Time Out: "Track Titles, Playoff Battles, and Future Pros"

As the school year winds down in Muscogee County, the athletic season is closing with a flourish. This past week, the county’s middle schools wrapped up their final sport of the year — track and field — with an electrifying championship meet that highlighted raw talent, fierce competition, and breakout performances.

In the Girls Shot Put, Taylor Baker of East Columbus Magnet Academy made a powerful statement, launching the shot 40 feet, 9.25 inches to claim first place. The eighth grader was followed by Fort Middle School’s duo of Tenesia Ford (35-2) and Ameria Crowley (32-9), both eighth graders who showed incredible form.

In the Girls Long Jump, it was Aaron Cohn’s Danasia Williams who soared to gold, leaping 15 feet, 7.5 inches to secure first. Fort’s Germanee’ Clayton, a standout seventh grader, wasn’t far behind with a 15-2.5 jump, followed by Eddy Middle’s Ah’Ja Jones who cleared 14-9.75.

In the ever-competitive 4x100 relay, the East Columbus squad of Nyla Ingraham, Laniya Jones, Saniyah Gould, and Mikaylen Davison blazed to a 51.58 finish to take first place and showcase team chemistry and speed.

On the track, Blackmon Road’s Adriana Alexander proved dominant, sprinting to victories in both the 100m and 400m. Veterans Middle’s Anjali Smith stole the spotlight in the 200m and 300m, showing range and poise in each race. Yet, when the dust settled, it was the Aaron Cohn Lady Bulldogs who took home the overall Girls Championship trophy.

On the boys' side, the sprints and relays were just as intense. Midland’s Kyren Salter blazed through the 300m with a 44.05 finish, while Aaron Cohn’s Zachary Watts doubled up with wins in the 100m and 200m. Richards Middle’s Mason Brown impressed with a 56.00 finish in the 400m, showcasing smooth form and power down the stretch.

Midland's 4x100 relay team — Martez Huff, Jamari Hooker, Amyir Bolden, and Ayden Ambrose — delivered a lightning-fast 46.66 to secure first place and help push Midland to the overall Boys Championship title.

Switching gears to high school baseball playoffs, Columbus High squared off against Crisp County on Friday but fell short in a hard-fought 10-6 loss. That marks two straight games the Blue Devils have dropped by four runs. Despite the outcome, Caden Bryans left his mark, going 1-for-3 with a home run, a stolen base, and two RBIs. Axel Serra also chipped in, going 2-for-4 with two runs.

The loss snapped Columbus’ six-game home winning streak and dropped them to 19-17, while Crisp County’s late-season surge continues as they’ve now won eight of their last ten, climbing to 16-19.

Over in Alabama, the Central Red Devils also stumbled, falling 7-1 to Fairhope. The loss — Central’s worst since early March — halted their five-game home win streak and dropped them to 31-10. Fairhope, on the other hand, continued their momentum, improving to 31-11 with their fourth straight win.

In a game dripping with revenge, Calvary Christian obliterated Heritage 12-2 after previously dropping a heartbreaker to them. Tommy Irving starred on both sides of the ball, striking out nine over four innings and adding two stolen bases, a run, and an RBI at the plate. Fitz Stone added a scoreless inning on the mound, while Nate Osborne went a flawless 2-for-2 with four RBIs and a stolen base. Bryson Brooks also stood out, reaching base three times with two RBIs and two runs.

The Knights posted a season-best .625 OBP in the game and have now won six of their last seven, improving to 17-12 behind a red-hot offense averaging nearly eight runs per contest.

On the flag football field, Columbus Girls Flag Football continued its rise. In the 8U division, the Dolphins bounced back strong, steamrolling the Panthers 26-6 behind two touchdowns from Double Coverage Player of the Game Addyson Toney. In 10U action, Journey Underwood was lights out, leading the Lady Texans past the Chiefs in a 26-0 shutout.

The 10U Smiths Station Silver Panthers also delivered a statement win, blanking the Commanders 24-0 with Loren Horne earning Player of the Game honors. Meanwhile, Madison Fuller stole the show in 16U, putting up a jaw-dropping four touchdowns, two interceptions, and even handling concession stand duties as the Dolphins dominated the Commanders 41-0.

And finally, a major headline from the Tri-City area: former Central High School standout Jackson Meeks is headed to the NFL, signing with the Detroit Lions. Meeks, once a three-star recruit who began his college career at Georgia, transferred to Syracuse and made headlines in 2024 with back-to-back ACC Receiver of the Week honors — highlighted by a 10-catch, 161-yard outing against Holy Cross and another 11-catch performance against NC State.

Whether it’s breaking records in middle school, bouncing back in playoff baseball, or climbing to the pros, it’s clear that the Tri-City’s athletic pipeline is alive and thriving. As the school year wraps, we’re reminded that while the seasons may change, the spirit of competition and excellence never takes a break.