Griffins’ season of promise cut short

Fairfield Central Track and Field hit the ground running at the opening of their 2020 season – literally.

In a week’s time, the Griffins competed in three meets, and the prospects looked good. They opened the season at the Diamond Hornets Invitational on March 7 and then competed at Keenan on March 11 and Westwood on March 14.

Just as the season was picking up steam, it was all over. On March 15, Governor Henry McMaster announced that schools would close temporarily to curb the effect of the novel coronavirus. Hope remained that the season would pick back up, but it was not to be.

Fairfield’s male distance runners made a name for themselves over the past few seasons of cross country and track and field, and they looked to peak this season. But distance runners were not the only standouts in the team’s short run. The Griffin held a solid presence in each of the three meets, with highlights from senior athletes – many with top ten finishes.

Alyssa Boyd hit first place and fifth place finishes in shot put and third in discus. Krishayla Boyd pulled third place finishes in 100m and 400m and fifth in 200m. Trenell Boyd hit third and fifth place finishes in 400m hurdles. Zykirah Davis placed second and fifth in long jump. Ashanti Meyers placed fourth in the 1600m run and also pulled seventh and eighth place finishes at 800m. Jayla Mickle placed second and sixth in discus and also finished sixth in shot put. Nia Lemon placed tenth in the 1600m run at Westwood.

Malik Beaver had fourth place finishes in the 800m and 1600m runs and a sixth place finish in the 3200m. He set personal records in both the 1600m and 3200m at the Keenan meet.  Malik Coleman pulled second and third place finishes in the 800m, fifth in 1600m and ninth in 3200m runs. Coleman set personal records in each of the three events (800m at Diamond Hornets and 1600m and 3200m at Keenan). Ray Davis placed third in shotput and fourth in discus at Westwood. D’Andre Milton finished third in discus and sixth in shot put. Sammie Robinson finished second in 1600m and 3200m events.

Beaver (1600, 3200m), Coleman (800m, 1600m, 3200m), Davis (long jump), Meyers (400m, 800m, 1600m), Mickle (discus) and Robinson (3200m) all set personal records for themselves in the early season.

It was to be a season not forgotten for the seniors at Fairfield Central, and it is sure to be one they will always remember.

The Voice reached out to Fairfield Central coaches and administrators and the district office for interviews and photos but received no response. Information for this article was compiled from MileSplit.