The Athens-Limestone area will be well-represented at the Alabama High School Athletic Association state track and field meet later this week.

Every high school in the county had at least one athlete qualify from its respective section meets, which were held over the weekend. The 4A-7A state meet begins Thursday in Gulf Shores while the 1A-3A meet is Friday and Saturday in Cullman.

Athens’ Japera Harris won the girls 100-meter dash with a time of 12.22 at the 6A section race at Fort Payne. Harris also left her competitors in the dust in the 200m dash with a time of 25.36 to qualify for the state in both races.

Athens also qualified for state in the 4x100m relay, finishing second behind Oxford. Athens finished fourth in the 4x400m relay.

In the boys 6A section competition, Athens freshman Logan Smothers finished second in the 400m dash to qualify for state while teammate Robert Smith was not far behind in fourth. In the 110m hurdles, John Paul Michael finished third to qualify for state. Michael also qualified in the 300m hurdles, finishing third.

Athens won the 4x400m boys relay and will compete at the state race in that competition.

In the shot put, Daxton Swopes finished fifth while Mantayvious Henderson finished sixth.

The following is a list of the other local athletes who qualified for the state meet:

Ardmore: Derrick Lewis, discus throw; Zach Clemons, triple jump; 4x100m boys relay (Shay Hudson, Zach Clemons, Derrick Lewis, Nathan Stafford)

Clements: Hailey White, discus throw; Darby Moore, 800m and 1600m; Isaiah Thomas, 200m, 400m and 800m; 4×100 boys relay team

East Limestone: Gary Gilbert, shot put; Micah Robinson, shot put; Kentayvis Valrie, long jump, 200m, 400m; Janae Powell, 100m, 200m and 400m; LaGarian Gilbert, 300m hurdles; boys 4x100m relay (Gary Gilbert, Kentayvius Valrie, LaGarian Gilbert, Jajuan Powell), boys 4x400m relay (Valrie, Gilbert, Powell, Clint Smith)

Elkmont: Chance Bailey, 1600m, 800m; Noah Sharp, 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, 400m; Jay Mullis, 300m hurdles, long jump; Kaylee Varnie, 300m hurdles; boys 4x800m relay (Bailey, Mullis, Alex Armstrong, Brantley Hammock); boys 4x400m relay (Bailey, Sharp, Mullis, Armstrong)

Tanner: Alicia Jones, 100m, 200m, 400m; Destiny Long, 100m, 100m hurdles; Nautica Noble, 200m, triple jump; Miracle Scott, triple jump; Faith Franklin, triple jump; Laquavious Summers, long jump; Noah Armstrong, shot put, javelin; boys 4x100m relay team

West Limestone: Cassidy Winter, 800m, 1600m, 3200m; Katie Serrato, 3200m; Avery Keenon, 1600m; Reilly Hooie, 1600m; Valeria Vizcarra, 3200m; girls 4x800m relay (Winter, Serrato, Hooie, Vizcarra); boys 4x400m relay (Preston Johnson, Tanner Walker, Alex Maples, Andrew Thornton); boys 4x800m relay (Walker, Maples, Thornton, Austin Abernathy).

If you know of another local athlete competing in the state track meet, please let us know by sending an email to jonathan@athensnews-courier.com