SMITHS STATION — The LaFayette and Valley high school track and field teams opened their 2018 outdoor seasons on Saturday at the Smiths Station Panther Relays.

A number of athletes stood out, including LaFayette senior JaMarquez Boston-Gaines. He won the long jump competition with a mark of 20 feet, one-half inch.

But Boston-Gaines is accustomed to success.

The three-sport athlete — he also has starred on the football field and basketball court — finished seventh in the long jump at last spring’s Class 2A state championships, where the Bulldogs claimed third. 

LaFayette senior Keaundra Woody also performed well at Saturday’s meet. She placed third in the long jump with a leap of 16-10.5 and third in the triple jump with a leap of 34-6. Woody is the defending 2A state champion in the long jump.

Woody’s teammate, freshman Feliah Greer, joined her in excelling in multiple events. She took third in the shot put with a heave of 29-7.5 and fourth in the javelin with a throw of 73-3. Greer, who also shined for the LaFayette girls basketball team, placed third in the shot put at last year’s state meet as only an eighth-grader.

LaFayette’s Antavious Woody, currently an eighth-grader, appears to be on a similar path. He opened the season by placing fourth in the discus (114-7) and eighth in the shot put (37-9.5).

Other individuals claiming strong finishes included Valley freshman Jacquez Trammel, who was fifth in the high jump (5-8) and in the long jump (19-3.5). LaFayette senior Fitzgerald Briskey also cleared 5-8 in the high jump but placed one spot behind Trammel based on the number of attempts. In the girls high jump competition, LaFayette senior Kendra James took fifth with a leap of 4-8 . LaFayette freshman Alahbra’j Todd finished sixth in the long jump, and Valley’s Arteria Florence finished seventh. Both jumped 15-5.

On the track, the LaFayette girls finished third in the hurdle relay, and the Valley girls took third in the 4×400-meter relay.

Nine teams competed at the season-opening meet. LaFayette, Valley and Beulah all are registered to return to the track this Saturday at the Auburn Early Bird.