Richland One student-athletes outpaced their competitors to win nine individual and team state championship titles in track and field this year.
The South Carolina High School League held the 2023 Class AA and Class AAA Track and Field State Championships May 19-20 at Spring Valley and Lower Richland high schools. Student-athletes representing all Richland One high schools participated.
Dreher High School’s boys track and field team won the Class AAA state championship under the leadership of Head Coach Calvin Harrison, who is in his first year at Dreher.
“When you have an opportunity to win a state championship as an entire team, it’s an amazing accomplishment. It lets you know that you have a team full of athletes that are willing to come together and do what they had to do in order to win the championship,” said Harrison, who previously led the boys and girls track and field programs at Columbia High School for six years.
Dreher senior Sam Kolowith was named an individual state champion in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs.
“Sam is one of the best runners in the country. His time of 4:19.70 in the 1600-meter run is really phenomenal,” said Harrison.
Sam was also part of the state championship-winning 4x800-meter relay team, which included Ivan Diaz, Liam Jones, Eli Roth, Griffin Dodson and Patrick Walsh. The team’s time in the relay was 7:57.97.
In addition, Richland One student-athletes won five state championship titles in Class AA:
- Nino Brown, Rahmeer Carmichael, Emory Peay, Jerimiah Pettis, Aden Price and Denard White – W.J. Keenan High School (4x400-meter relay)
- Jermyra Bethel, DaenJah Williams, Anyla Demas, l’Carole Williams and TyQwasia Williams – Eau Claire High School (4x400-meter relay)
- Ethan Moody – Eau Claire High School (400-meter hurdles)
- TyQwasia Williams – Eau Claire High School (400-meter hurdles)
- Jermyra Bethel – Eau Claire High School (girls high jump)
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PHOTO: Dreher High School’s boys track and field team won the 2023 Class AAA track and field state championship.
