COLUMBUS ­- The Long County Blue Tide track team continues to be one of the most successful programs in the area. On Saturday, May 6, the team traveled to Columbus for the AAA sectionals for regions 1-4 where a total of 16 athletes qualified for the state meet. 

Of the 15 events the teams competed in on Saturday, the team qualified in nine events as they just missed qualifying in the girls’ high jump, boys’ 1600 meter, boys’ 300 meter hurdles, boys 4x100 meter and the girls’ 4x200 meter. 

On the relay team side, four teams qualified for the state meet. The boys’ 4x800 meter, 4x400 meter and 4x200 meter teams all placed in the top eight, as did the girls’ 4x800 meter team. 

Anthony Ferrie, Trent Rutherford, Trevor Kuchar, and AJ Blackmon all ran personal bests in the boys’ 4x800 as the team placed sixth with a time of 8:44.56. Kaylyn Hatfield, Isabella Lucas, Tamaiyah Copeland and Macey Higgason placed seventh in the girls’ 4x800 with a time of  11:14.35.

Nyzir Davis, Jashaun Manghane, CJ Glenn and Ferrie combined for a time of 3:32.69 to place sixth in the 4x400. Keshawn Smith, Jesse Magly, Ahmari Douglas, and Glenn ran a time of 1:31.30 to place eighth in the 4x200. 

On the individual side, two girls and three boys qualified for the state competition. Higgason qualified in both the girls 1600 meter and 3200 meter races as she ran a 5:51.74 and placed fifth in the first race and ran a 12:50.52 to place second in the latter race. 

France Smith placed third in the girls 300 meter hurdles with a time of 48.14.

Glenn placed fourth in the 400 meter with a personal best of 50.40. Ferrie placed second in the 800 meter with a time of 2:06.54. Shawn Young also qualified in the 3200 meter race with a time of 10:49.48, placing sixth. 

The state meet takes place May 11-13 at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany.