CHARLESTON - Thursday, Walnut Head Track Coach Tabitha Settlemires described her team as "pleasantly surprising," as they prepare for today’s MHSAA Class 2A Regional Meet.

Today, Settlemires and 14 team members will travel to Charleston High School for a chance to advance to the Class 2A North Half meet set for next Saturday in Oxford. They qualified by finishing in the top four of the Division 1-2A meet held at Pearl High School April 22.

"We changed divisions, which I think evened the field a bit and we had several more kids to qualify for the division meet," said Settlemires, who has coached the team for six years. "I’m very happy they’re competing well at this point. I’m hopeful we can keep it going and continue to advance."

At the division meet, Wildcat speedster Dominic Steele, finished first in the 100-meter dash (11.70), the 400-meter dash (56.42), and the 200-meter dash (24.20).

The 4x100-meter relay team of Devonte Bell, Kenneth Finger, Jacob Hopper, and Armani Linton finished first with a time of 47.22, while Stanley Thornton finished first in the boys 800-meter run (2:19.56).

Rounding out the first place performances were Karynda Franklin in long jump (14-09), David Young in shotput (35-04), Devonte Bell in discus throw (84-01.50), and long jumper Shaquille Perry.

Perry, who took the silver medal for long jump at the 2009 MHSAA State Track Meet jumped 23’, besting second place by more than three feet.

Others qualifiers for today’s meet include Elizabeth Franz in the 3200-meter run (3rd at Pearl-15:28), Karynda Franklin in the 100-meter dash (3rd at Pearl-13.91), Eddie Leos in the 1600-meter run (4th at Pearl-6:06) and the 800-meter run (4th 2:35.52), Jacob Hopper in the 200-meter dash (4th at Pearl-26.42), and Angelica Hernandez for discus throw (2nd at Pearl-64-00)