South Lakes Seahawks track teams finish strong at state and national meets

By Shanen Elliott, sports writer

South Lakes Distance Medley Relay team came in third place at Nike Nationals. Photo by Brooks Ross, rossvisuazz

The South Lakes Seahawks boys and girls indoor track and field teams wrapped up successful seasons with third-place finishes at the VHSL Class 6 State Championships at the Virginia Beach Sports Complex. The boys scored 44 points, trailing only state champion Gainesville (51) and runner-up Patriot (49), while the girls scored 51 points, behind Robinson (75) and North Stafford (53).

Seniors Alex Guthrie and Blake Jackson led the boys. Guthrie claimed the Class 6 sprint titles in the 55-meter dash (6.33 seconds) and 300-meter dash (34.03 seconds, a school record) and anchored the boys 4x200 relay team to seventh place. Jackson won the long jump (23-5.5) and placed second in the triple jump (47-2.75), setting South Lakes school records in both events. The duo contributed 40 of the boys’ 44 points. Other scorers included senior Milo Wilkins (shot put, 5th), senior Hayato Tano, junior Lordweasley Ahape and senior Julian Laurence.

The girls continued their relay dominance with a fourth consecutive state title in the 4x800 relay, finishing in 9:04.67 and overcoming a 60-meter deficit on the final lap. The team—freshman Quinn Jackson, junior Sarah Ghantiwala, senior Aya Ryan and anchor Caroline Elliott—ranked fifth nationally. Elliott also added 14 points with runner-up finishes in the 1,600 and third in the 1,000 meters, while Ryan placed second in the 500 meters and anchored the 4x400 relay to fourth place. Other standout performances included sophomore Tia Tuffour, third in the 55-meter hurdles, and the 4x200 relay team, which finished second.

Two weeks later, several Seahawks competed at Nike’s Indoor National Championships at New York City’s Armory. Alex Guthrie finished sixth in the 200 meters, while the girls 4x200 relay also placed sixth. Both the girls Distance Medley and Sprint Medley relays earned All-American honors, with the Sprint Medley setting a new South Lakes school record of 3:59.08.

The South Lakes Seahawks will carry their post-season momentum into the VHSL outdoor track and field season.