Track & Field wins state titles

4x800 meter relay team wins Georgia top honor

Sams medals in four events

  • Karli Sams, Kensley Pickelsimer, Ava Acker and Lindsey Holloway, from left, are the State Champion 4x800 meter relay team. They won the title this past weekend at the 1A Division 1 State Championships held in Rome.
    Karli Sams, Kensley Pickelsimer, Ava Acker and Lindsey Holloway, from left, are the State Champion 4x800 meter relay team. They won the title this past weekend at the 1A Division 1 State Championships held in Rome.
  • Presley Daves came away from the State Championships with a sixth place in Discus.
    Presley Daves came away from the State Championships with a sixth place in Discus.
  • Coach Lucas Roof, Karli Sams, Lindsey Holloway, Sydney Ford and Head Coach Miranda Roof, from left, celebrated the Lady Rebels Track & Field victories following competition at Rome last Friday and Saturday.
    Coach Lucas Roof, Karli Sams, Lindsey Holloway, Sydney Ford and Head Coach Miranda Roof, from left, celebrated the Lady Rebels Track & Field victories following competition at Rome last Friday and Saturday.
  • Adia Galloway stands with her medal recognizing her sixth place finish in State Championship Pole Vault competition.
    Adia Galloway stands with her medal recognizing her sixth place finish in State Championship Pole Vault competition.
  • The Lady Rebels 4x400 meter relay team of Airianna Galloway, Ava Acker, Annaleigh Cheatham, and Sadie Patton finished fourth in the State Championship.
    The Lady Rebels 4x400 meter relay team of Airianna Galloway, Ava Acker, Annaleigh Cheatham, and Sadie Patton finished fourth in the State Championship.

    Winners: Lady Rebels claim state honors

    The Fannin County High School Lady Rebels 4x800 meter relay team won the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) State Championship, and Karli Sams became the first female in school history to medal in four State Championship Events.

    The 4x800 meter team consisted of Lindsey Holloway, Kensley Pickelsimer, Ava Acker and Sams.

    Several other Lady Rebels, both individually and as teams, placed in the top eight, “Each considered one of the best athletes in the state in their event(s),” Head Coach Miranda Roof said.

    Overall, the Lady Rebels finished seventh in the state out of over 50 teams.

    The results came from the GHSA 1A Division 1 State Championships held May 9 and 10 at Barron Stadium in Rome.

    The girls 4x800 meter relay team took first place with a personal record and school record time of 9:39. This time places the relay team in the top 25 in the entire state (A-6A) and qualifies them for the National Competition. This year’s win also gives the relay team back-to-back State Championships.

    Besides medaling as part of the relay team, Sams placed fourth in the 1600 meter run with a time of 5:18, finished sixth in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:25, and placed seventh in the 3200 meter run with a time of 12:00. She ran her anchor leg of the state champion 4x800 meter relay team in a time of 2:19.

    Holloway placed fourth in the 3200 meter run with a time of 11:29 and fifth in the 1600 meter run with a time of 5:19, giving her a total of three State Championship medals.

    The 4x400 meter relay team made up of Airianna Galloway, Sadie Patton, Annaleigh Cheatham, and Ava Acker finished fourth with a personal record time of 4:21.63.

    Adia Galloway finished sixth in Pole Vault with a height of 7-0.

    Presley Daves finished sixth in Discus with a distance of 110-11.

    Several efforts resulted in meeting Milesplit Standards. These included:

    •4x800 meter relay team: Milesplit Silver-Level Standard;

    •Lindsey Holloway:  Milesplit Bronze-Level Standard in the 1600 meter run and 3200 meter run;

    •Karli Sams: Milesplit Bronze-Level Standard in the 1600 meter run and 800 meter run; and,

    •Presley Daves: Milesplit Bronze-Level Standard in the Discus.

    The following athletes also competed at the state championships:

    •Ava Acker in the 800 meter run;

    •Sydney Ford in the 3200 meter run;

    •Annaleigh Cheatham in the 300 meter hurdles;

    •Kate Freeman in Pole Vault; and,

    •Sydney German in Shot Put.

    “All of the coaches are extremely proud of these athletes for all of their hard work, dedication, and commitment this season.  We are also proud of how they showed up physically and mentally ready to compete at the State Championships,” Roof said.