JACKSON &045; Natchez Track Club standouts Ke’Airra Jones and Taji Dorsey qualified for the National Junior Olympics after each qualified in at least two events at the regional meet on Sunday.

Jones won the high jump and finished third in the 400-meter to qualify in two events. Dorsey, meanwhile, was part of a 400-meter relay team that won first place while also claiming third-place finishes in the 100- and 200-meters.

Only the top three in each event qualified for the national meet, scheduled to begin July 29 in Eugene, Ore.

Dorsey, a qualifier for the state meet in May with Natchez High, ran the second leg on a Southern Association Elite Relay team that finished in 57.21 seconds to win first in the young women’s division. Dorsey ran second after Gabrielle Dillon of Liberty ran out of the blocks with Latrice Banks of Liberty running third and Kenyatta Brooks of Jackson, La., as anchor.

&uot;That (second) is the muscle leg,&uot; Natchez coach Henry &uot;Doc&uot; Woods said. &uot;The first leg is designed to come out of the block. The second leg is the second-fastest. Your second and fourth legs are the fastest legs on your relay team.

&uot;They ran a really good time. I’m anticipating this relay team to make it to the final heat.&uot;

Dorsey, who qualified for the national meet last summer in the 200, ran the 100 in 11.82 seconds and the 200 in 24.72 seconds. A senior this school term at NHS, Dorsey gets a chance to further her stock in track on a grand stage in two weeks.

&uot;Taji made it last year in the sprints, and she’s got a chance to go back this year,&uot; Woods said. &uot;We’ve had some physical problems, but she’s got some great experience and has a great future here. The coaches areound the state and nation are asking and understand her and her pleasant attitude and work ethic. They like that.&uot;

Jones won the high jump at 5-6 in the intermediate division to earn her first trip to the national meet. She also got in the 400 meters by finishing in third place in a time of 56.7 seconds.

&uot;She’s got to go more,&uot; Woods said of Jones’ mark in the high. &uot;Look at the charts, and you’ve got one or two jumpers going 5-10.&uot;