McCranie prepares for state with win at Metro Atlanta meet

Published 12:05 pm Sunday, January 21, 2024

MOULTRIE — Colquitt County’s Ruth Anne McCranie tuned up for her shot at a third-straight GHSA 1-meter state championship by taking first place in Friday’s Metro Atlanta Swimming and Diving Invitational.

The Metro Atlanta meet was held at the Westminster Schools, which also will play host to the state meet on Feb. 6.

McCranie posted a 304.95.

Teammate Maggie Strange was second with a 287.25.

Also representing the Colquitt County girls were Jewel Hart, who was fifth; Kendall Deloach, sixth; and Elizabeth Hobby, seventh.

All five already have scores that qualifies them for the state meet.

Grady High’s McCoy Lyman was first in the Metro Atlanta’s boys competition with a 382.30.

Colquitt County’s Tuck Gregory was second with a 344.05; Trip Gregory was fourth with a 300.80; and freshman Judson Taylor was sixth with a 238.80.

The Packers’ Bo Bridges, who has won the last two boys state championships, did not compete. The University of Georgia-committed Bridges has already qualified for the state meet.

If Bridges can win next month’s state championship, it will give Colquitt boys five straight titles.

Carson Tyler took first place in both 2020 and 2021.

Tuck Gregory took first place in last month’s Madeleine Jude Brown Meet of Champions at Marist and has second- and third-place finishes in the last two state meets.

Trip Gregory was third at Marist and was fourth in the state meet last year and was third in 2022.

McCranie, a senior who has committed to dive at Purdue, did not compete at the state meet as a freshman because of an injury.

But she has been unbeatable the last two years. She scored a 626.00 last year.

Strange, in addition to placing second last week, was third at Marist. As a freshman last year, she was 12th at the state meet.