Qualifying for the state track and field meet in one event is hard enough, but Vicksburg High’s Jordan Davis has managed to do it in three.

Davis will compete in the triple jump, and test her skills in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles Saturday at the MHSAA Class 5A state meet at Pearl High School. Qualifying for three events comes with plenty of extra preparation.

“It’s been hard because you have to manage your time and practice, you have to focus on hurdles when you do the 100 and 300, and the triple jump is like a whole new form you have to do,” Davis said. “You just have to manage your time and work on both crafts.”

At last week’s North State meet, Davis finished third in the triple jump, with a leap of 34 feet, 5 inches; second in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 49.40 seconds; and fourth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 17.20 seconds. The top four finishers in each event advanced to the state meet.

Davis reached the state meet in the 300-meter hurdles last year as a sophomore, but finished seventh.

“I feel like I did good,” Davis said. “I did better than last year, so that’s always good.”

Also qualifying for the state meet for the Missy Gators were Char’Davia Anderson, in the 100-meter hurdles; Taylor Gray in the 200-meter dash; Brandi Dillon in shot put and discus; and the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400 meter relay teams.

The 4×100 meter relay team of Gray, Kiona Patton, Shadia Cain and Markia Anderson will be going for Vicksburg’s fifth consecutive state championship in the event.
For the Vicksburg boys, Robert Jones is competing in the long jump and the 4×100 meter relay team also qualified.

With that in mind, Davis felt that the Gators have put together a pretty good season so far.

“It’s been rocky sometimes in practice. You get a little too hot or a little too tired, but you have to push through,” Davis said.

In order to push through and compete well at state, Davis said she would be watching a lot of film for preparation, especially for her hurdles.

“You have to watch your videos, catch your mistakes and work on them in practice, and hopefully you perfect it at the meet,” Davis said. “I feel like I can do good. I just have to work hard in practice, put my mind to it, and really focus on it.”

The Class 5A state meet begins at 11 a.m. with the field and distance running events. The other running events are scheduled to begin at approximately 2 p.m.

MHSAA STATE MEET QUALIFIERS
Vicksburg High girls
Taylor Gray – 200 meters
Char’Davia Anderson – 100 hurdles
Jordan Davis – 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, triple jump
Brandi Dillon – Shot put, discus
Relays – 4×100, 4×200, 4×400
Vicksburg High boys
Robert Jones – Long jump
Relays – 4×100

MHSAA STATE MEET SCHEDULE:
Class 2A/4A/6A: Friday, 11 a.m., at Pearl H.S.
Class 1A/3A/5A: Saturday, 11 a.m., at Pearl H.S.