The J.Z. George track team will be competing in its first meet of the 2019 season as they will participate in the West Bolivar Invitational at Mississippi Valley State University Saturday in Itta Bena.
The Lady Jaguars and Jaguars are under the direction of Torrey Dale and Hal Haney.
"Our goal is to get as many kids competing in each event to give us a better shot of winning. We've got to use these meets to get ready for district," said Haney, who handles the field events.
J.Z. George will turn around and run in a meet at Kosciusko High School on March 28, and then head to Camden to compete in a meet at Velma Jackson High School on April 5.
The district meet is set for April 13. The regional meet is April 20, and North State is April 27. The state meets are May 4-5 at Pearl.
The boys team has a mixture of young and older talent. Senior Chris Rias will compete in three events, which is the limit for each athlete. He will throw in the discus and either be in the 1600 run, the 3200 run or the long jump.
Senior Ceasa Glenn will run in the 1600 and 3200, and senior JJ Rias is expected to compete in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and long jump. Senior Marquan Watt will be in three events as well. He will either run in the 110 hurdles or 300 hurdles, the 200 dash, compete in the long jump or join the relay teams.
Senior Montavis Jenkins, who missed the entire football season with a knee injury, returns to compete in the discus and shot put. Senior Jarvis Jenkins will throw in the discus, and junior Corey Clay has been working in the shot put, as are senior Bucky Griffin and junior Rodarrius Griffin.
Junior PJ Archie is expected to compete in the 200 dash and 400 run, and junior Quintre Gaines is in the 100 and 200 dashes and on relay teams. Freshmen Brice Purnell and Kevin Favela are in the 800 and 1600 runs, and eighth-grader Colton Brachear is in the 1600 and 3200 runs.
For the Lady Jaguars, a lot of young girls will be counted on to lead the way. Sophomore Allison Anderson will compete in the shot and discus, and sophomore Olivia Carpenter will be in the 100, 200 and relay teams.
Freshman Hailey Perry has been working with the discus and shot put, and freshman Dearshanae Munford is also in the discus and shot put. Freshman Takylia Pointer is in the 800 and 1600 runs.
