[05/10/02]The tracks at Warren Central and Vicksburg High have been quiet this week. Only the banter of a late gym class, the sound of a solitary body hitting a high jump mat and the patter of a few pairs of feet break the silence.

WC and VHS each qualified only a handful of athletes for Saturday’s Class 5A state meet at Hughes Field in Jackson, promising an unusually quiet end to the high school track season in Vicksburg.

“It’s kind of lonely at practice,” said WC high jumper Wanda Calvin, one of only four WC athletes in the state meet.

Vicksburg’s boys and girls teams have a chance to break the top five with strong performances, but are nursing injuries this week. WC’s teams will finish their meet by noon and head back home, hopefully with a blue ribbon or two.

Calvin is WC’s best chance for a state champion. She was second at last week’s North State meet, clearing a height two inches below her personal best of 5 feet, 4 inches.

“I’m not sure who’s coming from the South, but (Calvin has) hit 5-4 this year and that should put her in the top three if she can do that again, and I think she can,” WC girls coach Andrea Fairchild said.

The other Lady Vike in the meet is discus thrower Ebon Williams, who posted a personal-best 99-9 at North State meet which was good only for third.

Several other WC athletes ran good times or personal-bests at North State, but missed the cut.

VHS’ girls, meanwhile, are shooting for several state titles and a top-five finish. Katrina Sanders is the defending state champion in the shot put, Rae Evans won the discus at North State and Kamekia Linzy is qualified in three events.

Distance runner Jessica Morris could challenge in the 3,200, but state record holder Julia Cathcart of Starkville is the odds-on favorite.

“I think we do have a good chance,” said VHS girls coach Vernita Bennett, who took over when Eric Solis resigned.

VHS’ girls took a hit this week when freshman hurdler Erica Woodson suddenly quit.

“She just said she didn’t want to do it anymore,” Bennett said.

The Gators have a chance to pull out a strong team finish, coach Bobby Huell said.

“If Willie (Powers), David (Heard), Chris (Humes) and that relay all win, that’s 40 points right there,” Huell said. “Anything is possible.”

Huell’s optimism stems from his top-heavy lineup. Powers won the high jump and triple-jump at North State, Humes won the 400 meters, Heard was second in the 110-meter hurdles and the 4×400 relay team took first place.

But injuries have nagged the team this week. Powers has a sore heel, and 4×200 relay runners Maurice Taylor (strained hamstring) and Rory Johnson (sore back) are nursing injuries.

Taylor and Johnson will be replaced on the relay by either Stanley Williams, James Wood or Johnny Markham all freshmen.

“I think they can hold their own,” Huell said.

Back across town at WC, the Vikings are preparing for what boys coach Morris Johnson jokingly calls “The easiest meet I’ve ever been to.”

WC will bring only distance runner Brad Gaines (3,200 meters) and shot putter Deonta Selvy. Both events will be finished by noon.

“I think we’ll do all right,” said Johnson, who is retiring after 30 years at WC after this year.