St. Louis will be fighting for spots on the podium in both the boys and girls meets on the third and final day of the state track and field championships today.

Saints head coach Tommy Johns said he expects both races to be tight.

“I think we are going to be in the mix (for the girls title), along with Plaquemine and McDonogh 35,” Johns said. “Anything can happen, we just have to have a good day.

“We did the paper meet and all three of us were within a few points, but it never goes according to that. It should be a good meet. We are going to have to perform the way we have all year. We don’t have to win every event to win the meet, we have to collect as many points as we can.”

The Lady Saints have a defending champion in Drew Chatters, who will defend her javelin title after winning with a throw of 114 feet, 7 inches last year.

The Saints have all three relay teams in the finals, Rhea Thompson in the shot put and discus and Sarah Booth in both distance races. The Saints also feature sprinters Hannah Jackson, Brianna Soram and hurdler Shondalynn Jasmine.

In the boys meet, Blair Henderson will attempt to defend his 800 title from last year, when he set the Class 4A record last year, winning in 1 minute, 51.16 seconds.

“He broke the 4A record last year and he wants the composite record (1:50.33) real bad,” Johns said. “He is not that far from it. He has been wanting to break that 1:50 mark.”

Johns said the Saints have a chance to take home one of the two team trophies.

“I think we have a shot to score in the mid-40s, which is typically going to put you in position to get on the podium,” Johns said. “St. Augustine and Karr are both really good. I think we have a shot at going 1-2 in the 800 with Henderson and Jonathan Brown. Then we have both runners (Fisher Hamilton and Grant Courville) qualified in the distance races. I think we have a shot.”

Other Saints qualifiers are David Crawford in the discus and Landon Dore in the pole vault.

Taylor Powers of Barbe will defend his state title in the pole vault.

Southwest Louisiana Athletes

Class 5A

Boys

• Barbe — Trey Quinn (100), Taylor Powers (pole vault), John Lemke (triple jump).

• Sulphur — 4×400.

Girls

• Barbe — Kellie Webb (800, 3200), Natalie Breaux (pole vault), Peyton Montgomery (shot put, javelin), Melissa Shadoin (discus).

• Sam Houston —  Sam Pavlovich (1600, 3200).

Class 4A

Boys

• LaGrange — Robert Harrington (110H), Markell Thomas (300H), 4×100, 4×200.

• St. Louis — David Crawford (discus), Landon Dore (pole vault), Fisher Hamilton (1600, 3200), Grant Courville (1600, 3200), Blair Henderson (800), Jonathan Brown (800).

• Washington-Marion — Harold Johnson (javelin), Darien Duhon (shot put).

Girls

• DeRidder — Jacqueline Rushford (pole vault, 800), Kimmie Rushford (pole vault), Tia Youngblood (shot put).

• Leesville — Lindsey Smith (3200).

• St. Louis — Drew Chatters (javelin), Destinee Delahoussaye (high jump), Rhea Thompson (shot put, discus), Sarah Booth (1600, 3200), Brianna Soram (100, 400), Shondalynn Jasmine (300H), Hannah Jackson (200), 4×100, 4×200, 4×400.

Class 3A

Boys

• Iowa — Darius Janice (100, 200).

• Jennings — Malik Williams (high jump), Isiah Brumfield (triple jump), Ivandre Williams (1600), 4×400.

• South Beauregard — Zack Brady (javelin), Matt Trahan (discus), Mikey Guidry (discus).

Girls

• Iowa — Katie Richard (high jump), Lejen Johnson (200).

• Jennings — Addison Martinez (pole vault), Imani Coleman (100, 200, 400).

• South Beauregard — Morgan Daily (300H), Shae Barrow (discus), Katy Chisolm (1600, 3200).

• Westlake — Javiney Duhon (long jump, discus), Sayli Maynard (shot put, discus), Kaitlyn Tunks (400, 800), 4×200, 4×400.

(mgnonline.com)