The Heritage track and field teams had a successful stay at the Region 8-AAAAA meet. The boys finished as runner-up, though it was a distant second to runaway champion Cedar Shoals (147-84), and Dayo Akindele was a big reason why.
Akindele was a two-time titleist, winning both the long jump (22-06) and the 110-hurdles at 15.03. The junior nearly pulled off a third crown, but was nipped by Cedar Shoals freshman Rogerous Swain in the triple jump finals, 44-06 to 44-05.
The girls placed third, thanks to four individual titles. Morgan Hubbard won both the 110 hurdles at 15.06 and 300-hurdles (44.33) to go along with the title-winning 400-relay team (49.26) and 200-meter champion Lyric Bolden (26.08).
The Salem boys finished sixth, getting an individual championship from Licash Lackey (300-hurdles at 40.04). The Seminoles also picked up second-place medals from Quintis Maddox, who was second in the discus (155-06), the 1600-relay team (3:24.25) and Christian Bagby, who at 21-02.50 placed second to Akindele in the long jump.
Heritage and Salem will compete in the Class AAAAA B Sectionals April 26 at Loganville High School.