South Lakes’ Golden Kumi-Darfour competes at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Photo by Harry Lister, Jr.
Golden Kumi-Darfour took full advantage of the winter break, using the time to qualify for the state indoor track meet in both the 500 and 1000 meter runs.
The South Lakes High School senior ran a 3:03.9 for fifth place in the 1,000 meters at the Friends of Indoor Track meet Saturday, Dec. 26 at Prince George’s County Sportsplex in Landover, Md. She followed that up with a second-place finish in the 500 meters (1:17.20) at the UMES Coach O High School Invitational meet Saturday, Jan. 2 at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md.
Between those two meets and the South County High School Pole Vault Summit Dec. 30, SLHS continued to build its postseason roster.
SLHS track members who met region qualifying standards during the winter break include: senior Skander Ballard (triple jump, 42-11.00, FIT, 3rd place); 500 meters, 1:07.30 (FIT, 3rd place); pole vault, 11-06.00 (SCHS Pole Vault Summit, 10th place); senior Alex Rudison (pole vault, 12-00.00 (SCHS Pole Vault Summit, 9th place); and junior Devyn Jones (55 meter hurdles, 8.78 prelims, 8.82 finals (FIT 4th place); long jump, 16-05.00 (UMES, 6th-place).
Conference qualifying standards were achieved during the winter break meets by: senior Anas Fain in the long jump (19-10.50, FIT, 7th) and 55 meters (6.88, FIT, 15th); senior Eric Kirlew in the long jump (19-01.50, FIT 11th) and 55 meters (6.77, FIT, 8th); senior Madison Carrens in the pole vault (7-06.00, FIT, 11th; 8-00.00, SCHS Pole Vault Summit, 12th); Rudison in the pole vault (11-00.00, FIT, 6th); senior Isaac Mensah in the shot (42-06.00, FIT, 6th; 41-11.25, UMES, 2nd); senior Nikolai Waithe in the 300 meters (37.65, UMES, 10th); Jones in the 500 meters (1:22.48, UMES, 7th); junior Timiebi Ogobri in the 55 meters (6.88, FIT, 15th) and 300 meters (38.52, UMES, 17th); junior Nikayla Hoyte in the 300 meters (42.64, UMES, 5th); junior Morgan LaRow in the 3200 meters (12:19.89, FIT 11th); sophomore Megan Allison in the shot (27-04.00, UMES, 11th); and freshman Sophie Halkett in the 300 meters (43.51, FIT, 13th).
South Lakes will travel to Staten Island, N.Y., this Saturday, Jan. 9 to compete in the Ocean Breeze Freedom Games.