Athletes from Clover and Rock Hill collected a combined 17 top three finishes Friday at the SCHSL 5A Division 1 Upper State track and field meet, hosted by Dorman High School in Roebuck.
The top three finishers in each event qualified automatically for next Saturday’s SCHSL 5A Division 1 state championship at Spring Valley High School in Columbia. The next seven fastest times in each running event across the three state district meets will also receive state invitations. Those additional qualifiers will be announced in the coming days.
Ella Nighbor Sweeps Distance for Clover
Clover’s Ella Nighbor turned in the standout distance performance of the day, winning the girls 1600 meter run in 4:54.36 and the girls 3200 meter run in 10:45.03. Both wins came by comfortable margins, with Nighbor crossing the line more than 13 seconds clear in the 1600 and roughly 20 seconds ahead in the 3200.
Teammate Ava Jagielski added a third place finish in the girls 1600 in 5:08.79, giving the Lady Eagles two qualifiers in the event.
Clover Sweeps the Top of Two Field Events
The Clover girls claimed the top two spots in two field events.
In the high jump, Trinity Hall and Clara Powell both cleared 1.60 meters, with Hall taking first on countback and Powell taking second. In the javelin, Amaiya Mayfield won at 31.55 meters, with Shively Smith just behind at 30.99 meters.
Grieves Third in 400, Two Relay Berths
Clover’s Eliza Grieves took third in the girls 400 meter dash in 58.89, behind Spartanburg’s Akyra Webster in 55.04 and teammate Keniya Clyburn in 57.54.
The Clover girls 4×100 meter relay finished third in 49.76, and the 4×400 relay added another third place finish in 4:07.53.
Clover Boys Add Two Relay Qualifiers
The Clover boys collected qualifiers in both longer relays, finishing third in the boys 4×400 meter relay in 3:25.67 and second in the boys 4×800 meter relay in 8:08.80, less than two seconds behind winner Mauldin in 8:07.27.
Aidan Graham Sweeps the Throws for Rock Hill
Rock Hill’s Aidan Graham produced the headline performance of the day for the Bearcats, winning both the boys shot put and the boys discus by wide margins.
Graham took the shot put with a heave of 17.50 meters, nearly three meters clear of runner up James Porter of Dorman at 14.71 meters. He then dominated the discus with a throw of 55.88 meters, more than 11 meters ahead of second place Jadon Roberson of Dorman at 44.05 meters.
Ramirez Wins the Girls 800
Rock Hill’s Jaylen Ramirez captured the girls 800 meter run in 2:18.60, edging Mauldin’s Gretchen Kale by seven tenths of a second in a tight finish.
Boys 400 and 4×400 Add Rock Hill State Berths
Rock Hill’s Jaderion Moore took third in the boys 400 meter dash in 48.61, behind Dorman’s De’marion Warden in 48.20 and Wade Hampton’s Jaden Davis in 48.33.
The Rock Hill boys 4×400 meter relay added another qualifier with a second place time of 3:20.79, finishing behind Spartanburg in 3:19.54.
Rock Hill Pole Vault Berth
Rock Hill’s Darcy York cleared 2.90 meters to take third in the girls pole vault. Teammate Sutton Joyner finished fourth at 2.75 meters, just outside automatic qualifying position.
Looking Ahead
The SCHSL 5A Division 1 state championship is scheduled for Saturday, May 16 at Spring Valley High School in Columbia.
Source: Split Second Timing SC official results published by MileSplit South Carolina.
Local Automatic State Qualifiers (Top 3 Finishes)
Clover
Boys
- Boys 4×400 Meter Relay, 3rd, 3:25.67
- Boys 4×800 Meter Relay, 2nd, 8:08.80
Girls
- Eliza Grieves, 400 Meter Dash, 3rd, 58.89
- Ella Nighbor, 1600 Meter Run, 1st, 4:54.36
- Ava Jagielski, 1600 Meter Run, 3rd, 5:08.79
- Ella Nighbor, 3200 Meter Run, 1st, 10:45.03
- Trinity Hall, High Jump, 1st, 1.60m
- Clara Powell, High Jump, 2nd, 1.60m
- Amaiya Mayfield, Javelin, 1st, 31.55m
- Shively Smith, Javelin, 2nd, 30.99m
- Girls 4×100 Meter Relay, 3rd, 49.76
- Girls 4×400 Meter Relay, 3rd, 4:07.53
Rock Hill
Boys
- Jaderion Moore, 400 Meter Dash, 3rd, 48.61
- Aidan Graham, Shot Put, 1st, 17.50m
- Aidan Graham, Discus, 1st, 55.88m
- Boys 4×400 Meter Relay, 2nd, 3:20.79
Girls
- Jaylen Ramirez, 800 Meter Run, 1st, 2:18.60
- Darcy York, Pole Vault, 3rd, 2.90m
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