The Vicksburg Missy Gators will get a chance to defend their state championship in the 4×100 meter relay and add one in the 4×200.

The team of Kiona Patton, Taylor Gray, Shadia Cain and Markia Anderson won both events Saturday at the MHSAA Class 5A North State meet at Center Hill High School.

They, along with three of their teammates, advanced to the Class 5A state meet May 5 at Pearl High School. The top four finishers in each event at the North and South State meets moved on to the state meet.

The 4×400 relay team qualified, and the Missy Gators advanced in six individual events as well
Brandi Dillon was third in the discus and fourth in the shot put at North State, and Jordan Davis third in the triple jump.

In running events, Taylor Gray advanced in the 200 meter dash.

Char’Davia Anderson finished second in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 15.06 seconds, while Davis was fourth in 17.20 seconds and advanced.

The two hurdlers went their separate ways in the 300 meter event, however. Davis finished second and advanced with a time of 49.40 seconds, while Anderson placed fifth and missed the cut.
Anderson and Davis, both juniors, reached the state meet for the second year in a row in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles, respectively. Neither medaled last year.

Vicksburg’s boys team will only have two entries in the state meet. Robert Jones qualified with a third-place finish at North State in the long jump, and the 4×100 meter relay team also came in third.

Cedric Phillips reached the North State meet in the 200 meters and triple jump, but finished fifth and seventh in those events, respectively.

STATE MEET QUALIFIERS
Vicksburg High girls
Taylor Gray – 200 meters
Char’Davia Anderson – 100 hurdles
Jordan Davis – 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, triple jump
Brandi Dillon – Shot put, discus
Relays – 4×100, 4×200, 4×400
Vicksburg High boys
Robert Jones – Long jump
Relays – 4×100, 4×200, 4×400