Pope County’s Comer shines, Pinckneyville makes school history


Darren Kinnard
Section618.com

DU QUOIN — A total of 34 individuals and eight relays earned trips to the Girls 1A State Track and Field Championship from the Du Quoin Sectional.

Pope County junior Ahry Comer not only qualified in four events, she won all four–the 400, 800, 1600, and 3200. Vienna freshman Emmie Gurley also qualified in four events. Gurley won the 100 and 200 and anchored the Lady Eagles’ winning 4×100 team. She also anchored Vienna’s 4×200 team that finished second and also qualified.

Three other athletes qualified in three events. Fairfield’s Destiny Hooker won both the 100 and 300 hurdles and ran a leg for the Lady Mules’ qualifying 4×100. Hamilton County’s Desirae Dockery finished second in the long jump. Dockery was third in both the 100 and 200, but met the qualifying standard to advance.

Pinckneyville’s Vanessa Teel finished second to Comer in the 400 and ran legs in the Lady Panthers winning 4×400 and 4×800 teams. That was all part of a history-making day for Pinckneyville, who won the first girls track and field sectional title in school history, easily outdistancing Fairfield and Vienna in the standings.

The state meet will be in Charleston. Prelims for 1A will be Thursday, while 2A and 3A will open on Friday. The finals for all three classes will be Saturday.

Links to complete sectional results are below.
Du Quoin 1A Sectional
Chester 1A Sectional
Newton 1A Sectional
Mascoutah 2A Sectional