Southeast pushes through and triumphs for teammate at City boys and girls track meet

The Southeast track and field programs competed with mixed emotions at Memorial Stadium on Tuesday.

The Spartans remembered their teammate Keyon Day before winning multiple events at the City boys and girls track and field meet. Day, 16, was fatally shot on Wednesday, April 24 .

Day’s personal best time of 52.87 seconds in the 400-meter dash was displayed on the scoreboard while a moment of silence was held with friends and family present. He was a state qualifier in the 4x400 relay.

“Keyon was important to a lot of us,” Southeast junior sprinter Chase Turner said. “We really pushed through for Keyon and I think we made him proud today.”

More: 'Carry a little piece of Keyon with you': Family, classmates gather for slain Springfield teen

Turner racked up a pair of victories for the Spartans.

He won the 100 in 11.38 seconds while sophomore teammate Byron Walker was second in 11.58. He dominated the 200 in 22.62 seconds.

“I felt a little down, but I knew Keyon wouldn’t want me to be down and I got back up and I did my thing,” Turner said.

Southeast junior Jaevon Solomon swept the 110 and 300 hurdles in 15.85 and 42.68 seconds, respectively. Walker, Kamari Sales, James Cummings and Kashmir Towns captured the 4x200 relay in 1:32.08.

Solomon, Tyler Gardner, Zechariah Hart and Arion Hutchinson also took the 4x400 relay via disqualification. Hart additionally won the pole vault with a height of 9-feet.

On the girls side, Southeast sophomore Alannah Lowery secured the long jump (16-2) and triple jump (35-11 ½) while junior Stacey Efe-Nogo was the top medalist in the shot put (34-3).

Southeast’s Shaniya Howze, Jurni Rice, Marisa Gant and Amore Hobson claimed the 4x200 in 1:47.34.

“It was bittersweet because they lost one of their brothers,” Southeast boys track coach James Ballard said. “We’ve been recovering from that all week because we’re in a situation where you’re in a hallway with kids and it’s time to class and it’s quiet in those hallways.

“Those kids are hurting. But overall I’m happy my big dogs came through. Chase won three medals, Jaevon Solomon won some medals, so we did good.”

Springfield High mopped up its 15 ^th straight boys City title while Sacred Heart-Griffin ushered its first ever outright girls City championship.

Deandre Brown and Alexander Ratz won multiple golds for the Senators. Brown took the 400 in 49.78 seconds and the 4x100 relay with Kameron Beckman, Mekhi Newman and Declan Brown in 43.62. Ratz posted first in the 1600 (4:50.20) and 4x800 relay (8:54.58).

The Cyclones totaled 13 victories on the girls side.

Maggie Fleischli boasted wins in the high jump (4-11) and 800 (2:26.93) and anchored the winning 4x400 relay with Sophia Paul, Macie Rolf and Maria Bartletti in 4:11.37.

Antonette Bartletti nabbed wins in the 100 (12.69) and 400 (1:00.16). She was also the lead runner on the winning 4x100 relay with Oliva Paul, Maria Bartletti and Oliva Redpath, who won the 200 in 26.51.

Reese Watson swept the 1600 (5:44.60) and 3200 (12:36.00). Rolf reached first in the 300 hurdles (47.73) while Sophia Paul took the 100 hurdles (15.87).

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Southeast pushes through and triumphs for teammate at City boys and girls track meet