TIFTON, Ga. — A memorable finish Saturday saw Marlee Marlowe hold on to her crown in the GISA state Class AAA 100-meter hurdles finals.

Joining her were Abby Carswell, Dallas Hunt and a relay team consisting of Hunt, Sam Cook, Adam McKinney and Spence Massey in earning points for Tiftarea in four different events. State was held in Albany at Hugh Mills Stadium.

“It was an awesome way to end her senior year,” said Tiftarea head coach David Dark of Marlowe’s repeat victory.

Marlowe won the state 100 hurdles title in 2017, her finals time of 16.04 seconds a half-second faster than the nearest competitor. The race was much closer Saturday.

In the preliminaries, Marlowe had the fastest time in her heat at 16.64 seconds. The other winner of a heat was Erin Moss of Valwood, whose time was 16.56 seconds. Moss had been Marlowe’s biggest nemesis all season, running just ahead of her at races at Deerfield-Windsor in March and again in April’s region championship.

Dark was worried these close losses would affect her. Before state, he said he advised Marlowe “she’d have to get out first. She’d have to be ahead.” Longtime track mentor Sarge Dorsey also worked with Marlowe.

What resulted in the final showdown was described by Dark as “one of the craziest endings I’ve ever seen.”

Marlowe got the early lead, but the race was extremely close.

“Her foot would be in front of Erin’s foot,” he said.

As they neared the finish line, Marlowe ducked her head to try for just a bit more of a lead. The two crossed the line. Moss then tripped and accidentally fell on top of Marlowe.

The winning time for Marlowe was 15.76 seconds. Moss finished at 15.77.

“Just momentum,” said Dark of Moss’ fall. Marlowe ended up with a “strawberry” bruise on her leg.

“I’ve never seen that in a hurdles final,” he said.

The whole meet, said Dark, was similar in feeling, one of the most competitive he had been involved in. Seven new state records were set at the meet, which involved Classes AA and AAA.

“It was crazy fast,” he said. “Everyone ran their fastest race.”

Adam McKinney “ran out of his mind” in setting a new personal best time in the 800 meters. McKinney finished in 2:07.72 for ninth place. The mark was five seconds faster than his previous record.

Carswell picked up points in the 800 meters, finishing eighth at 1:06.33. Hunt had a sixth place finish in the 400 at 53.36 seconds. Hunt teamed with Cook, McKinney and Massey for seventh place in the 4×400. Carswell and Marlowe were Tiftarea’s only female finalists.

“I was impressed with how well our athletes did,” said Dark. “They gave their all.”

“I couldn’t be any more grateful for what the kids gave me.”

Nate Fortson additionally ran his fastest time in the 3,200 at 12:06.09.

Others competing at state for Tiftarea were Sara Beth Royal, who barely missed making the finals in the 300 hurdles, Caroline Sullivan, Adylein Hunt, Jaden Jones, Tristan Scarberry, Grant Hall and Colby Grant.