Close but no championship trophy.

Brookhaven’s Panthers and Lady Panthers settled for second placeFriday night in the Division 6-4A Track Meet on King Field. Theywatched McComb’s boys and girls hoist the championship trophies andcelebrate as a cool wind blew across the field.

McComb’s girls edged the Lady Panthers by 2 points, 181-179. TheMcComb boys held a margin of 36 points over the Panthers,183-147.

Ole Brook track coach Patrick Hardy huddled with his team afterthe meet and encouraged them to try harder in this Saturday’sregion track meet at Wilkinson County in Woodville. “We have a lotof people going to the regional. We have to make up points forSouth (4A) and State.”

Hardy’s team was not at full speed due to injuries. SprinterVictor Bailey was sidelined by a strained Achilles and limped witha large ice bag taped to his ankle. Two of Hardy’s girls also werewearing ice packson their knees as the meet wound down.

In the girls team standings, McComb and Brookhaven were tiedwith two events left to run. McComb won the 200-meter dash andplaced third. BHS was second and fourth. BHS won the final event,the 4×400 relay, and McComb was second.

“We ran well but McComb has some real good athletes,” saidHardy. “You can’t let up against McComb. They keep tryinghard.”

The top four finishers in each event advance to theregional.

Brookhaven’s girls got a series of first place finishes. LakeshaWinston won the 100-meter dash and the Lady Panthers captured all 3relays.

Kyra Harris of BHS won the 400 meter dash. Other firsts went toMonte’ Wilson in the long jump, Andrea Graham in the triple jumpand Katie Mackabee in the discus.

The Panthers were directed by junior standout Simmie Yarboroughwho won the high jump and the shot put. Greg Walker won the 300meter hurdles. Other firsts went to Clayton Winston in the100-meter dash, and the 4×100 relay team.

Lawrence County eighth grader Kayla Byrd was a double winner,taking the girls 1600 and 3200 meter runs. Devon Butler of McCombwon the 1600 and 3200 meter runs.