East Rankin Academy (ERA) Patriot Track & Field team, coached by Coach David Hopper, concluded the 2022 season on Saturday, May 7, at the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) State Championship.
The road to State began April 20 with the team competing in the District meet at Madison Ridgeland Academy.
Eighteen athletes qualified to the North State championship among the top-four finalists. Additionally, all four girls relay teams and the boys 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams qualified to the North State meet.
The North State Championship was held April 30 at Bayou Academy in Cleveland, Mississippi, pitting schools from MAIS Districts 1 and 2. The top four finalists in each event qualified to the MAIS State Championship. The Patriot girls’ team finished fourth and the varsity boys finished eighth.
Finally, the MAIS State Championships were hosted by Jackson Prep on May 7. The ERA varsity girls scored 41 points, finishing 6th and varsity boys scored 17 points, finishing 11th overall out of the eighteen MAIS 5A schools. The varsity girls improved one spot over the 2021 track season, and the boys, currently building in depth, improved six spots over 2021.
Brayden Warner’s win in discus ended a ten-year drought of state titles for the ERA track and field team. A multi-sport athlete, Warner has been working with the budding throwing team for the past two years. Entering the season ranked second in the state, Warner quickly took control of the top spot in discus division rankings and never relinquished it through season end.
ERA throwing coach Steven Boozer stated, “Brayden is an exceptional athlete. What makes him special is his ability to take instruction and apply them into every part of the throw that we are working on. He is a quick learner and has a very bright future in the throws. I can’t wait to see how far this young man can go!”
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