By Myra Bean
After finishing first in both girls and boys event at the Marshall Academy meet last Wednesday, the North Panola teams found stiffer competition at the Oxford Eagle Invitational Saturday.
The boys finished fourth and the girls finished seventh overall.
The lone first place trophy went to Devonta Brassell in the boys triple jump with a distance of 41’11.75”.

Second place winners include LaErica Spann in the girls 400 meter dash; Ja’Anthony Wright in the 110 and 300 meter hurdles with times of 16.23 and 42.97; and the boys 4×200 meter relay team of Ben Milton, Darius Thomas, Deaireny Hurt and Justin Connor with a time of 1:32.95.
Clarissa Jones placed third in the girls shot put with a distance of 30’7.5”. Deaireny Hurt placed third in the boys 200 meter dash with a time of 23.33.

Also placing third was the 4×400 relay team of LaErica Spann, Kityra Webb, Destiny Sanders and ShaQuanta Pettis with a time of 4:40.02.
Others who placed in the top eight girls were:
•Destiny Sanders, 6th, 100 meter dash, 14.15;
•4×100 meter relay team of Cordaysia Battle, Destiny Sanders, Kityra Webb and LaErica Spann, 5th, 56..35;
•4×200 meter relay team, Sanders, Spann, LaKiereny Ruffin and Tonya Webster, 5th, 1:56.15;
•Onesha Hunt, 9th, girls triple jump, 27’5”;
•Princess Wilbourn, 8th, discus throw, 58’8”.
Placing in the remaining top eight in boys events were:
•Darius Thomas, 6th, 100 meter dash, 11.84;
•Justin Connor, 7th, 100 meter dash, 11.86;
•Ben Milton, 5th, 200 meter dash, 23.60;
•Robert Oliver, 5th, 400 meter dash, 54.75;
•Ankeyvias Harris, 800 meter run, 2:32.06;
•400 meter relay team of Robert Oliver, Jatavious Farmer, Deanta Sipp and Ankeyvias Harris, 5th, 3:58.84;
•Ja’Anthony Wright, 4th, high jump, 5’6”;
•Deaireny Hurt, 7th, high jump, 5’4”;
•Darius Thomas, 8th, long jump, 18’2.75”.
Cougar head coach Derek King felt the boys were not focused during the meet and had some disappointing results.

“Hopefully, this kick in the rear gets them going,” King said. “We should be able to win district again if we can get boys focused.”

The girls need to get a little faster, according to King, but most are new to track.
The Cougars will return to Holly Springs Wednesday to participate in another Marshall Academy meet. Saturday, they will travel to Clinton to compete in the Mississippi College High School Invitational.