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Earlier this month, the Pike County High School track and field team took home multiple state championships at the Class 3A State Championship as head coach Major Calvin Morris continues to build consistency and success in the program.

Junior runner Kaylin Jackson won a State Crown in the 100-meter dash for the second consecutive year and she and her teammates Jada Duncan, Quanajah Smith and D’Yana Knox also took home the State Championship in the 4×100-meter relay. Junior Braylin Jackson also earned a state runner-up finish for the second consecutive year in the boys 100-meter dash. Smith also finished state runner-up in the girls triple jump.

“This group is an experienced group, one that’s been together awhile,” Morris said of his athletes. “It takes mental toughness and these (athletes) have it, they really do.”

The girls 4×100 relay team came into this season after winning state runner-up last season. The athletes remembered the tears that flowed after coming up short, which acted as fuel for their motivation this season.

“We knew we weren’t going to come up short this year this year like we did last year,” Duncan emphasized. “We felt like we got that taken away from us last year and we took it back for ourselves this year.”

Knox echoed Duncan’s feelings.

“It was very exciting because we were so close to winning last year but came up short,” she continued. “It was a really great feeling.”

Smith said the state championship was the culmination of years of work.

“It felt good,” she said of winning. “We’ve been talking about this for like two years, we’ve been working to win a state championship and we were finally able to do it. It felt like a big accomplishment.”

Jackson said winning a state crown together has been the biggest goal for their group.

“It was a major accomplishment,” Jackson said. “It’s been one of our biggest goals, to win a state championship together.”

Morris, who has been the PCHS track coach for the past nine years, said that he couldn’t be more proud of his group.

“If it’s a scale of 1-10 then I’m at a 10 because it’s all for them,” he said. “We came in second last year and there were tears flowing. So, it’s amazing to see them come back and win it together and for Kaylin to repeat as a champion.

“(Assistant) Coach (Ronique) Boyd’s attention to detail has been so important for us. We really had to put our minds together because it takes everyone to do this. You can’t just wake up and win a state championship. It takes everybody working together, so it’s been pretty cool.”