Cali Conner clears the high jump bar earlier this year at the Andy Summers Invitational. Conner is one of many young athletes pacing Tift County’s track teams.

TIFTON — The regular season for high school track and field in Region 1-AAAAAAA has ended. Today, the schools come together at Tift County High for the region meet.

“It’s do or die time,” said Tift’s head coach Gregg Segraves.

Field events start at noon, with running events beginning at approximately 2:30 p.m. Since Region 1 only has four teams (Tift, Camden County, Colquitt County and Lowndes), Segraves said all events will be finals. The top four finishers for each event advance to the sectional track meet, which is to be held April 28 at Mill Creek High.

Lowndes’ Vikings and Vikettes are expected to be strong contenders for region champions again in 2018, but this year, there is going to be some competition from Tift County.

“The girls have a shot,” said Segraves. “It’s going to be a really close meet.”

The locals have seen Colquitt and Lowndes several times this season. Camden, less so. Segraves describes the Wildcats as having “speed here and there.”

Tift’s last regular season meet was Friday at Fitzgerald, appropriately named the Last Chance Invitational. The Blue Devils and Lady Devils combined for five first places and six more second place finishes.

The Lady Devils have had a youth explosion. Two first places were won by sophomore Emily Golden (1,600, 3,200). Freshmen girls finished in the top 10 eight times and sophomore girls contributed five individual top 10 finishes. Freshman J.D. Bengston had one of three Blue Devils’ victories.

Among the freshmen are Dasia Flanders, Shadiamond McIntyre, Karoline Ponder, Cali Conner, Shavonna Morris and Divinity Mitchell. Nicky Jones and Anna Daniel are among the sophomore class.

“We are loaded with ninth and 10th grades,” Segraves said, adding the squad also has great senior leadership from Kaliya Taylor, Kiera Green and Denise Duggins.

Golden was Tift’s lone state qualifier a year ago and turned in impressive numbers at Fitzgerald. She won’t be the favorite in the 1,600 and 3,200, however. That will be Elizabeth Funderburk of Colquitt County. Funderburk, who will be running collegiately at Florida State, has already shown her brilliance on the Tift County track this year. At a quad meet held earlier this month, she completed the 3,200 in 10:22.76.

Segraves is positive Funderburk will shine again today.

“Funderburk’s not going to be beat,” he said.

Fortunately for the rest of the region, Funderburk is a senior. Segraves thinks Golden will be the next dominator in the event and compared her times with Funderburk’s from her freshman and sophomore seasons.

Lowndes’ Brishen House has similarly controlled the 3,200 on the boys side this year. House was the winner of the event at Fitzgerald Friday at 10:37.06.

Tift figured into the top 10 in every event except one at Fitzgerald. Among those top 10s was a third place in pole vault from Caitlin Carr. That is a positive sign for region, said Segraves, as only two squads — Tift and Lowndes — will have pole vaulters. Merely clearing the bar will not only allow the vaulter to advance to sectionals, but will also be much needed points.

Mike Jones had Tift’s two other first places at Fitzgerald, one in the 110 hurdles and the other in the 300 hurdles. Segraves said it was the first time Jones had attempted the 300 hurdles.

Segraves credits Jones’ work ethic for results.

“Mike Jones has gotten himself in shape,” he said.

Danny Hill finished just behind Jones in the 300 hurdles for second place.

“Danny’s doing a great job,” said Segraves.

Like the Lady Devils, the boys have two strong pole vaulters in Jacob Redd and Braye Pellegrino, both of whom should advance to sectionals.

Other big finishes for the Tift boys saw J.D. Bengston finish second in the 800. His brother, Beau Bengston, had a fourth place finish in the 3,200 and was fifth in the 1,600. Chad Williams was second in the shot put, throwing it nearly 48 feet.

Ronald Jackson was third in high jump, as was Javien Nelms in the 100 meters. The 4×400 relay team was third. Otis Jackson was fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the long jump.