Austin, Warriors steal the show one more time

Horse racing went 37 years between triple crowns before American Pharaoh ended the drought in 2015. Calvin Austin needed just one year — and he got something extra for good measure.

The Central Warriors also needed just 12 months to put their names in the record book on a rousing final day of competition Friday at Dean A. Hayes Stadium.

Austin, the Harding Academy senior, turned in another amazing performance Friday as the boys track and field championships brought Spring Fling 2017 to a conclusion. He duplicated last year's feat of winning the Division II 100 (11.07), 200 (21.54) and 400 (48.55) and also anchored the Lions' 800-meter relay team, which was disqualified last year.

Add in the 200 title he won as a sophomore and Austin ends his career with eight state championships to his name. His the first person in Tennessee history to win all three races in consecutive years.

Coach Rashad Haynes' Warriors meanwhile held off Brentwood 67.5-60 to match Brentwood's feat of three consecutive titles. The Bruins accomplished the feat in 2010-2012.

Aside from a decathlon win earlier in the week by the coach's son Rashad, the only first-place Central picked up came in the 300 hurdles, with Courtney Thomas winning in 38.43. But they piled up plenty of points, especially Haynes who was third in the 100 and fifth in the long jump and 200.

Thomas was second in the triple jump while Owten took third in the 300 hurdles and sixth in the 110 hurdles.

Houston had a strong meet, placing fourth. Colin Jones won the 800 in 1:54.53, just edging out his twin brother Keaton (1:54.85). The Mustangs also won the 3,200-relay in 7:58.51.

Cordova's Isaiah Norman won the long jump (23-4.25), Sir Newton Lee of East took the 400 (48.18) and Germantown won the 1,600-relay (3:20.84).

In D2, Ty Kimberlin added more points for Harding by winning the long jump in 21-3.25. The Lions also won the 1,600-relay in 3:24.98 to finish second behind Brentwood Academy, 155-104.

Deantoine Boyce of Lausanne won the 110 hurdles in 14.88 while Charlie Gilliland from MUS took the 800 in 2:01.58. Briarcrest won the 400 relay over Lausanne in a photo finish as both teams were credited with a time of 42.09. CBHS won the 3,200 relay in 8:04.54, over nine seconds ahead of Brentwood Academy.

Walter Miller of Millington was the top local performer in A-AA, finishing second in the 200 (22.19) and third in the 400 (49.69).

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.