The Fort Mill High School Track and Field teams delivered outstanding performances at the South Carolina 5A Upper State Championships, securing several top finishes and setting new records. The event, held last weekend, saw two Fort Mill athletes clinch victory in their respective events, alongside multiple qualifications for the upcoming SC 5A State Championships on May 17 at Spring Valley High School.
Alivia Cleveland Shines with Record-Breaking Performance
Alivia Cleveland was a standout for Fort Mill, winning the 800-meter race with a remarkable time of 2:15. This performance not only earned her the top spot but also set a new school record. Cleveland continued her impressive form in the 1,600-meter event, securing a third-place finish with a time of 5:04.09, thus qualifying for both events at the state championships.
Joseph Duey Dominates Javelin Event
Joseph Duey emerged victorious in the javelin event, throwing an impressive distance of 52.58m. Duey’s performance secured another top finish for Fort Mill and a guaranteed spot at the state championships.
Automatic Fort Mill Qualifiers
Several other Fort Mill athletes also guaranteed their spots at the SC 5A State Championships through top-four finishes at the Upper State meet:
- Elijah Grant finished second in the 400-meter race with a time of 47.45 seconds, ensuring his place at the state level.
- Tanner Long secured third place in the 1,600-meter race with a time of 4:28.82, qualifying for the state championships.
- Kaleb Dennis achieved a second-place finish in the triple jump with a distance of 14.23 meters, earning his state championship qualification.
- The boys 4×800-meter relay team consisting of Luke Hunter, Hudson Haley, Connor Demmerle, & Tanner Long finished third with a time of 8:00.24, securing their spot at the state championships. Isaac Campbell, Liam Eident, Finn Leckrone and Sam Leckrone complete the relay qualifying team.
Additional Qualifiers from Best Eight Times
In addition to the automatic qualifiers, several Fort Mill athletes qualified for the state championships based on having one of the next best eight times or distances from the Upper and Lower State Championships:
- Elijah Grant: 100m (10.94 seconds) and 200m (21.61 seconds)
- Liam Eident: 1,600m (4:33.65)
- Finn Leckrone: 1,600m (4:35.97)
- Kaylee Rovenstine: 1,600m (5:18.50) and 3,200m (11:48.04)
- Isaac Campbell: 3,200m (9:52.19)
- Marisa Jones: High Jump (1.50m)
- Kaleb Dennis: Long Jump (6.53m)
- Mia Williams: Triple Jump (11.12m)
- Willia Clark: Shot Put (10.39m)
- Smith Stapleton: Discus (41.84m)
- Kate Marker: Javelin (28.57m)
- Fort Mill Boys 4x400m relay: Kaleb Dennis, Liam Eident, Luke Hunter, Elijah Grant, Navneet Panesar, Jahzir McCants, Finn Leckrone, and Tanner Long
Qualification Criteria
In addition to the top four finishers from each event at the Upper State Championships, the next eight best scores from the upper and lower state championships will also qualify for the state championships. This system ensures a highly competitive field at the state meet.
Looking Ahead
With these strong performances, Fort Mill High School’s track and field teams are poised for success at the SC 5A State Championships. The athletes will compete at Spring Valley High School on May 17, aiming to bring home state titles and further accolades for their school.
