ALBANY - Schley County's Gabbie Pina repeated as the Class A state champion in the 1,600 meters Thursday night in the Georgia High School Association's girls state track and field meet.<br>
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A sophomore, Pina finished with a time of 5:18.66 to easily defeat Brookstone's Jeanette Crawford, who finished second at 5:25.99.<br>
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Pina took control in the final 100 meters, sprinting to the finish line.<br>
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``I wanted to do that sooner, but I didn't want to waste the energy,'' Pina said. ``I figured she would be coming to get me. I thought the race was closer than it was.''<br>
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The best race was in the Class AAA 1,600 meters. Westover's Jamilia Young surged ahead of defending state champion Harriott Kelly of Lovett with about 150 meters left, then held on to win the title.<br>
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She finished at 5:23.77, while Kelly ran a 5:24.46.<br>
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``I usually stay back in the pack,'' Young said. ``The fourth lap is my kick lap. I usually kick it in on the last 200 meters.''<br>
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The tightest race in the 1,600 event was in Class AA where Holy Innocents' Haley Kolff held off Providence Christian's Allison Kreutzer, 5:16.07 to 5:16.72.<br>
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In the Class AAAAA 3,200 meters, Northwest Whitfield's Shelley Taylor captured the state title, finishing with a time of 11:09.31. Taylor finished as the state runner-up last season.<br>
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Marist's Kristen Johnson, the Class AAAA state champion in the 3,200 last season, defended her title, running a 10:54.92. Johnson ran an 11:25.28 last year.<br>
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Friday's first session features field event competition in all classifications. <br>
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The second session features finals in Class AAAAA and AAAA, and the 3,200 finals in Classes A, AA and AAA.
