BROOKLET — The Southeast Bulloch boys and girls track and field teams each finished second in their region meets last season, but reclaimed their thrones as champions Thursday afternoon.
    Last season was a bit of an anomaly for the Yellow Jackets, as the girls are in the middle of a run where they’ve won six of their last eight region titles and the boys have won three of their last five. However a new region with some new faces brought back the success laid down from long line of tradition in track and field in Brooklet.
    “There’s expectations set before we even get out here,” said coach Josh Gantt. “They know it’s going to be hard, track practice isn’t fun, but this group reaped the benefits of their hard work.”
    SEB didn’t just win the region titles, it ran away with the trophies as every other team watched the Yellow Jackets disappear over the horizon. The boys scored 137 total points — 32 points clear of second place Islands. The dominance displayed by the girls was even more impressive as they put 75 points between themselves and Islands. Both teams were ahead by a combined margin of 75 points after the first day of competition Monday, so Tuesday proved to be little more than some light housekeeping to ensure the wins.
    Of all the individual performances Tuesday, Emma Britt stood out among all the Yellow Jackets who placed and are headed to sectionals next week. Britt won the 100-meter hurdles with a season best time of 16.85 seconds and would also beat her season best in the triple jump by two inches, winning the individual title in that event as well.
    Add in her second place finish in the long jump and a fourth as a part of the 4x400 relay team and Britt would go home the leading scorer amongst all girls in region 3-AAA. During his post meet speech, SEB coach Jeremy Gantt was especially praising of Britt’s accomplishments.
    “Considering her mother is one of the coaches, I’ve been around Emma for quite some time now,” Gantt said. “Considering the work she’s put in over these four years, seeing her win the high point total couldn’t have made me more proud.”
    Hattie Pitts would take home first in the 3200-meters and Cierra Jordan won the pole vault to round out the winners for the Lady Yellow Jackets. Pitts added a second place finish in the pole vault while Jordan would finish fourth in the 300 hurdles and as a part of the 4x400 team.
    Other placers for the girls included: Kayla Harville (2nd high jump), Shazira Johnson (2nd shot put, discus) and Camryn Batton (4th discus). Mallory Hardy and Savannah Murphy were the other two legs of the 4x400 team. All of the girls who finished fourth or better will head to sectionals next week.
    The boys list of sectional qualifiers runs even longer. 13 boys will head to sectionals between 13 different events and five individuals would take home a gold medal in their event. The winners included Tyler Thorton  in the 800, Jaleel Hodge in the 110 hurdles, Georden Batton in the 300 hurdles, Barhon Carter in the Pole Vault and Brandon Hill in the discus.
    “These teams didn’t just have one stud who racked up all these points,” Gantt said. “We had points from many kids. It was a group effort all around.”
    Thorton would also qualify in the triple jump and long jump, Hodge in the 300 hurdles and triple jump, Batton in the high jump and Hill in the shot put. Other sectional qualifiers include: Travion Johnson (3rd 200, 3rd 400), Drew Haskins (2nd 1600), Mason Lariscy (3rd 1600), Ryan Coley (4th 110 hurdles), Tommy Patrick (2nd pole vault), Jalen Scott (4th shot put) and Aaron Mikell (4th discus).
    The boys 4x100 meter relay team (Batton, Coley, Hodge, Johnson) placed fourth while the 4x400 team (Chase Walker, Thorton, Batton, Johnson) will also head to sectionals with the rest of the qualifiers on April 29 to be hosted in Brooklet. Teams from regions two, seven and eight will be in attendance to see who moves on to state May 11-13.