Synclair Savage, N. Cobb Chr., 19-3.5; 7. Heather Smaha, FPD, 16-8
Discus
1. Kacey Kemp, Darlington, 126-1; 3. Claire Harrison, FPD, 106-1; 8. Moe Register, FPD, 96-4
Boys
Long jump
1. Dwon Odom, St. Francis, 22-0.25; 5. Charles Smith, FPD, 20-11; 6. Wes Allen, Tattnall, 20-5.5
High jump
1. McKinley Thompson, Stratford, 6-6; 6.Jack Miscall, Stratford, 6-2; 8. Ben Corbin, FPD, 5-10