IOWA — The host Iowa Lady Yellow Jackets started the track portion of the District 4-3A meet in familiar disastrous fashion by dropping the baton in the 800-meter relay, but finished it in style, winning the final event — the mile relay — to capture the team title on Wednesday.

Crowley cruised to the boys title, claiming the crown after winning by 65 points over Jennings.

In the girls meet, South Beauregard forced a late tie after Golden Knights Katy Chisolm and Ashlyn Deroen finished first and second, respectively, in the next-to-last event, the 3,200.

The Yellow Jackets team of Brooklyn Ardoin, Tiny Charlot, Ricki Simon and Promise Hill won the mile relay, with South Beauregard finishing fourth, to give Iowa the crown.

“I told the girls before the race that we were tied, we had to go win it,” said Iowa head coach Jason Foolkes. “They went out and ran well. We have won three years in a row, a great accomplishment for us. We are excited to keep the tradition going.

“It was tough because the 4×200 dropped the baton, but they came back strong. They girls were down, but we all got together and they wanted it. I told them we still had a chance, we did the same thing last year. It shows a lot about their preseverance. (Charlot) was involved in the drop in the 4×200 but came back and ran the fastest leg in the 4×400.”

Mercedes Rogers of Crowley, who signed to play basketball at McNeese State, won four events — the long and triple jumps and both hurdles races, to pace the girls team.

Westlake produced a pair of double winners in Sayli Maynard (shot put and discus) and Kaitlyn Tunks (400 and 800). Addison Martinez of Jennings won the pole vault by 4 feet with a leap of 11 feet. Imani Coleman of Jennings won both sprint races.

Crowley cruised to the boys title, going 1-2 in the pole vault, 400 and 300 hurdles, while finishing first and third in the 1,600 and picking up an additional win in the 800 and finished second in the 400- and 800-meter relays.

Tyler Credeur swept the hurdles races for the Gents, while Rontrevius Foreman won the 1,600, Kirk Poullard won the 800 and Chanz Moore won the 400.

Malik Williams of Jennings won the long and high jumps while Iowa’s Darius Janice swept the sprints.

(Rick Hickman / American Press)

Rick Hickman