RUSSELLVILLE — Pine Bluff coach Laydell Jordan was looking for more teams to “break up” potential points for Texarkana so Pine Bluff would have a better shot at the 6A boys track and field championship.
While Pine Bluff did its part in Thursday’s state meet at Russellville High, there was no stopping the Zebras’ 6A-South rival.
Texarkana cruised to its second straight title and ninth in school history with 202 points, but Pine Bluff — with the help of victories in the 4×100- 4×400-meter relays — took second place with 80. The finish is the Zebras’ highest since last winning a state championship in 2001.
Marion was third with 67, followed by Lake Hamilton (49) and El Dorado (48). Sheridan was 14th with 10.
Texarkana was particularly strong in the individual sprint events, but Pine Bluff had the last laugh in two of the relays. The Zebras turned in a time of 42.26 seconds in the 4×100, beating the Razorbacks by .36, while Sheridan came in third at 44.13. The Zebras’ 4×400 victory was more decisive, their 3 minutes, 28.76 seconds more than 2 ticks better than runner-up Marion. Texarkana was third at 3:37.14.
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Jordan also counted on points from his twin junior standouts, Kyran and Tyran Simmons. Kyran took second in the 400 meters at 50.48, 0.9 behind Trey Chambers of Marion, while Tyran followed up in third at 51.54. Pine Bluff gained valuable points in that event with Tyler Bell and Rodterian Scott taking fifth and sixth places, respectively.
Kyran Simmons also was fourth in the 200 at 22.63, while teammate Romar Reades came in seventh and Tyran Simmons was ninth. Kyran had the state’s fastest time at 21.98.
Sophomore Lawrence Nelson was second in the long jump with a 22-foot, 5-inch attempt. He came in fifth in the triple jump at 44-2.
Also for the Zebras, Jayshon Williams was third in the 100 (11.31), Clarence Wood was fourth in the 300-meter hurdles (43.72) and Dasmine Johnson was sixth in the discus (129-5).
Sheridan fared much better in girls action, taking eighth as a team with 30 points.
Junior Chandler Kelly came within .01 second of a title in the 100 hurdles, as Little Rock Parkview’s Jada Baylark edged her.
Sarah Michael also gained silver in the pole vault with an 11-foot attempt. Bailee McCorkle of Greenwood vaulted 11-9.
Also for the Lady Jackets, Kaylee Stewart took fourth in the 1,600 and seventh in the 800 and Kelly was sixth in the long jump.
Pine Bluff, which came in 13th with 12 points, scored sixth place in the 4×100, seventh in the 4×800 and eighth in the 4×400. Sheridan was seventh in the 4×100.
Also for the Fillies, Chantaneice Taylor was fourth in the high jump and eighth in the triple jump, and Alynsia Anderson came in eighth in the discus.
Texarkana won the girls team title as well with 133 points. Parkview was second with 112, followed by Lake Hamilton with 106, El Dorado with 56 and Jonesboro with 52.