FPD pole vaulter Carson Dingler shatters GHSA meet record
Madison Griffin was the only pole vaulter in GHSA Class A Private competition to clear the bar when it was set at 10 feet.
There was, however, one more competitor in the field Friday in Albany. Griffin’s FPD teammate, Carson Dingler, passed on the first six heights.
Griffin failed to clear the bar at 10-6. Dingler passed at that height, also passing when it went up to 11 feet.
Dingler finally made an attempt at 11-6. She cleared it, giving her gold in the event for the third straight year. The only question remaining was, how high would Dingler go?
Dingler cleared 12-2 on her first attempt, then 12-8 to surpass the Class A record she set as a freshman. Then, on her first attempt at 13-2, she became the first female to clear 13 feet at the GHSA finals in any classification.
Her meet ended with three unsuccessful attempts at 13-7.
FPD’s strong day at Hugh Mills Stadium didn’t end in the pole vault. Maggie Johnston repeated as the Class A Private discus champion, with her throw of 144-5 besting second-place finisher Mary Wilson Avant of Stratford by nearly 16 feet.
Tattnall Square also had an individual champion Friday. Jordan Allen claimed victory in the Class A Private triple jump with a 38-4 1/4 attempt. She also placed second in the long jump.
Telfair County’s NyAsia Howard won the Class A Public triple jump at 35-7 1/2 , while GMC’s Calli McMullen won the Class A Public high jump at 5 feet.
Also, Telfair County went 1-2 in the Class A Public long jump, with Brandy Mackey placing first at 18-1 and Howard finishing second.
East Laurens’ Mary Kaitlyn Wheeler was the sole competitor in wheelchair shot put, giving the senior the title in that event for the third straight year.
Bleckley County’s Ellen Powell placed second in the only Class AA competition of the day, the 1,600.
The meet concludes Saturday.
High Schools
Friday's Track and Field
GHSA Championships
Top Middle Georgia finishers
Friday
Class AAAAA
1,600m: 4. Kate Boland (Jones County) 5:10.67
Class AAAA
Long Jump: 4. Brittany Trawick (Baldwin) 18-8 1/2
Triple Jump: 4. Brittany Trawick (Baldwin) 37-6 1/2 ; 6. Kiya Springer (West Laurens) 37-2
Pole Vault: 8. Nekebah Smith (Baldwin) 8-6
Class AA
1,600m: 2. Ellen Powell (Bleckley County) 5:14.13
Class A Public
3,200m: 3. Emma Mercer (GMC) 13:11.34
High Jump: 1. Calli McMullen (GMC) 5-0; 3. Taylor Scott (GMC) 4-10
Long Jump: 1. Brandy Mackey (Telfair County) 18-1; 2. NyAsia Howard (Telfair County) 17-1 1/2 ; 4. Lakaitlyn Wright (Wheeler County) 16-8 1/4
Triple Jump: 1. NyAsia Howard (Telfair County) 35-7 1/2 ; 3. Mikayla Blackshear (Treutlen) 34-7; 4. Abigail Kirkland (GMC) 34-3
Discus: 3. Mary Elizabeth Jones (GMC) 93-8; 8, Kailey Eudy (Montgomery County) 83-5
Shot Put: 3. LaShalyla Johnson (Montgomery County) 33-0; 4. Kiamber Usry (Hancock Central) 32-4
Class A Private
High Jump: 8. Sarah Kate Sellers (Stratford) 4-8
Long Jump: 2. Jordan Allen (Tattnall) 17-9 1/2 ; 7. Aysha Roberts (Stratford) 16-0 1/4 ; 8. Christiny Reeves (FPD) 16-0
Triple Jump: 1. Jordan Allen (Tattnall) 38-4 1/4 ; 5. Peyton Worsham (FPD) 33-3 1/2 ; 7. Faith Boyington (Stratford) 32-10 1/4
Discus: 1. Maggie Johnston (FPD) 144-5; 2. Mary Wilson Avant (Stratford) 128-8
Shot Put: 7. Maggie Johnston (FPD) 38-8.
Pole Vault: 1. Carson Dingler (FPD) 13-2; 2. Madison Griffin (FPD) 10-0
Wheelchair
Shot Put: 1. Mary Kaitlyn Wheeler (East Laurens) 14-0.
This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 6:19 PM with the headline "FPD pole vaulter Carson Dingler shatters GHSA meet record."