CARROLLTON, GA — For the 29th time in the decorated program’s history, the Carrollton High School boys track and field team has won the 2024 GHSA AAAAAAA State Championship. 

The Trojan boys started strong at the state meet, dominating the discus events on Thursday, scoring 18 team points. Sophomore Kaden Spratling led the way, throwing a personal best of 169 feet, 6 inches to win the individual title. Sophomore CJ Gamble placed fourth, while last year's champion, Jordan White, finished sixth. 

In the 3200m race, senior Noah Martinson added three points for the Trojans by finishing sixth. On the field, freshman Connor Rolek tied for third in the pole vault with a personal record of 14 feet, 6 inches. Senior Javon McLean took fourth in the high jump, contributing five points, and sophomore Khalen Pinkard claimed second in the triple jump with a personal best of 47 feet, 5.50 inches. By the end of the day, Carrollton had amassed 39.5 points, trailing Mill Creek by just 1.5 points.

After a day of preliminary races on Friday, the Trojans moved into Saturday, knowing they had to score in each event they had left to win. The 4x800m relay team of Noah Martinson, Hagan Russell, Nour Nazim, and Daniel Neill kicked off the day with a first-place finish, with a school record time of 7:45.66. The 4x200m relay team—Taariq Miles, AJ McNeil, Jason Ackey, and Shem McMillan—secured crucial points by finishing sixth with the second-fastest time in program history, 1:26.78. 

The championship hinged on senior Noah Martinson’s performance in the 800m race, where he needed at least a fourth-place finish. Martinson delivered, placing third with a personal best time of 1:54.26, giving the Trojans a slight edge.

With just two events left in the meet, the Trojans had finished all of their events with 58.5 points and led the only team that could catch them, Walton, by 9.5 points. The title depended on the 200m race, where Walton’s Tyson Poole needed a first-place finish to surpass Carrollton. Poole came in third, securing the Trojan's 29th state title in school history.

“I am so proud of this group of young men and the entire coaching staff for all the dedication they have shown and the hard work they’ve put in this season,” head coach Justin Jones said. “I cannot thank the community and administration enough for supporting this program because this championship would not have happened without it. This program is back where it belongs, at the top.”

CHS Athletic Director Paul Fitz-Simons praised the commitment of the athletes and coaches in achieving the championship win.

“This state championship is a testament to the dedication of our athletes and coaches,” Fitz-Simons said. “This team had every chance to give in and never took no for an answer. They worked tirelessly throughout the season, putting themselves in the position to win, and they did just that. Each team member has represented Trojan Nation well, and it is an honor to celebrate them.”

CHS won its first-ever state championship in track and field in June of 1924, and 100 years later, they are adding trophy No. 29 to the case.

The Carrollton High School track and field team captured the 2024 GHSA AAAAAAA state championship on May 11 at Musselwhite Track in Grisham Stadium, the 29th state title in program history. The Trojans last captured a state championship in 2021.

Kadan Spratling (middle) took home the GHSA AAAAAAA track and field state championship in the discus on May 12 with a throw of 169.6 ft. CJ Gamble (right) finished fourth, and Jordan White (left) placed sixth. 

The Trojan boys 4x800m relay team of Noah Martinson, Hagan Russell, Nour Nazim, and Daniel Neill captured the GHSA AAAAAAA track and field state championship title on May 12 with a school record time of 7:45.66.

Sophomore Khalen Pinkard finished second in the GHSA AAAAAAA track and field state championship triple jump event on May 12 with a personal record of 47-5.50.

Noah Martinson took home 3rd place in the GHSA AAAAAAA track and field state championship 800m event with a personal best time of 1:54.26.

Javon McLean finished fourth in the GHSA AAAAAAA track and field state championship high jump event on May 12, clearing 6’4.

Freshman Connor Rolek tied for third in the GHSA AAAAAAA track and field state championship pole vault event on May 12, clearing 14’6, a personal best.