The Southside boys’ track and field team put forth a stellar effort at the NHCSAA 1-A East Regional meet this weekend at Camp Lejeune as the team earned a fifth place finish and will be sending several athletes to the state meet.
Josh Garris had a tremendous outing as he won the gold in the 200-meter dash by running  a blazing-fast time of 22.86. Garris picked up his second first place finish of the evening by joining forces with Rokeem Miller, Kam Rouse and John Stokes to run 1:32.91 in the 4×200 to grab the gold. Garris would also go on to place eighth in the long jump, while Miller finished eighth in the 200-meter dash.
James Jones advanced to state in both the discus and  the shot put as his throw of 121-feet, 6-inches placed second in the regionals while his toss of 43-feet, 1-inch in the shot put earned him a fourth place finish.
Any athlete that placed fourth or better earned the right to compete in the state meet.
Cole Kellem, Darrius Whitley, Isaiah Moore and Leevonte Grimes combined to run a 3:44.94 in the 4×400-meter relay to take home a bronze medal. Kellum also placed fourth in the triple jump (39’ 7”) and fifth in the 400-meter dash.
Tyrone Jordan will move on to state thanks to a 11.53 time in the 100-meter dash that was good enough to capture fourth place.
In the 800-meter run, Aaron Jones finished with a time of 2:07.67 to earn a silver medal.
Johnnie Pender earned an eighth place finish in the 110-meter hurdles, while Jordan, Tyriek Gaskins, Donshe Miller and Dionte Little finished in seventh place in the 4×100-meter relay. Gaskins also placed 10th in the 100-meter dash.