OFF TO THE RACES… Rebels sweep team championships at regional track and field meet
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Ethan Cochran picking up speed for the long jump
By RUSSELL TURNER
Dispatch Editor
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Richton High School’s track and field team put on a dominating performance in Hattiesburg last week, claiming the District 8-1A Championship.
The Rebels claimed both the boys’ and girls’ titles at the meet, which was held at Hattiesburg High School. RHS outgunned competitors from Resurrection Catholic, Mt. Olive and Lumberton to claim the championships, and qualified 28 athletes to advance to Thursday’s Region 4 finals at Clinton High School.
Longtime coach Hugh Thoms said he was excited about his teams’ showing in Hattiesburg and looking forward to seeing them compete in Clinton, and hopefully beyond.

Mya Robins getting some big air in the long jump
“I am very proud of all of them,” said Thoms. “We’ve got a good size group participating, particularly on the boys side and they have found out that they can be successful in track and field, so they are showing a lot more interest and are putting the time and effort into it.”
Thoms said having the higher participation helps because it allows him to spread athletes around and keep them fresh for the events that they are best suited. That was illustrated well in the boys’ 400 meter race. The Rebels claimed the top three spots in that final, which helped lead the team to a sizeable win over second place finisher St. Patrick.
“The points were pretty close there near the end, but finishing 1-2-3 in the 400 (meter dash) pushed us over the top,” Thoms added.
Ethan Cochran, Skyler Husband and Kevin Everett claimed the top three spots in the 400M race, but were not the only RHS trio to sweep an event. Joshua Sumrall, Taveon McSwain and Ashtin Bolton finished first, second and third in the 100M as well.
Cochran and Sumrall also finished first and second in the boys’ 200M. The duo teamed up with Dave Woullard and Husband to win the boys’ 4x200M Relay. Sumrall and Husband also teamed up with Caleb Corley and LaJuan McSwain to take first place in the boys’ 4x400M Relay, while Everett, Hakon Roberts, Will Henderson and DaMarvious Jones claimed the top spot in the boys’ 4x800M Relay.
Other Rebels taking first place included Will Henderson (discus throw), and Sumrall (long jump)

Hayden Sumrall running in the 4x400M Relay event
On the girls’ side, RHS claimed first place in the 4x200M Relay with the team of McKenzie Amos, Mya Robins, Kalina Montani and Kalyjai Bolton. Amos also took first place in the long jump, an event RHS swept with Mya Robins and Nylah Robins rounding out the top three.
Erin Hinton claimed the top spot in the shot put competition, Montani earned first place in the triple jump event.
All participants who finished in the Top 4 advanced to Thursday’s regional meet in Clinton. The Top 4 at that event will advance to South State. The State Championship Meet will feature the Top 4 from the north and south meets.
Complete results for all events at Hattiesburg last week were as follows:
Boys 100 Meter Dash: 1st – Joshua Sumrall 12.30; 2nd – Taveon McSwain 13.86; and 3rd – Ashtin Bolton 13.89
Girls 100 Meter Dash: 4th – Mckenzie Amos 13.95; and 7th – Nylah Robins 15.25
Boys 200 Meter Dash: 1st – Ethan Cochran 24.59; 2nd – Joshua Sumrall 25.01; and 5th – Taveon McSwain 27.80
Girls 200 Meter Dash: 2nd – Mckenzie Amos 28.49; and 5th – Kalina Montani 31.97
Boys 300 Meter Hurdles: 3rd – Venn Mathis 56.22
Boys 400 Meter Dash: 1st – Ethan Cochran 54.23; 2nd – Skylar Husband 58.75; and 3rd – Kevin Everett 1:00.68
Girls 400 Meter Dash: 2nd – Mya Robins 1:11.06; and 4th – Dherria Barlow 1:24.93
Boys 800 Meter Dash: 2nd – Dave Woullard 2:34.34; and 4th – Will Henderson 2:34.47
Girls 800 Meter Dash: 2nd – Gracie Phillips 3:32.45
Boys 1600 Meter: 2nd – Caleb Corley 6:03.90
Boys 4×100 Meter Relay: 2nd – Team of Hayden Sumrall, LaJuan McSwain, Taveon McSwain, and Ashtin Bolton 52.26
Girls 4×100 Meter Relay: 2nd – Team of Nylah Robins, Kalyjai Bolton, Royal Rodney, and Kalina Montani 57.30
Boys 4×200 Meter Relay: 1st – Team of Dave Woullard, Skylar Husband, Ethan Cochran, and Joshua Sumrall 1:39.99
Girls 4×200 Meter Relay: 1st – Team of Mckenzie Amos, Mya Robins, Kalina Montani, and Kalyjai Bolton 1:58.27
Boys 4×400 Meter Relay: 1st – Team of Caleb Corley, Hayden Sumrall, LaJuan McSwain, and Skylar Husband 4:17.03
Boys 4×800 Meter Relay: 1st – Team of Hakon Roberts, Will Henderson, Kevin Everett, and DaMarvious Jones 11:18.49
Boys Discus Throw: 1st – Will Henderson 89-02; 5th – Christian Taylor 74-02; and 6th – Hakon Roberts 66-06
Girls Discus Throw: 2nd – Reagan Husband 46-10; and 3rd – Dherria Barlow 45-00
Boys High Jump: 2nd – Dave Woullard 5-08
Boys Long Jump: 1st Joshua Sumrall 19-08; 4th – Kevin Everett 15-02; and 5th – Ethan Cochran 14-08
Girls Long Jump: 1st – Mckenzie Amos 15; 2nd – Mya Robins 13-09; and 3rd – Nylah Robins 10-00
Boys Shot Put: 3rd – Vinnaton Shaw 29-06; 7th – Tristan Taylor 24-01.50; and 9th – Christian Taylor 23-01.00
Girls Shot Put: 1st – Erin Hinton 26-09.5; 4th – Londyn Robinson 21-11.00; and 6th – Reagan Husband 19-03
Girls Triple Jump: 1st – Kalina Montani 29-04.50