The RTCA Lady Crusaders won the 2018 GISA state championship in Track this past weekend at Hugh Mills stadium in Albany.  This was a tightly contested title with only a few points separating first and second place. RTCA scored 125 and Brentwood scored 122.5.  Heading into the last event the 4×400 the Lady Crusaders were clinging to a slight lead but were able to claim the title by team A finishing 2nd and team B finishing 6th one spot ahead of Brentwood’s team B.

Events that the Lady Crusaders scored in:

100 3rd  Kayla Blackshear

200 3rd  Kayla Blackshear

400 3rd Cassi Heath

800 5th Sarah Tuck

100 Hurdles State Champion Payton Nance 2nd Sarah Tuck

300 Hurdles State Champion Sarah Tuck   3rd Payton Nance

4×100  State Champions Team A Payton Nance, Mary Hayes Palmer, Sarah Tuck, Kayla Blackshear

8th Team B Analise Williams, Cassi Heath, Ellie Graham, Ella Stanley

4×400 2nd Team A Kayla Blackshear, Ellie Graham, Cassi Heath, Sarah Tuck

6th Team B Payton Nance, Analise Williams, Ella Stanley, Mary Hayes Palmer

High Jump 5th Mary Hayes Palmer

Pole Vault State Champion Cassi Heath, 4th Samantha Threkald

Long Jump 5th Cassi Heat

Triple Jump 3rd Kayla Blackshear, 4th Payton Nance

Shot Put 2nd Tamaria Lewis, 6th Abigail Weeks

Disk 7th Hannah Coursey

The Lady Crusaders finished with 4 girls in the top ten for the High Point Award.  Sarah Tuck was 3rd, Payton Nance was 6th, Kayla Blackshear was 7th and Cassi Heath was 8th.

Coach Thomas Smith,” I am super proud of this group and all the hard work that they have put in.  They are a very talented group but they are even better young ladies.  The way both relay teams fought for each other in the 4×400 was amazing.  The way they overcame adversity and came up with personal best when their best was required earned them the championship and I am sure each one would tell you that they give God all the honor and glory for it.”