PEARL — The Vicksburg Missy Gators dropped their socks and picked up a truckload of medals.

The Missy Gators won five of the seven events they were entered in, and medaled in the other two Friday at the Class 5A state track meet at Pearl High School.

Keiyana Gaskin won four gold medals in the 100 and 200 meter dashes, and the 4×100 and 4×200 meter relays. The 4×100 relay of Gaskin, Mikayla Banks, Destiny Allen and Tymesha Nabors broke the Class 5A record with a time of 47.91 seconds.

“It’s been a great day,” Gaskin said. “All the girls PR’d, all of us worked hard. We set goals and reached them.”

None of the team members wore socks during their races after having some success with it at last week’s North State meet. Whether based in fact or superstition, the tactic worked. The Missy Gators had personal best times in all of their events.

“My summer coach, Coach Maxey, said you can run faster without socks. I was just playing, but was like, ‘I’ll try it,’” Gaskin said. “Last week I ran my first 24 in three years in the 200 and told my team we’re not wearing them any more.”

Gaskin, a junior, was competing in the state meet for the fourth time in the 100 and 200 meters, but claimed her first state championship in both.

Gaskin zipped through the 100 meters in 12.08 seconds and the 200 in 24.83.

“I’ve been aiming for this goal and finally reached it,” Gaskin said. “It took a lot of hard work and dedication, but I finally got here.”

Nabors won Vicksburg’s other individual gold medal in the 300 meter hurdles. It was her second consecutive state championship in the event, and she made it look easy.

Hopping over hurdles rather than using a traditional form, Nabors clocked a time of 44.74 seconds. Runner-up Shamarra Grover of Natchez finished in 46.43 seconds.

“It feels good,” Nabors said. “I know when I run I’ve got to take that first hurdle and then I’m good.”

Jade Douglas finished third in the 800 meters, and the 4×400 meter relay team was second. As a team, the Missy Gators totaled 64 of a possible 70 points and finished fourth.

Pearl won the meet with 121 points, Oxford was second with 88 and Canton was third with 69.