THOMASVILLE — Thomasville High School hosted the 2023 Dean Ferrell Invitational this past Saturday inviting cross town rivals Thomas County Central, Valdosta High School, Veterans, Lee County, Bainbridge and Fitzgerald. Both Central and Thomasville had multiple first place finishes throughout the meet.

Bulldogs Makenna Ponder and Caroline Knight were on fire in their individual events. Ponder took first in the girls 200 free with a time of just over two minutes and second in the 100 yard free, while Knight finished first in the Girls 50 free. Thomasville’s relay team fought hard as well. They took fourth in the first event of the meet, the girls 200 yard medley with a time of 2:31.37 and third in the 200 free.

As for Central, they had one of their best performances of the year. Tyler King was in top form, taking first place in the 200 free at 1:51.49 and 100 free with a time of 54.44. Kayla Bruce took first for the Yellow Jackets in 100 yard fly and the 500 free clocking in at 6:53.17.

The Central relay teams took fourth in the boys and girls 200 yard free. The girls team also took third in the 400 yard free relay.

The Thomas County Central girls finished in a narrow first place in the meet overall, just one point ahead of Valdosta. The Thomasville girls took a decisive fifth. On the boys side, Central took fourth place behind Lee County.