Ohio Heat Takes Gold at AAU District Track and Field Championships

Edmund McAllister III, Jett Jerwers, Shawn Payne, Alexus Roberts and Olivia Pace starred on the track for the Ohio Heat, Saturday, June 22 at the AAU Ohio District #2 meet.

Hosted at Franklin Heights High School in Columbus, Ohio, the Ohio Heat Track and Field Club had a number of first place finishers during the regional qualifier. Edmond McAllister III swept the nine-year-old division by winning the 100 (14.66), 200 (29.86) and 400-meter dash (1:07.17) district championships. On the girls side of the nine-year-old division, the Heat collected a victory when Tristyn Saxton finished first in the 100-meter dash at 15.44.

In the 11-year-old division, Jett Jerwers matched McAllister, by sweeping all of the sprint races. Jerwers won the 100-meter dash at 13.59, before taking the 400-meter dash at 1:02.55 and then closed his day out with a 27.73 win in the 200-meter dash.

Alexus Roberts led the way for the Heat girls with wins in the 400-meter dash (1:03.32) and 100-meter hurdles (16.14) in the 13-year-old division. She also placed second in shot put competition, with a throw of 28-feet and eight inches. Olivia Pace also collected two wins in the same division in the 100-meter dash (12.74) and 200-meter dash (26.18).

Terris Dudley won the boys 13-year-old division 200-meter dash at 25.86, and placed second in the 100-meter dash (13.14). Ashton Allen recorded a win for the Heat in the 400-meter dash at 59.33. He also finished second in the 200-meter dash (26.38) and third in the 100-meter dash (13.18).

The 10-year-old boys division saw Caleb Stanley earn wins in the 400-meter dash (1:03.26) and 800-meter run (2:38.72). Tony Cornett III won the 200-meter dash at 28.31 and finished in the runner-up spot after the 400-meter dash at 1:02.55. In the boys 12-year-old division, Jacob Stanley rolled to a 100-meter dash victory in 12.68 and Richard Simpson won the 400-meter dash at 58.70.

Devyn Washington dominated the 100 and 200-meter dash races in the girls eight and under division. She won the 100-meter dash at 16.02, before taking the 200-meter dash at 33.65. The Heat swept the sprints in the division with a 400-meter dash win by Ayris Hutson (1:17.07).

The Heat had a lot of success in the boys and girls 14-year-old divisions led by the performances of Shawn Payne. He notched two first place finishes starting with a win in the 100-meter dash (12.55). He won the 400-meter dash at 55.31, before placing second in the 200-meter dash at 25.48. Jayden Douglas scored a win for the boys in the 100-meter hurdles at 15.49.

Alivia Badgett was successful, winning the girls 14-year-old division district title in the 100-meter hurdles at 17.09. Emoni Saxton took home two gold medals as she won the 400-meter dash (1:03.26) and 3,000-meter run (11:27).

Ohio Heat's lone win in the girls 15 to 16 division came from Joi Bradley, who won the 200-meter dash at 25.82. She also placed second in the 400-meter dash at 59.56. The Heat also got a win in the men's 17 to 18 division, as Derrick Bradley won the 100-meter hurdles race at 11.34. Bradley finished his day with a runner-up finish in the 200-meter dash (22.78).

The Heat had three victories in the 1,500-meter run at the district meet. Devin Brumley won the nine-year-old boys championship at 5:43.23. Jai Tucker took the boys 12-year-old division with a first place time of 5:06.95 and Angel Ward won the girls 12-year-old title at 5:35.87.

In relay competition, the Heat earned three girls 400-meter relay championships. The eight and under division was won by Ayris Hutson, Devyn Washington, Leah Payne and Row Jerwers (1:10.98). The 10-year-old division winning foursome featured Brittany Douglas, Halo Spencer, Kamryn Johnson and Tristyn Saxton (1:03.19). In the 14-year-old division, Alexus Roberts, Olivia Pace, Alivia Badgett, Amari Kiluvia were victorious at 49.28.

The 10-year-old boys 1,600-meter relay squad was also successful with a win in 4:29.97. The relay team included Caleb Stanley, Darius Drake Jr., Kamron Morton and Tony Cornett III.

In field action, the Heat scored one win in the long jump, as Kingston Johnson dominated the boys 12-year-old division. He posted three of the competition's four jumps that were 12-feet or more. His jump of 12-feet and five inches won the event.

The Heat earned seven victories in shot put competition. Leah Payne won the girls eight and under division at 11-feet and eight inches, and James Peppers was the winner on the boys side at nine-feet and eight inches.

In the nine-year-old division, Brittany Douglas led all girls with a throw of 11-feet and 11 inches, while Jace Dawson topped the boys at 17-feet and eight inches.

Pharoahe Zaire won the 11-year-old boys division with a throw of 22-feet and eight and a half inches. Jayden Gwinn won the 13-year-old boys division at 22-feet, eight and 3/4 inches, and Kennedy McCurdy bested his competition with a throw of 24-feet and five inches.

The Ohio Heat will continue as it competes for the AAU Region 4 Championships, which will be held at Franklin Heights High School, June 27 to 30th.