NATCHEZ &045; Usually it’s just her and the finish line. The rest of the world tends to fade away as Ke’Airra Jones runs during track meets.

But there is one thing that can pierce her concentration: the sounds of her teammates and the simple words of her coach.

&uot;When you’re running down the stretch, you can hear them cheering for you,&uot; Jones said. &uot;That’s what motivates me. I don’t even hear much usually when I’m running, but I can hear my teammates and hear coach (Larry) Wesley yelling, ‘Come on baby, you can do it.’ It’s good to have teammates.&uot;

Jones is one of the key pieces of the Natchez High girls track team, which will be gunning for a fifth consecutive state title today at the MHSAA State Track Meet in Pearl.

Jones and fellow sophomore Candace Frye will help lead that team today, but don’t let their age or their easygoing temperament fool you &045;Frye and Jones are all business when it comes to the state meet.

This will be their third trip to the meet, and if they have anything to do with it, it will also be their third state championship in as many years.

The Lady Bulldogs have won the last four Class 5A state titles, all under the direction of Wesley. Frye and Jones have been part of the last two state titles.

Those two will be crucial to Natchez’s chances of repeating as state champions.

A year ago, it was the Natchez relays that paved the way to victory. But with just two relays competing this year, the Lady Bulldogs will have to rack up points in the individual events.

&uot;It’s different this time around. Last year, we were more relying on our relays to get us points,&uot; Jones said. &uot;This time we have a lot more individuals.&uot;

Frye will run in the 100 and 300 hurdles, her best events, the 100 and the 800 and mile relays.

Frye is ambitious &045; her plan for the weekend is not only to win both her hurdles events but also to set a state record in the 300. But that goal isn’t just a dream, it’s well within reach. Her best time, 44.48 seconds, is .04 slower than the record.

&uot;I think I can break that,&uot; Frye said. &uot;It’s my favorite race.&uot;

Frye’s only lost one race this season in hurdles, and that was because she fell after hitting a hurdle. Her opponents don’t even have a chance if she runs a clean race.

&uot;I feel like it’s the important meet and there is more competition,&uot; Frye said. &uot;But for me, it’s not that big a step up.&uot;

Frye learned much about hurdles from former teammate Tanieka Hill, who won the 100 and 300 hurdles last year at state for Natchez.

&uot;Frye and (boys’ hurdler Rodney) Gray saw what (former boys’ hurdler Kedrieck) Gibbons and Tanieka Hill were doing and tried to emulate that,&uot; Wesley said. &uot;The program keeps growing that way as the young runners grow up.&uot;

Jones will compete in the 400, 200, high jump and mile relay today.

&uot;I’m used to competing in six events, so doing four isn’t that hard,&uot; Jones said.

Jones’ best event is the 400. She said she approaches the race differently than most of her competitors.

&uot;I run hard on the first curve and relax on the back stretch and let people try to catch me,&uot; Jones said. &uot;Most people don’t run hard on that first curve so they have to catch up, and I run the last curve hard and leave them behind.&uot;

But as important as Frye and Jones have been to the team, Wesley said one of their teammates is as important as anyone to the success of the team. Senior Taji Dorsey has a chance to be part of five title teams, something Wesley said he’s amazed by.

&uot;She’s the juice,&uot; Wesley said. &uot;She’s what makes this team work. The rest of the team imitates her in the way they do things. Dorsey would be the only one who could five championships.&uot;

Dorsey is the only senior for the Lady Bulldogs.

&uot;The good news is that we’ll have everybody back,&uot; Wesley said. &uot;Winning these four championships in a row, that’ll probably never happen again for me, but we can compete with anyone with the team I have coming back.&uot;

And team is the critical word for these ladies. Frye and Jones are also members of the Natchez basketball team, where each saw significant minutes at guard last season. And though team takes on a different meaning when it’s applied to track, it’s still important.

&uot;They’re not really different,&uot; Jones said. &uot;In basketball, you’re out there with five players all the time. If you’re not on a relay, you have to finish it on your own, but the concept is still the same. You have to do your part and count on everyone else.&uot;

Frye started running track at the insistence of her eighth-grade basketball coach

&uot;He told me to come out here and now that I’ve been doing it, it’s my favorite sport,&uot; Frye said.