The Demopolis High track team hits the road Friday to travel to St. Paul’s High where it will compete in sectional competition.

“I think we’re pretty prepared,” DHS track coach Rudy Griffin said. “We’d better be. This is it. Everybody is pretty excited. We’ve had some consistent competition. We’ve seen the best and we know what the best is capable of. We hung in there with them and fought. I think we’re ready.”

The team’s season-long preparation has included meets against standout 6A competition such as Opelika, Oxford, Hoover and Vestavia Hills. Now, his squad will test itself against some of the best teams in 5A.

“Our 4-by-100 relay team bumped up a little bit,” Griffin said. “Martaze Jackson came out there and stepped up for us. He’s also competing in the 200-meter dash. All the ones we’re taking down there have a chance to make state.”

Runners will compete in preliminary heats. The top eight times out of all the heats will qualify for the finals of each event. The top two finishers in each finals contest will qualify to compete at the state competition in Gulf Shores May 1.

Representing Demopolis will be the 4-by-400-meter relay team of Zhana James, Mayghan Page, Jenny Campbell and Ashya Samuels. James, Page and Samuels will each run in the 200-meter dash while Campbell and Samuels compete in the 400.

For the boys, Jackson and Greg Irvin will run in the 200. Dalvin Harris, Brian Taylor and James Wilson will compete in the 100. Larry Cobb and Kevin Norman will run in the 400 while Darnell Hammond will compete in the triple jump. Taylor will also compete in the long jump.

The 4-by-100 relay team will see Harris run as the first leg followed by Taylor as the second leg. Jackson will run as the third leg while Irvin anchors the unit.

The 4-by-400 relay team will see Taylor act as the first leg while Cobb runs the second length. Norman will run the third leg while Irvin anchors the group.