Demetrius Russell placed second in the 800-meter run and Montavius Johnson was third in the high jump for Liberty County at the Class AAA state track meet, held May 21 at the University of Georgia’s Spec Towns Track.

Russell, a freshman, clocked a time of 2:00.26, .45 seconds ahead of Sandy Creek’s Avery Ramirez. Allen Israel Sutton IV of Fayette County won with a time of 1:56.86.

Johnson topped at 6 feet, 4 inches, two inches behind Luella High School’s Dan Oiboh. Johnson was one of three jumpers at 6-4, along with Cherokee Bluff’s Malcolm Millsap, who was second, and Long County’s Noah Cooks, who was fourth.

Omari Hill placed fifth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.82 seconds. Noel Best placed seventh in the 110 hurdles at 15.02 seconds.

Jason Familia was fourth in the long jump with a best of 22-1 for Long County and Michael Somers was seventh in the 300 hurdles at 40.19 seconds.

For the girls, Long County’s Devion Ambrose was third in the 300 hurdles at 47.08 seconds and Amire Saunders was fourth in the 100 for Long County, turning in a time of 12.16 seconds. Saunders added a sixth-place finish in the long jump at 18 feet.

Liberty County’s Amiyah Payne took fifth in the triple jump at 34-10 and sixth in the high jump at 4-10. Ariana Fields was seventh in the pole vault at 8 feet.

Oconee County, with 67.5 points, took the boys state team title and North Hall edged Jefferson by one point, 61-60, to take the girls team title.