Congrats to Buford High School’s, track & field team, for being the Gwinnett Sports Commission players of the week!
Buford girls repeat as state track and field champions after numerous individual titles, records
By Brandon Sudge Staff Correspondent
Updated
New year, same circumstances for the Buford girls track and field team as it went into Saturday’s final races in search of a team title.
Buford was through eight field events in eighth place, 15 points behind leader Fayette County and sitting behind region rival Flowery Branch. But with plenty of events to go and the potential to score lots of points, a tangible opportunity arose for another come-from-behind team victory.
A few hours later, the championship trophy was placed in the same hands. The Wolves scored 52 points in the final day of competition and topped Jackson-Atlanta 73-66. It marked the second consecutive championship for Buford, following the first in program history.
“They all came together as one and it was an awesome performance,” Buford coach Fyrone Davis said. “We were down going in and at the halfway point today, and we said, ‘We have work to do, let’s go get this thing.’ This was unreal and I expected them to do well, but I wasn’t sure if it would be like this. I’m so proud.”
Buford had gotten off to a fast start in the 400-meter relay as its first- and second-team squads both collected points. The A squad, with the quartet of Trinity Price, the Rossum sisters — Alexa and Trinity — and Kimberly Price recorded a first-place finish of 45.26 seconds. It set a GHSA record, beating a previous-best 45.69 in 2012 by M.L. King. Buford posted a 45.17 in Thursday’s preliminary race, which was good enough for a national record.
The “B” squad finished in eighth place at 48.13.
Buford, after only losing one competitor in Erin Marsh a season ago, continued to show its youth as its two leading contributors in Price and Harris are underclassmen.
“We are a young group with freshmen and sophomores, but it’s a talented team of young ladies,” Davis said. “They’re phenomenal. It wasn’t easy to go out and compete there for five straight hours, especially in this heat. It takes a lot and we just told them to leave it out on the track.”
Buford still trailed at the time, but then was able to emerge at the top during the 400. Harris, who already claimed an individual title in Thursday’s long jump, followed it up with another state title and a 53.31 mark. Harris’ performance also set a state record, topping a 53.65 performance in 2000 by Stephanie Smith of Northeast (Macon).
Already having success in the event with Harris’ first-place finish, Price was right behind her. The freshman finished the 400 at 53.95, 1.55 seconds ahead of the third-place finisher (55.50).
“It was so exciting and everyone started cheering again,” Harris said. “It’s a big deal to set the record and win the title and set the record – truly an amazing feeling. For us to get 18 points there, it was really big after being out there in the heat and tired.”
The Wolves had emerged from the pack in the team standings and held onto the lead throughout the final stages of the state meet, despite Jackson-Atlanta being able to close the gap. Buford was only able to record a total of three points in the 1,600 while Jackson-Atlanta notched six.
Jackson-Atlanta also had a fourth- and fifth-place finisher in the 300 hurdles while the Wolves were unable to crack the top eight.
However, more individual titles were on the way.
Alexa Rossum, daughter of former Atlanta Falcons’ kick returner and NFL’s “fastest man” recipient in 2005, Allen Rossum, was next. Alexa Rossum took the crown in the 100 with a finish of 11.78 for her third state title in two seasons with the Wolves.
Price, following up her second-place finish in the 400, won the 200 with a time of 23.85.
“I just wanted to finish strong and I did,” Alexa Rossum said. “It was a lot of fun out there. I just love my team. We had the mindset all day of ‘If we do what we’re capable of, we’ll win this thing.’”