COLUMBUS — When Columbus track and field coach Jessica Davis took over the girls team in 2019, the Falcons were a far cry from a competitor in Class 5A.

The former Falcon saw success during her time at Columbus more than a decade ago, and she hoped to replicate that success once more.

After the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A state meet on May 10 in Pearl, the Falcons made a statement that they were no slouch anymore, with two top-six finishes among their boys and girls teams, and two individual state champions.

“When I had the opportunity to come back, I said I wanted to come back because I knew what I came back for,” Davis said. “I ran for this school. I knew what it was when I was here. I knew we had to build up from our freshman class. … Last year, we came in ninth at states. This year, I knew we had the opportunity to win districts and regionals.”

Columbus didn’t bring a full team with them to state unlike their competitors, but despite a smaller roster of athletes, it still made a run at a team state title.

Cierra Crusoe, a multi-sport athlete and one of the best powerlifters in 5A, continued her dominance in shot put, winning another state title with a final throw of 37 feet, 3 inches.

On the boys side, Khristian Watson set a new school record and personal record in high jump, taking first at the state meet as he cleared 6 feet, 10 inches. 

“We began the season with the goal of being one of the track best teams in 5A,” Columbus boys track and field head coach Lawrence Hill said. “I believe we accomplished that but still have so much room to grow.”

Overall, the girls team medaled, finishing third, while the boys team finished sixth overall. That included second-place finishes in the boys 100-meter race and 1,600-meter relay, boys long jump and girls shot put and discus.

Columbus also saw third-place finishes in boys shot put and in the girls’ 1,600-meter relay.

“I made arrangements with our lineup for kids that I knew could compete at the state meet,” Davis said. “It ended up coming up in our favor. We came out where we wanted to be.”

Heading into state, Columbus swept its district meet and secured back-to-back top-two finishes at regionals and North State, the boys team taking first at regionals and the girls winning North State.

The Falcons gained added confidence from their performance at states and added interest to the program as Davis said more students were looking to join the program for next year.

It’s all helped to build momentum for what Columbus hopes will be a potential state-championship winning team next year.

“Our goal next year is to win,” Davis said. “They saw what they could do with a small roster and they’re already motivated for the summer, preparing for next year and talking about what they want to do next year.”