Darlington senior Spencer Fields took home the coveted Class AA state title in the 3,200-meter run on Friday at the Georgia High School Association state track and field meet in Jefferson, Ga. The championship marks his second state title of the year after winning his first at the Class AA state cross country in November.
Fields finished strong with a time of 9:39, 20 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.
The new alumnus closed out his high school running career with the state win less than one day before graduating from Darlington with honors.
"Spencer finished as one of the most decorated runners in Darlington School history," said Kevin Hunt, head track and field coach. "He has represented our school wonderfully and is a true Darlington Tiger."
The graduate now holds the school record for both the 5K and the 3200-meter segments.
Fields is a four-year member of the track and field team, and has run cross country since sixth grade. In 2013, he was recognized by the Rome News-Tribune as Runner of the Year. He has been named to many all-state and all-area teams, and successfully placed several times in the track and field portion of the 1A Private Georgia Olympics.
"While the seasons might only account for half of a year, I've really been running year-round," said the athlete. "[Former] Coach [Alan] Parish and Coach [Katie] Ellis helped develop me and work up my training. I've been able to cover some good ground over the last four years."
In the 2014-15 school year, Fields was named most valuable runner in cross country, receiving the Scholar-Athlete Award and Captain's Award. In track and field, Fields earned the designation of most valuable player and garnered another Scholar-Athlete Award.
In February, Fields took home the Rome-Floyd Sports Hall of Fame's John Pinson Outstanding Male Athlete Award for his statewide recognition in athletics, his school campus involvement, and his academic performance.
"I enjoy competing with people, but I also enjoy having a team to compete with and the camaraderie that goes with it," said Fields. "The people on my team always pushed me to do my best so we could work towards the championships together. I wouldn't be here without them."
"His willingness to do whatever he can do to make our team successful is what impresses me the most about Spencer," said Hunt. "He leads by example and he can always be counted on."
Fields came to Darlington as a seventh-grader, and served on Honor Council and Science Club (president). He holds membership in the National Honor Society, Mu Theta Alpha Math Honor Society, Cum Laude Society and Junior State of America.
Over the course of his time at Darlington, the graduate won several E.L. Wright awards for scholastic achievement and was recognized last year as an AP Scholar with distinction. Fields was also named a Commended Student in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program.
For the past two summers, Fields has cultivated a personal garden from which he has donated all of the produce to Rome Action Ministries.
This fall, Fields will attend Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., and will soon begin training for the Division III school's cross country program.
Fields is the son of Drs. Katy and Jayson Fields of Kingston, Ga.
Click here to read the Rome News-Tribune article about Fields' first state title win.
