Vicksburg High picked up a few first-place finishes at the MHSAA Division 4-5A meet on Friday. More importantly, it sent a whole lot of athletes on to the next round of track and field’s postseason.

Vicksburg’s girls’ team finished in the top four in 17 events and the boys in 10, qualifying them for the Region 2-5A meet at Ridgeland High School on April 14.

The Missy Gators collected eight division championships in the girls’ meet, including two each by Layla Carter and Janiah Caples.

Carter won in the 300 meter hurdles and high jump, and was also second in the triple jump and 100 meter hurdles. Carter’s winning time in the 300 hurdles was 49.24 seconds, and her time in the 100 was 17.02 seconds. She cleared 5 feet, 2 inches in the high jump and leaped 32 feet, 11 inches in the triple jump.

Caples finished first in the two distance races, the 1,600 and 3,200 meters, with times of 6:27 and 15:19, respectively.
Other winners were Kalia Bland in the 100 meter hurdles, with a time of 17.26 seconds; Rekia Williams in the discus with a throw of 88 feet, 8 inches; Jelisa Tyler in the shot put with a throw of 31 feet; and the 4×100 meter relay.

The 4×100 meter relay team of Bland, Jakayla Brooks, Rodrianna Hall and Gabby Oliver won with a time of 52.09 seconds.

The swarm of individual championships also helped the Missy Gators cruise to the team title. They totaled 153 points, well ahead of runner-up Jim Hill’s 101. Callaway finished third, with 70, and Forest Hill was fourth with 24.

The only victory for Vicksburg’s boys’ team came in the 4×400 meter relay, although they did have three second-place finishes. Koury Vample (110 meter hurdles), Kaleb Hanger (300 hurdles) and Tyler Henderson (triple jump) all finished second in their events.

The winning 4×400 team of Ka’Darius Coleman, Quinjerius Miles, Shawndell Daniel and Kenneth Swayzer posted a time of 3:48.16.

The Gators finished third in the team standings, with 67.5 points. Callaway won the team championship, with 175 points, and Jim Hill was second with 69.5. Provine (34) and Forest Hill (20) rounded out the team standings.