AUBURN —  The LaFayette High School girls track and field team has begun to flash its potential.

In two months time, it could lead to a Class 2A state championship.

Under the guidance of head coach Corey Thornton, the Bulldogs placed third this past weekend at the Auburn Early Bird meet.

They totaled 61 points, trailing only first-place Central-Phenix City and runner-up Auburn.  Both are among the better track and field schools in 7A.

Notably, LaFayette finished 3.5 points ahead of 6A Opelika, which placed fourth.

Senior Kendra James and freshman Feliah Greer paced LaFayette at the meet. Each athlete scored points in three events.

James won the 100-meter hurdles, placed fourth in the high jump and took fifth in the 300-meter hurdles.

She recorded a time of 15.98 seconds in the 100 hurdles, making her the only participant to break 16 seconds.

Greer crossed the line in 17.69 seconds to place fourth in the event. She also notched fourth-place finishes in the shot put and javelin with marks of 28 feet, 7.5 inches and 90-01.

Two of Greer’s teammates, Jaliscia Bledsoe and Shantavia Foster, finished sixth and eighth in the javelin.

Keaundra Woody, a senior, joined James and Greer in standing out. She won the long jump with a leap of 16-7 and placed third in the triple jump with a leap of 35-1.5.

Freshmen Alahbra’j Todd and Janeria Gaines also contributed points to LaFayette’s total.

Todd took third in the long jump with a mark of 15-9.5, and Gaines took seventh in the high jump with a leap of 4-6.

Collectively, the Bulldogs have the look of a squad that should be in contention for a state championship in May.

They finished fourth in 2A last spring after winning it all in 2016.

The LaFayette boys placed third at the 2017 state meet. They, too, could be well on their way to a similar showing this year.

The Bulldogs placed 12th at the Auburn Early Bird, totaling 14 points.

Senior JaMarquez Boston-Gaines led his team at the competition. He finished third in the long jump with a leap of 21-1.

Three of his teammates also scored in their top events.

Fitzgerald Briskey, a senior, placed fifth in the high jump with a clearance of 5-10. Zarion Moore, another senior, took seventh in the javelin with a heave of 136-8.

Eighth-grader Antavious Woody placed seventh in the shot put, throwing 41-4.5

The LaFayette girls and boys track and field teams will return to action on Thursday at a meet hosted by Beauregard.
Lanett and Beulah also are slated to compete.

Originally, the Bulldogs were scheduled to participate in Opelika’s Mike Spain Invitational this Saturday, but it has been canceled.