CLINTON, La. &045; A day of near-misses, bad breaks and just bad luck turned out to be rather significant for WCCA’s boys at the Class A South State meet.

It all came down to the mile relay in points with the Rams and University Christian School, but the Flames won that meet-ending event and the Rams finished second. The Rams, coming into the meet as one of the favorites to win the team title, got edged out by two points.

&uot;University Christian ran well all day in every event,&uot; WCCA head coach Paul Hayles said. &uot;They had two in everything, which we knew. We knew it was going to be a challenge. Unfortunately, they were able to catch us. It was close, but it’s one of those things &045; how do you word it? &045; we left the door open. We just kept leaving the door open more and more and more.&uot;

The Rams did get 11 qualified for the state meet next week in 11 events with Brad Pritchard highlighting the meet when he cleared 6-10 in the high jump during the field events on Wednesday.

But the race came down to the end, and the team of Travis Allen, Eli Ashley, Ruston Cado and Pritchard came in second. The UCS team won it and won the meet, while the Rams finished runners-up at South State for the second straight year.

The two will match up again Friday and Saturday at the state meet in Greenville.

&uot;They’ve got a real talented squad,&uot; Hayles said. &uot;It makes for some interesting matchups at state. If we continue to perform to our capability in running and field, we’ll have a shot at it. If not, it’ll be a disappointing day.

&uot;But I compliment our kids. Last year they were very pleased with a South State runner-up. This year it was very disappointing.&uot;

Pritchard cleared the 6-10 mark and actually nearly did the same at 7-0 but hit the bar with his foot on the third try. But he also won the triple jump at 41-11 and finished third in the 110 hurdles despite falling on his shoulder midway through when the runner in the adjacent lane hit a hurdle.

LaValle Johnson wound up second in the discus at 135-5, and a UCS thrower won it by an inch at 135-6. Travis Allen won the long jump at 19-6.

The 800 relay team of Randy Harris, Pritchard, Duston Dor and Allen finished second. The 400 relay team of Harris, Byron Peterson, Dor and Allen also finished second, as did the 3,200 relay of Greg Garner, Trenton Nettles, Stork Deville and Pritchard.

The Rams lost to UCS in every relay event but the 800. Glenbrook won first in that event.

Other results were Allen in fourth in the 100 and third in the 800 and Brandon Wisner in second in the pole vault.

In others results, Trinity Episcopal’s Nason Stephens won the 100-, 200- and 400-meter in commanding fashion to qualify for the state meet. He ran the 100 in 11.43 seconds, the 200 in 23.39 seconds and the 400 in 52.38 seconds.

Wesley Davis and Austin Green each qualified in the 1,600. Davis finished second, and Green ended up fourth.

ACCS at South State

JACKSON &045; It had the makings of an awful day for the Lady Rebels. Nearly everyone had some injury or illness nagging, but they gutted every event out to finish second behind Jackson Prep in the team standings.

They also got six qualified for the state meet in Greenville Friday and Saturday.

&uot;We’re pretty banged up,&uot; AC head coach Bill Richardson said. &uot;(Brittany) Gamberi came out of the block in the 400, and the block flew up about four feet in the air. She twisted her knee. Kim Robertson cut her toe on a piece of glass. Hankins has a stomach problem. Katie (Givens) has a bruise the size of a softball and swelling behind her knee. Anna McLemore has a sore hamstring.&uot;

Gamberi, who owns the state mark so far this spring in the long jump at 16-3 3/4, finished third in that event at 15-1. But her jump from the second AC meet remained steady after Parklane had a girl jump 16-2 Saturday to win it.

Hankins still won her two events with a 60.02 in the 400 and a 26.7 time in the 200. The 1,600 relay of Gamberi, McLemore, Robertson and Hankins won that in 4:25.

Others qualifying for state included Arianna DeLaSalle in second in the high jump at 4-10, Stevie Dellinger in fourth in the shot at 28-6, Givens in fourth in the 300 hurdles at 52.2, McLemore in fourth in the 100 at 13.4 and Robertson in second in the 800 at 2:36.

The same four in relays came in second in the 800 in 1:50.02 and third in the 400 at 52.8 seconds.

In boys, the Rebels’ lone qualifier is Heath Williams, who went 43-0 in shot put for second and 118-0 in discus for the win.