Matt Vines
Local high schoolers rack up wins at Mansfield’s summer track meet
With summer track teams from across Louisiana and Mississippi descending on Mansfield High for the fourth annual River Cities Lawrence Word Classic, the local athletes made their mark.
Mansfield’s Zakhia Austin dominated short sprints in the 17-18 age group, winning the 100 meters with a 12.48 and the 200 with a 25.29.
Mansfield’s Jaden Youngblood added a 400 hurdles win with a 56.16 and a second-place effort in the 110 hurdles with a 14.82.
Teammate Ian White wasn’t far behind with a 14.96 in the 110 hurdles (fourth) and a 56.81 in the 400 hurdles (second).
North DeSoto’s Macaylah Tingle took the javelin with a personal record 100-4.75 and added a second-place finish in the 800 meters (2:32.30).
Mansfield’s LaJordan Boykin reached the podium with a third-place finish in the 200 meters (25.99).
The track meet featured athletes from 6 & Under all the way through high school as summer track attempts to expose the next generation to track and field.
River Cities Track Club is the premier summer track organization in Northwest Louisiana with athletes from Caddo, Bossier and DeSoto parishes primarily.
North DeSoto’s McFerren picks up baseball all-state honor
North DeSoto shortstop Blayne McFerren was voted to the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association All-State team for Division II.
McFerren served as the Griffins’ leadoff hitter for a squad that entered the playoffs as a No. 9 seed and advanced to the quarterfinals, falling to eventual champion Lutcher.
The all-state team included six infielders, six pitchers, two catchers, four outfielders, two designated hitters and eight utility players. The team combined select and non-select schools from Division II.
The vast majority of the players, like McFerren, are seniors.
PHOTO CREDIT: Mickey Morgan/Mic’s Pics
A pair of youth sprinters from River Cities Track Club leave the rest of the field behind in a short sprint Saturday at the fourth annual River Cities Lawrence Word Classic at Mansfield High.