The Picayune High track and field teams return to action Saturday, as both the boy’s and girl’s squads head to Gulfport for the always prestigious Gaston Hewes Relays.

The local thinclads have already competed in one big meet, as well a a pair of home work meets.

Picayune hosted a work meet last Friday, that also featured Pearl River Central, Poplarville, St. Stanislaus, OLA and St. Patrick’s.

Earning first place wins for Picayune in that meet were Jasmine Ducre (100 meter dash, 400 meter run and triple jump), Clarissa Jones (discus),Desherra Jackson (long jump), Sarah Richard (200 meter dash), Javonte Wilson (100 meter dash, long jump), Marcus Rawls (400 meter run), Jake polderman  (1,600 meter run), the girls 4×100 meter relay team (Richard, Ducre, D.Jackson, K. Jackson), the girls 4×200 meter relay team (Richard,Tee Myers, D.Jackson, K.Jackson), the boys 4×100 meter relay team (J.Wilson, Ken Breland, Dalvin Acker, Doug Cross) and the boys 4×200 meter relay team (K.Breland, D.Cross, Desmond Taylor, D.Acker).

Taking second place for Picayune were Tee Myers (100 & 300 meter hurdles), Sahara Wilson (discus) and Desherra jackson (high jump and 200 meter dash).

“All of the Picayune teams (including the junior high squads) ran good,” Lady Tide head coach Jerry Todd said. “Almost every single runner ran a seasonal best and the relays ran good times also. The jumpers really had some good performances.”

just before that work meet, the Picayune squads participated in the USM High School Invitational meet.

The Picayune boys finished 7th out of 20 teams and the girls were 8th out of 21 teams.

Taking first place honors for  Picayune were Deshirra Jackson (high jump) and the girls 4×100 meter relay team of MeMe Jackson, Sarah Richard, Deshirra Jackson and Jasmine Ducre.

Earning second place spots for Picayune were Ducre (100 meter dash), the boys 4×100 meter relay team of Javonte Wilson, Ken Breland, Dalvin Acker and Des Taylor and Javonte Wilson in the 100 meter dash.

“We have several first year runners that are showing some promise, including Ken Breland, Dalvin Acker and Des Taylor, Maroon Tide head coach John Feaster said. “The distance runners have been working hard and their times are way ahead of this point in the season last year.”

“Some of our girls are having a great year so far, like senior Deshirra Jackson and freshman Sarah Richard,” Coach Todd stated.

After Saturday’s Gaston Hewes Relays, the Picayune teams will travel to New Orleans next weekend for the Nokia Sugar Bowl Invitational. Picayune will then host their big 16 team invitational meet on  Friday, April 15, and also host both the Division 6-5A and 8-5A meets the next Friday (april 22) and the Region 3-5A meet on Friday, April 29.