Manning High School's track and field program sent three student-athletes to the South Carolina High School League AAA state meet on Saturday, May 20. The state-wide competition was held at Lower Richland High School’s Richland One Stadium in Hopkins.
Junior Ja’lencia Griffin had a second-place finish in the 400-meter dash, while senior teammate Delaney Frierson finished eighth in the 100-meter hurdles to give the Manning girls 9 points. Senior Justin Daniels finished sixth in the long and triple jumps to provide the Manning boys 6 points.
Ja’lencia Griffin and Delaney Frierson hold former state championship titles in events outside of those they competed in this year. Griffin won both the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash as a freshman in 2021. Frierson won the 400-meter hurdles and finished second in the 100 hurdles just last season.
Last season, Griffin could not defend her championships as she decided to play softball for Manning instead of competing in track and field.
Griffin rejoined the track and field team this year, but unfortunately, injuries held her back.
Despite the competition, she performed well enough to win the 400 hurdles during the lower state meet in Camden. She sadly did not achieve first place in the state meet but came in second nwith a time of 59.20 seconds, which was a personal record.
