Jones Senior's Nykeia Hagins, left, and Tanayja Green qualified for Saturday's NCHSAA 1A track and field championship in Greensboro. Hagins will compete in the 200 meter dash while Green will run in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

TRENTON — Jones Senior has a pair of veteran runners ready to compete in Saturday’s state championships.

Tanayja Green and Nykeia Hagins qualified for the NCHSAA 1A championships at N.C. A&T in Greensboro after excelling in the 1A Eastern Regionals May 10. Hagins won the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.10 and finished fourth in the 100-meter dash at 12.76, while Green was third in the 100-meter hurdles (18.00) and 300-meter hurdles (53.31).

The two have seen state competition before as members of the 4x100 meter relay last season as sophomores with Shaelah King and Jade Stewart, helping the team finish third.

Trojans’ track and field coach Kayli Kreaise had high praise for the duo.

“They have worked really hard and have steadily gotten better at lowering their times,” Kreaise said. “They’re both veterans who were part of the 4x100 meter relay team that went to states last year, so they know what it takes to make it again.”

Hagins finished seventh in the state as an individual last year and she said her strong showing in the 1A regional was a blessing leading up to Saturday's meet.

“It’s been really rewarding because I worked hard to get to where I’m at now,” Hagins said. “This year, I really pushed myself and it paid off.”

Green was 15th in the 100 meter hurdles last year and added the 300 meter race for this meet.

"I was shocked because I do this sport for fun to stay in shape for others," Green said. "It did feel good to qualify because I put the work in."