[05/08/01] Vicksburg High’s boys will compete in eight events in Saturday’s Class 5A state meet Saturday at Hughes Field in Jackson.

At Saturday’s North State meet, freshman sprinter Maurice Taylor doubled in the 100- and 200-meter dash and ran anchor on the fourth-place 4×200 relay team to help the Gators finish third in the 15-team meet. Host Tupelo won with 124 points, followed by Madison Central with 82. VHS had 75 points.

Warren Central’s girls took fifth, the Vikings were seventh and the VHS girls were eighth.

Top-four individual finishers qualify for the state meet.

The Lady Vikes will compete in six events and the Vikings will compete in four events at the state meet. The Missy Gators qualified for two.

In the North State meet, VHS’ Willie Powers took first in the triple-jump (45 feet, 11-1/2 inches) and Taylor was first in the 100 (10.78 seconds) and the 200 (22.09). He is undefeated in the 100. Terry Cooper qualified in three events the 110-meter high hurdles, the high jump and the discus.

JaQuita Benard doubled for WC’s girls, taking first in the shot put (34-113/4) and discus (109-8) and Wanda Calvin qualified in the high jump and the 300-meter low hurdles.

The Vikings had just one first-place finish. Chase Grogan won the 3,200-meter run (10:01.76) but also qualified in the 1,600.

VHS’ girls didn’t have any firsts.