Jared Jackson honored at 73rd Annual McCormick Unsung Heros Banquet

Today, May 6th 2013 SFA Track & Field Co-Captain Jared Jackson will be honored today. He is one of the select few student athletes in the Baltimore area to receive this honor. Jared's standout achievements on and off the football field gained him this high honor. One of the blessed nominees will receive a 4 year $36,000 scholarship from McCormick. Let's keep Jared in our prayers.

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/high-school/varsity-letters/bal-mccormick-to-honor-prep-unsung-heroes-monday-20130430,0,7072933.story

SFA Sets New Patriot Games Records in Relays and 100m

We signed our name in the history books at the Patriot Games Championships, hosted by John Carroll, in Bel Air MD yesterday. The Panthers Gold (Diggs, Bell, Williams, Jackson) 4x200m Relay set a new Championship record of 1:32.9. The Panthers Gold (Bell, Williams, Felder, Diggs) 4x100m Relay followed suit and set a new Championship record of 43.9 in that event. Michael Bell tied the 100m Championship record at 10.8, a personal record for him. Bell is is now co-owner of the Championship and school 100m record also held by Tyrus Costly '12. In his first year on the team, Sophomore, Noah Turley improved his seasonal 200m time by 1 full second, running a 23.5. Panthers Black 4x100m is showing great consistency, running 44.7 again, we look forward to moving them up to the Gold Team as our Seniors head off to college. Captains, Jawanza Diggs and Jared Jackson, ran seasonal personal bests in the 200m dash at 22.4 and 22.9 respectively. Jackson, the anchor leg of the national qualifier Panthers Gold 4x200m, is out in rest this week due to a minor injury. He will return for the MIAA Conference Championships next week. Congratulations SFA Panthers, see you this weekend at the Clash of the Titans Invitational @ New Town HS, Owings Mills MD.

SFA Panthers Gold 4x100m Achieves Penn Relays Success and 4x200m Gains NBON Bid

Well we are back in the swing of things! Penn Relays was awesome. The team set a new school record of 43.95 in the 4x100m Relay to place 4th in their division at Penn Relays. All of the qualities of a competitive team are present and accounted for. I saw leadership from our 4x100m relay captain (Jawanza Diggs), teamwork within the group, sportsmanship towards other teams, dedication to getting it right, and ownership of the task at hand. The night before we left we had one last practice, a captains practice. At that point coaches can only do so much, it's time to fly. The captain had the reigns and he guided them through a stellar practice. It was like watching the light come on a few times. All the drills, lessons, and minutia were finally coming together to form an "AHHA!!" moment. They put it on the track, made the adjustments, and ran an outstanding, competitive race at Penn Relays. Job well done to: Michael Bell, Maurice Williams, Kareem Felder, Jawanza Diggs and Jared Jackson (alternate)

In other news...
The New Balance Outdoor Nationals is fast approaching and our entire Panthers Gold 4x200m Relay is back in action with the same crew as last year. They have qualified to race against the top teams in the country, with their time of 1:31.97. The event is again in Greensboro, NC June 14 - 16 2013. This is the premier elite event in High School Track and Field. It is a stellar achievement for our Panthers to be ranked among the nation's elite. Congratulations to Panthers 4x200m Gold Team: Jawanza Diggs, Michael Bell, Maurice Williams, Jared Jackson (relay captain) and Kareem Felder (alternate).



Special Thanks to Stephen Hudgins Photography for donating his creativity to SFA T&F: http://www.stephenhudgins.com

Private and Independent Schools Championship Meet

We got an early start this morning: 645 am, phew! But we're here to set some personal records and win some medals. Senior standouts, Jawanza Diggs and Jared Jackson are competing in th 55m and 300m respectively. Jawanza currently holds the school record at 6.78 in the 55m. We are hoping for a PR today. This is Jared's first indoor season and only his second meet. He ran a 40.37 in the 300m at PG county sports complex. Pretty good for just getting into shape. Forever the competive leader, he jumped right in and blew his heat out by 2 seconds! Hopefully with a little more competition and a mental path he will bring that time down considerably today. Go Panthers!

Update! Diggs made finals and ran 6.79a/6.55, awaiting the official time :0