With the state championships less than a month away in Pearl, high school track teams across the state are starting their preparations. Things got off to a good start for Lafayette as the girls took second place at the Division 2-4A meet on Tuesday at Byhalia High School.

The Lady ‘Dores finished with 105 points, 45 points behind first-place Senatobia.

Ninth-grader Xhiir Burgess claimed first in the long jump with an attempt of 15 feet, 8 inches while fellow freshman Mariah Holland won the shot put with a throw of 32-2.

Tyshionna Benson won the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 18.8 seconds with teammate Alexus Weekley a close second at 19 seconds flat. The team of Aja Norphlet, Breanna Holland, Orianna Shaw and Benson claimed the 4×200 relay title while Shaw won the 200- and 400-meter races.

Holland claimed second place in the discus throw with Burgess earning a runner-up finish in the triple jump. Anja Diercks took silver in the high jump and tied for second in the pole vault.

The 4×800 team of Kisonda Bell, Lyndsay Mullins, Canton Foley and Samantha Rayburn took third. Julianna Mikell (3,200 meters), Holland (220 and high jump), Weekley (300-meter hurdles), Benson (triple jump) and Burgess (shot put) earned fourth-place finishes.

The boys team finished fourth with 35 points, 171 points behind first-place Senatobia (206).

Brandon Turnage placed second in the high jump with an attempt of 6-2 and in the 800 meters with a time of 2:10. Jamarcus Quarles took third in the 100 meters (11.62) and Jordan Jamison finished third in shot put with a throw of 39-0.

Tay Tay Owens, Quarles, Kobe Sims and Douglas Tanner finished fourth in the 4×100 and 4×200 relays to qualify for the regional meet. The 4×800 team of Eric Ragsdale, Jonah Matlock, Michael Fortner and Davarious Wilson as well as the 4×200 team of Tanner, Owens, Fortner and Shanaine Adams took fourth-place finishes to move on.

Tanner also qualified with a fourth-place finish in the long jump (18-7). Matt Toles finished fourth in the discus throw (106-8).