Williams wins gold in 400-meter dash

Published 5:00 am Monday, May 14, 2001

JACKSON -Tarik Williams of Brookhaven climaxed his high schoolcareer with a gold medal victory Friday in the Class 4A State TrackMeet. On a warm afternoon at Hughes Field, Williams won the400-meter dash with a time of 48.7. He was fifth in the 200-meterdash.

“I was well pleased with everybody’s effort, boys and girls,”said Brookhaven coach Randall Huffman. “Tarik’s best sport istrack. He could do a good job on a college track team.”

Pearl outscored Crystal Springs 85-74 to win the boys team titlefor a second straight year. McComb was third with 52 points,followed by Raymond with 51 and East Central with 36.

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The George County girls captured their fifth consecutive statetrack title. The Lady Rebels amassed 85 points and Pearl was adistant second with 48 points. West Jones was third with 46 pointsand Holly Springs fourth with 40. Picayune scored 37 points andCleveland East Side 30.

Brookhaven’s 1600-meter boys relay team placed 8th and thePanthers finished with 15 points. Thomas Barlow, Anthony Johnson,Jeffrey Dow and Williams composed the 1600 team.

Brookhaven freshman Kenyata Coleman placed second to GeorgeCounty superstar Christy Fairley in the 400. Fairley ran 56.7 andColeman ran 58.8. Fairley also won the 100 and 200-meter dashesplus anchoring three victorious relay teams.

“Kenyata ran well,” said Huffman. “She has a bright future intrack.”

The Lady Panthers scored 21 points. They placed fourth in the800-meter relay. Coleman, Katrina Daniels, T.C. Porter and DevinePorter were in that group.

Brookhaven’s 1600-meter relay team finished a close second asFairley won the final leg by three feet. Brookhaven ran a 4:09.8and George County ran a 4:09.3. LaToya Kerr, Coleman and thePorters composed the quartet.

“We had a 40-50-yard lead starting the last leg but Fairleypicked it up another notch,” said Huffman, recalling the photofinish in the 1600.

Huffman said he has enjoyed coaching the track team and “theprogram is in good shape.” Huffman said he would be joining formerBHS head football coach and athletic director Greg Wall at SouthPike next season.

Wall coached five years at Brookhaven. He has returned to SouthPike where he coached for 25 years.