Clarke Central High School boys varsity track and field distance runner Charles Black, a senior, runs a relay leg at Athens-Clarke/Oconee County Area Track and Field Championships in Billy Henderson Stadium on Mar. 26. Black has worked to improve his performance at (Georgia High School Association State Championships) throughout the 2025-26 season at every practice. “My goal is to win state or (place well) at state, and I know it’s going to take a lot of dedication and hard work, but in the end, it should be worth it,” Black said. “I think every athlete on the team is capable. They’re all very strong.” Photo courtesy of Ryan Bishop
After claiming the Region 8-AAAAA championship title, the CCHS boys varsity track and field team is now surging into sectionals on May 2, aiming to bring home a state trophy on UGA’s turf.
The Clarke Central High School boys varsity track and field team returned from Loganville High School with its first Region 8-AAAAA Championship in 15 years on April 23. With this title under its belt, the Gladiators will now progress to state sectionals at Greenbrier High School on May 2.
State sectionals serve as the final qualifier for participating track and field athletes to advance to the Georgia High School Association State Championships, which will be held on May 13 at Spec Towns Track at the University of Georgia. CCHS boys varsity track and field head coach Zachary Howard is pushing as many of his strongest runners as possible to qualify for state by having experienced athletes lead by example and provide encouragement.
“(At this point,) it’s, ‘Qualify or your season’s over.’ We (as coaches) are seeing how many people we can get to represent at the state championship. (To qualify, our team needs to) come in (the) top eight in every event we have athletes entered in,” Howard said. “(We’re) carrying forward momentum and building on something special that hasn’t been done in a long time.”
“I really feel motivated because I know what we’re capable of, and we can go all the way with this as a team, not just individually.”
— Davion Richardson,
CCHS track and field sprinter
Despite the challenges, CCHS track and field sprinter Davion Richardson, a junior, remains optimistic about the upcoming sectionals and state meets, recognizing the team’s achievement and potential after helping the team win a region championship.
“I know we have a talented group,” Richardson said. “I really feel motivated because I know what we’re capable of, and we can go all the way with this as a team, not just individually.”
With winning momentum on their side, the CCHS boys varsity track and field team is ready to seize its chance to return to the top of the state as the final stretch begins. After placing fourth at state last year, the team is aiming to come back stronger.
“A lot of athletes are set to move on to state. Our relays and distance kids really showed out at regionals, which is a focal point (going into sectionals),” Howard said. “(With) the state championships hosted here at University of Georgia this year, the (opportunity) to run on our home turf and our home track, as we call it, is special. We’re taking this personally. We’re defending our turf.”
