NATCHEZ — The Natchez High School track team made the most of hosting the MHSAA 5A regional track meet Saturday as the girls placed first and the boys came in third overall out of eight teams.

The girls were led by strong showings in the relay races with the foursome of Alexis Miller, Anniyah Pannell, Jadelia Ealey and Tyrenni Berry winning first place in the 4 x 200-meter relay, and Ernesha Chatman, Shamara Grover, Asia Smith and Zyaire Ewing placing second in the 4 x 100-meter relay.

Smith said though the weather was hotter than it has been all year, they were able to push through the high temperatures.

“Even though it was hot, we came out here focused and ready to win,” Smith said. “We wanted to come out and prove that we could do well. We worked as a team.”

Natchez High track coach Larry Wesley said he was proud of the girls’ relay performance, but he thinks they could’ve won first place in the 4 x 100.

“We got off to a bad start, but we’ll do much better next week (in the South State tournament),” Welsey said.

Chatman, who ran the first leg, said she understands the importance of her position, and will work toward a better start at South State.

“The first leg is very important because you have to start the race right and push yourself hard to set the tone of the race,” Chatman said.

Ewing also placed first in the high jump and shot put. Chatman and Rashonae Rice both qualified for the state meet winning second and fourth place respectively in the long jump.

Freddie Singleton came up big for the boys, winning first place in triple jump and second in the long jump and third in the 200-meter dash. The boys came in second in the 4 x 100-meter relay with Christopher Crocket, Singleton, Kevontaye Caston and Malik Byrd, and third in both the 4 x 200-mter relay an 4 x 400-meter relay with Alexander Sweatman, Darius McGruder, Elijah Boyd and Byrd.

Though the boys and girls track team placed overall in the meet, only those who placed first through fourth in their individual events will move on to the South State tournament in Long Beach with field events beginning Wednesday and track events following on Saturday.