JEFFERSON - The Long County Blue Tide track and field team competed in the state sectionals meet on Saturday, May 3 and came back to Ludowici with seven athletes qualified for the state meet.

Athletes qualified in six individual events and one team relay event. Leading the way for the track team was senior France Smith.

Smith has been a force for the Tide since her freshman year and she continued her dominance by qualifying for the state meet in three individual events and the 4x100 meter relay team.

Smith had two first place finishes, winning the 100 meter hurdles and 300 meter hurdles with times of 15.00 and 46.05 seconds, respectively. She also finished eighth in the high jump to qualify.

The relay team, consisting of France, Ta’mara Mallard, Deneiya Davis, and Makinzie Moody, finished fifth to advance to the state meet.

Devion Ambrose joined Smith in qualifying in the 300 hurdles as she finished fifth. Sala Tiapula became the first Lady Tide shot put thrower to qualify for the state meet after she finished sixth.

Cortney Charles was the only boy athlete to qualify for the state tournament after he threw a new school record 140 feet. 9 inches in the discus to place seventh.

These athletes will compete in the state meet May 9-10 at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany.