Area team-by-team high school track & field state qualifiers

Alexus Alston made her way into the S.C. track and field championship meet in style Saturday.

The St. James junior set a school record in the 400-meter hurdles en route to winning the event in the Class AAA state qualifier Saturday at Lower Richland High School. Her 1:04.46 was more than a second faster than the previous school record.

“She looked very smooth coming the whole way around,” said Jacob Scheuer, one of St. James’ coaches. “It was exciting to see her put a whole race together.”

Alston also qualified for next week’s state meet in the 100 meters, 100-meter hurdles and triple jump. It is the second straight season she qualified in four events.

“She is a workhorse,” Scheuer said. “She drives and comes to practice with a great work ethic and it pays off.”

In Class AA boys action, Loris’ Desmond Dozier (100 meters) and Darius Jackson (shot put) and Waccamaw’s Jackson Junkins (200 meters and 400 meters) won Lower State titles. Waccamaw’s Amelia Jones (1,600 meters and 3,200 meters) and Briley Arnold (100-meter hurdles) also were tops at Lower State on the girls side.

The Warriors’ girls 1,600-meter relay team took first and both Waccamaw 3,200-meter relay teams won. The girls squad won Lower State.

In Class A, Carvers Bay’s Melissa Jefferson (100 meters and 200 meters), Anatashia Bromell (triple jump) and Norman Goss (discus) won Lower State titles. The Bears’ girls 400-meter and boys 3,200-meter relay teams also placed first.

The full list of qualifiers:

Not available

Boys: Ethan Epstein (3,200m, second, 9:51.76)

Girls: 400-meter relay team (fifth, 49.94)

Girls: Alexus Alston (100m, eighth, 12.41; 100m hurdles, seventh, 15.60; 400m hurdles, first, 1:04.46 (school record); triple jump, seventh, 34-6 1/2); Ka’Mauri Humes (200m, eighth, 26.00); Felicity Weber (pole vault, sixth, 8-6).

Boys: Jelin Bellamy (400m, fifth, 50.97); Trey Myers (110m hurdles, fourth, 15.12; 400m hurdles, second, 55.56).

Boys: Desmond Dozier (100m, first, 10.56); Hykeem Jackson (110m hurdles, fourth, 15.77); 400-meter relay team (second, 43.47); Darius Jackson (shot put, first, 51-2).

Girls: Tyaisha Edwards (100m, 12.60; 200m, second, 25.78); Mary Butler Despain (800m, third, 2:30.53; 1,600m, third, 5:443.78); Amelia Jones (1,600m, first, 5:33.94; 3,200m, first, 12:32.55); Briley Arnold (100m hurdles, third, 16.73; 400m hurdles, first, 1:06.28); 1,600-meter relay team (first, 4:07.55); 3,200-meter relay team (first, 10:08.07); Jamisa Lewis (shot put, fourth, 32-11).

Boys: Jackson Junkins (200m, first, 21.67; 400m, first, 49.51); 1,600-meter relay team (second, 3:27.81); 3,200-meter relay team (first, 8:40.36).

Girls: Melissa Jefferson (100m, first, 12.44; 200m, first, 26.27); 400-meter relay team (first, 50.95); 1,600-meter relay team (second, 4:26.67); Jada Porcher (high jump, second, 4-10); Anatashia Bromell (long jump, third, 14-7; triple jump, first, 32-11).

Boys: Laterence Davis (1,600m, third, 5:09.72); Torey Matthews (3,200m, third, 12:17.13); 1,600-meter relay team (fourth, 3:43.71); 3,200-meter relay team (first, 8:50.64); Norman Goss (discus, first, 161-4); Toronto King (long jump, second, 22-07); D’Quarius Pressley (shot put, third, 46-0).

Girls: Caitlin Jackson (1,600m, second, 6:43.48).

This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 11:23 PM with the headline "Area team-by-team high school track & field state qualifiers."