[5/4/03]]Maurice Taylor had another big day for Vicksburg High, but it was a disappointing afternoon overall for Warren County’s track teams at the North State meet in Tupelo.

Taylor won the 100- and 200-meters, and was a part of two winning relay teams for the Gators, but Vicksburg and Warren Central only qualified a handful of athletes for next week’s Class 5A state meet in Jackson.

The top four athletes in each event at the North and South State meets qualify for the state meet.

“It wasn’t that bad. There were some pretty good teams up here,” said VHS coach Bobby Huell, whose team qualified for five events at the state meet. “Things are going to thin out next week and hopefully we can be in the thick of it next week.”

Taylor won the 100-meter dash in 10.69 seconds and the 200 meters in 22.05 seconds to help the Gators to a third-place finish in the team standings. Madison Central won the meet, with 92 points, followed by Columbus with 75 points and Vicksburg with 72 1/2.

Warren Central was fifth, with 53 1/2 points, and only qualified for six events at the state meet.

Deonta Selvy won the shot put with a throw of 47 feet, 2 inches, and the Vikings’ 4×100 meter relay team was second. Other WC qualifiers were Henry Williams in the discus, Larry Warner in the triple jump and high jump, and Garrett Scott in the pole vault.

For Vicksburg, Rory Johnson qualified in the 100 and 200 meters, and the 4×100, 4×200, and 4×400 meter relay teams all qualified. The Gators won the 4×100 and 4×200 meter relays, with Taylor, Johnson, and Michael Rainey a part of all three teams. Jonathan Bruce was also on the 4×200 relay, and Mario Gray was on the 4×100 relay.

In the girls’ meet, Vicksburg only qualified for four events, but managed to edge Warren Central for sixth place, 51-49. Columbus won the girls’ meet with 93 points.

WC’s Trekia Jones won the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 46.28 seconds, and Ebon Williams set a school record in the shot put with a throw of 120-2 1/2. Williams finished second in the event.

In all, WC qualified for three individual events and one relay. Amanda Doyle also qualified in the high jump, and the Lady Vikes’ 4×100 meter relay team advanced to the state meet with a third-place finish.

Vicksburg was without several athletes who could have qualified for the state meet, but skipped North State for personal reasons.

Only Erica Woodson in the 300-meter hurdles, Katrina Sanders in the shot put, and the 4×100 and 4×200 meter relay teams qualified.