Tez'Waun Starlings wanted to prove his doubters wrong. Maggie Massey wanted to start strong and finish strong. Key'Asia Dunbar wanted to contribute to her team's score.
Three different motivations produced three identical results Saturday at the South Carolina High School League track and field state championships at Spring Valley High School.
All three won state championships – Midland Valley's Starlings at the Class AAAA level in the long jump, Strom Thurmond's Massey at the Class AAA level in the 400-meter hurdles, Dunbar at the Class A level in the shot put – and accomplished exactly what they set out to do.
"I feel good, like really good, because I didn't think I was going to get it," said Dunbar, who won the event at the Region 3-A meet but now was up against two-time defending state champion Tykeyma Davis of McCormick.
Starlings formed a bond with fellow competitor Cameron Ferguson of Greer, and the two quickly established themselves as the men to beat in the long jump in Class AAAA. Starlings' personal best of 23 feet, 2 inches was a half-inch better than Ferguson for a state title Starlings said was a long time coming for Midland Valley – though the baseball team may add another next week – and he was more than happy to bring one home.
"It feels great. I mean, it's a big accomplishment for me," he said. "I had a lot of people who doubted me throughout my years, so this is my big outcome right here, and I'm showing them."
Aiken's boys finished eighth in Class AAAA thanks to a trio of third-place finishes – William McDuffie in the 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles and Kory Wallace in the 400. Wallace added a sixth-place finish in the 200, and the 4x400 relay team finished fourth.
Aiken's girls tied for 23rd in Class AAAA. LaToria Robinson finished third in the 400 and seventh in the 100, but the Hornets lost out on points when their 4x400 team was disqualified for an early break.
Read the full Aiken Standard Article HERE.