[03/19/01] Wendy Thomas finished first in the long jump while Jaquita Benard had a pair of second-place finishes to put Warren Central in fifth with 50 points in the 14-team Southern Miss Invitational Friday.

Thomas had a winning leap of 17 feet and also took sixth and seventh in the 200- and 100-meter dashes, respectively.

Benard threw the shot 32 feet, 23/4inches and the discus 89-7.

The Missy Gators finished 13th with seven points.

Willie Powers came in first in the triple-jump to lead the Gators to a fifth-place finish with 49 points in the boys’ 20-team field.

Warren Central came in seventh place with 33 points.

Carthage was the overall boys’ winner and Central Tuscaloosa won the girls.