The Picayune Maroon Tide track and field team last competed in the Gaston Hewes Relays in Gulfport on March 12.

Picayune had a good showing at the last meet of the season before competitive play was suspended due to the spread of COVID-19. Cameron Thomas came in second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.50.

Mason Watkins won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:07.00, came in second in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:56.00 and came in third in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 10:42.00.

The 4X100 relay team, which consists of Cameron Thomas, Jashawn Lee, Amari Johnson and Leonard Taylor came in third with a time of 44.39.

Lawrence Hopkins came in second in the shot put with a throw of 41.08.

Head Coach Adam Feeley said the meet served as a good way for his athletes to be exposed to top level, 6A competition.

“We didn’t have as good of a showing as the week before, but we improved on a lot of times. That’s why you race against better teams than you because it’ll make you better for the rest of the season,” Feeley said.

It was the team’s last competitive action before the Mississippi High School Activities Association suspended all sports until March 29.

Feeley said he understood the decision to suspend the season, but that he felt bad for his athletes.

There was some top level talent on the team and Feeley was hoping the season would end on a more positive note.

“I thought we were on track to repeat what we did last year and have guys go to state. We have some guys who could’ve medaled in the top three,” Feeley said.

Unfortunately that may not be the case for the athletes with Governor Tate Reeves issuing an executive order to close schools until April 17.

Once the executive order was given the MHSAA followed suit and extended its suspension to April 17.

However, even with all of the uncertainty, Feeley told his athletes to try and stay active at home.

There’s always a possibility the season will start back up again and the athletes will need to be prepared.

“I asked them to do stuff at home and stay in shape. Just to try to keep them motivated and have them do things they’re used to doing at school,” Feeley said.

Athletes around the state have been affected by the MHSAA’s suspension, but seniors especially are dealing with the fact that their high school athletic careers may be over.

Feeley said it’s tough on the veteran athletes who may have participated in their last meet as a member of the Maroon Tide.

“They are missing out on their last couple of months in high school, and as good as they’ve been the past few years, there’s a lot of disappointment,” Feeley said.