TIFTON – Thomas County Central’s girls cross country team qualified for state on Thursday with its fourth-place finish in the Region 1-6A meet in Tifton, Georgia. The Lady Yellow Jackets will participate at the state meet in Carrollton, Georgia on Saturday, Nov. 4.

Central’s boys season ends after it finished fifth.

Cadence Curnalia paced the Lady Jackets team with a fifth-place finish overall.

“We thought they did so good,” Central coach Rosalie Wilson said. “We traveled up there and were really trying to keep them focused all day. They did a great job. We had a great practice the day before. They were ready. They were locked in. Once the JV kids went off and they did awesome, I think that got the varsity kids feeling good. They were very nervous, but we tried to tell them that feeling nervous is a privilege. That means you’re doing something good that not everybody gets to do, so embrace it.

“I felt very good during the girls run. I felt confident that they were going. Our No. 2 and 3 girls really pulled through. They’re both freshmen, so we’re really proud of them.”

The two freshmen were Emma Grace Vealey and Jordan Wallace.

Central’s junior varsity team placed first overall.

Central will race in the final race of the state meet. The Class 6-A girls race will start at 2:45 p.m. on Nov. 4.