Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
Despite being forced to practice on a substandard track at Boot Hill Stadium, the Madison County High School (MCHS) track team has had some successful meets this year. The team has been busy, participating in six meets so far this season, beginning on Saturday, Feb. 18, with the 2023 Chiles Track and Field Relays, at Chiles High School, in Tallahassee.
Because of the condition of the track at MCHS, the school is unable to host any track and field events. This means the team has to travel to all their meets. “It would be great if we could host some meets,” said MCHS Track Coach Akevious Williams. “It would be good for the school and good for the community. It would bring in a lot of money to the community.” The condition of the track is an item that has been discussed at meetings of the Madison County School Board. The same reason is always given as to why the needed repairs have not been made to the track, that is the lack of funds. However, Coach Williams and the young men and women on his track team do not let the condition of the track slow them down.
Several athletes on the team have registered times that are among the top in the state. Jonathan Aikins' season best time of 10.78 in the 100 meters during the Jesse Forbes High School Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 25, ranks number five in the state for Class 2A. Jakori Jackson's time of 11.36 in the 100 meters at the Mandarin Mustang Developmental Meet on Tuesday, Feb. 28, also ranks in the top 100 in the state. 
Other results for the MCHS track team in the top 100 for the state include: the Girls 4x100 meters relay team of Sa'Niyah Demps, Kanaisa Jonas, Deondra Bruton and Ja'Maya Houston, with a time of 53.83 at the Jesse Forbes High School Invitational; the Girls 4x400 team of Bruton, Jonas, Houston and Brianna Hayes turned in a time of 4:54.01 at the 2023 Chiles Track and Field Relays on Saturday, Feb. 18; the Girls 4x800 meters relay team of Hayes, Lilian Washington, Gracie Jenkins and Lauri Thigpen had a time of 12:31.75 at the Wakulla Home Meet on Tuesday, Feb. 21; in Girls Shot Put competition, Sabriyah Barfield had a distance of 29 ft. 0.5 inches at the Mandarin Mustang Development Meet; the Boys 4x100 meter relay team of Jakori Jackson, Ja'Ohn Jackson, Jonathan Akins and O'Shea Akins had a time of :43.3 for an 11th best in the state at the Jesse Forbes High School Invitational; the Boys 4x400 meter relay team of Za'Marion West, Sean Williams, Detrez Lamar and Ladarrious Crumity turned in a time of 3:52.59 at the Jesse Forbes High School Invitational; the Boys 4x800 meter team of Gavin Miller, Jake Meyers, Jaden Rye and Donnel Ware had a time of 10:01.14 at the Sunshine Track Officials High School Invite on Saturday, March 4, in the Boys Discus Throw, Keoni Nelson had a distance of 41.01 meters at the Sunshine Track Officials High School Invite.
The MCHS track team has six more meets on their schedule, leading up to the Florida High School Athletic Association Track and Field State Championships, to be held at the University of North Florida, in Jacksonville, Wednesday, May 17, through Saturday, May 20.