GULFPORT – The South State Class 3A track and field championshipwitnessed an Amite County bonanza. The Trojans finished first inboth the boys and girls divisions. The Trojans are the favorites towin the entire Class 3A title this Friday afternoon at Hughes Fieldin Jackson.

The Trojans finished with 107 points overall in the girlsdivision. Forest took second with 54 points overall, ChoctawCentral edged Heidelberg for third place with 48 pointsoverall.

Leading the Lady Trojans was senior Shirley Banks with a firstplace medal in the 100 meters with a blazing time of 11.8. Placingsecond in the 100 meters was Choctaw Central freshman JoAnn Fraizerwith a 12.1, Shenna Norman placed third for the Franklin CountyBulldogs with a 12.3.

Norman added a first place medal for the Lady Dawgs in the 200meters with a 25.1 time. In the 400 meter dash, Banks edged outNorman to take first place. The Lady Trojans added two more firstplace medals in the 400 and 800 meter relays. The Lady Dawgs got asecond place finish in the 800 meter relays and a third placefinish in the 400 meter relay.

The Trojans gained first place in the boys division with 176points overall. Division 6-3A rival Wilkinson County placed secondwith 98 points. Carthage finished third with 87 points. MiguelBanks led the Trojans with a first place finish in the 200 metersin a time of 21.7. David Chapman added another first place medalfor the Trojans with a 50.3 finish in the 400 meters. Joey Nunneryand Keith Perry added two more golden medals in the 1600 and 3200meters.

Perry finished first in the 1600 meters with a 61.3 time.Nunnery added first in the 3200 with a strong 11:05 time.

Sophomore Devon Martin paced the Trojans in the 100 meterhurdles with a first place time of 14.9. Wildcat senior WilliamMealy placed second in the 100 meters with a 15.5 time. TheWildcats got a gold medal in the discus with a 147-foot throw bysenior Cliffton Boygents.

Franklin County junior Wesley Hickingbottom added a second placemedal in the long jump event with a jump of 21 feet. Jeremy Barnettfinished first in the event with 24 feet and four inches.

The Trojans finished the day with first place medals in the 400,800 and 1600 meter relays. Banks, Chapman, Perry and Derek Crockettled the Trojans with a 49:00 in the 400 meter relay. A 1:45 in the800 meter relay and a 4:19 in the 1600 meter relay.

Franklin County placed second in both boys’ 400 and 800 meterrelays behind Amite County. Leading the Bulldogs in the relays werejuniors Demetric Weathersby, Lakendrick Starks, Everett Marshalland Hickingbottom.

Starks took second place in the 100 meters for the Bulldogs withan 11.4 time. Carthage senior Henry Gardner finished first with a10.8.

“Both our boys and girls ran hard,” said Bullldog track coachTony Gibbs. “We’re going to work harder this week to get firstplace in the state.”

All first, second and third place finishers go to Jackson tocompete in the Class 3A state championships Friday afternoon at3.