LAKE HAMILTON — On a cool and cloudy day, Pine Bluff distance runner Patrick Grady was able to finish in the top eight in two events at Saturday’s Meet of Champions.
Grady finished in fifth place in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 4 seconds. In the 1,600-meter run, Grady claimed eighth place (4:31).
Deandre Gridley came in ninth place in the 300-meter hurdles at 42.2 seconds.
“We were glad to be here and hopefully we can get more involved in it next year,” Pine Bluff coach Laydell Jordan said. “I think it would’ve been a better day if it was warmer out day.”
The girls 4×100-meter relay for Pine Bluff was disqualified in the event after handing off the baton too early in the second leg.
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Jordan said the team would have finished in third place with a time of 49 seconds if it had not been disqualified.
“I am really proud of the girls regardless of being disqualified,” Jordan said. “They are looking like a really good relay again next year.”
Endya Allen, Ty’Chiana Murray, Ma’Ryma Stewart and Ashley Gragg are the four members of the relay team.
Star City won the 4×800-meter relay at the Class 4A state meet, and Octavian Reedy was set to run in the 400-meter run. But Star City was unable to make it to the Meet of Champions on Saturday, according to girls track and field coach Becky Brown.