Westlake girls run it back as GHSA 7A track and field champions
On Saturday, the Georgia High School Association track and field season came to end as Classes 5A and 7A would conclude at Carrollton High School and the Westlake Lions girls team being the only repeat champion of the day at Grisham Stadium. And while the Lions were able to win their 11th state title in program history, their victory would not come without a little bit of drama.
Heading into the day's final event, the 4x400 meter relay, the Lions trailed Marietta in points 65-64 and had to run the race with two alternates, however, Westlake would not be detoured as they would pick up the needed four points to push them ahead of Marietta for the team win and championship.
Among other notable wins for Westlake was in the girls 100 meter hurdles as senior Jaden Billings, who was the favorite to win last year's championship, however false started, would claim the title in a personal best time of 13.45. "It meant so much to me because last year I'd been training and working so hard, I knew I was going to PR and do my best to get first at state," Billings said reflecting on her disqualification from last year.
"This year, got back in the lab, worked hard as I could and the results are showing," Billings said after her win in the 100 meter hurdles. Billings would also help lead the Westlake 4x100 meter relay team to the 7A title as she ran the first leg of the race. "We're just all doing our best and we're all getting those good results. It means a lot," Billings said of her teammates.
Other team wins at Carrollton would include Lithia Springs winning the girls 5A title, Chapel Hill taking home the boys 5A championship and Carrollton claiming the boys 7A title.
