GREENSBORO - East Columbus High junior Jasmine Young became the first female athlete from a Columbus County school to claim a first place in a state high school track and field meet Friday.

Young registered a leap of 17 feet, 6 inches to run away with first place in the long jump competition at North Carolina A&T University track.

Although her winning effort was six inches short of the 18-2 jump she attained in winning the East Regional title a week earlier, she was still a considerable distance ahead of Princeton’s Jamie Bogle whose second place jump was 16-9.5

Young, who placed second in the event at last year’s state meet is the first ECHS athlete to capture first place in a state meet.

Coach Travis Conner’s East Columbus girls squad also got a fourth-place finish from Kayla McLean in the shot put, and a fifth place from Jasma Miles in the 100-meter hurdles. The Lady Gators also took a fifth place in the 4x200 relay and eight place in the 4x100 relay.