NATCHEZ — After training for four hours a day over the last few months, Alicia Wimley and Pamelia Selmon will get a chance to bring honor to their school, community and themselves.

Wimley and Selmon, Natchez High students, have qualified for the regional meet of the Southern Association of the USA Track and Field, in Nashville, Tenn. Wimley placed in the 400-meter, and Selmon placed in the 800-meter.

“They will be competing against the best in the region,” Natchez Track Club coach Henry “Doc” Woods said. “But if they can place in the top three of their heats, they will go on to South Carolina for the national meet.

“They are looking forward to competing against the best our region has to offer,” he said. “As their coach, I think they are going to do well based on their running and training.”

The two teenagers put a lot of work in to get there, he said.

“Both girls are very talented and their work ethic is good,” Woods said. “It takes a talented group to survive the heats at the Mississippi and Louisiana meet to go on to regional.”

Qualifying to go to regional was one of those moments that Selmon said that she will always remember.

“I felt relieved and happier than ever,” she said. “It was a moment where all of my hard work had paid off.”

Going to the regional is something that Wimley said makes her proud.

“I’m excited and feel like I’ll do well because I’ve trained hard for it,” she said.

They have a good shot at doing well at the Nashville meet, Woods said.

“They are young and they compete well,” he said. “I think their best runs are ahead of them. I hope it is in this competition.”

Selmon also said that she thought going to the National meet was possible but she has more butterflies in her stomach about the competition than Coach Woods does.

“It is going to be really tough with 60 girls in the 800-meter and only three going on to nationals,” Selmon said. “Who knows, we will see.”

Both girls, however, do proudly say that they will have bright futures ahead of them in track and field.

Wimley is a junior at Natchez High and will be running the 400-meter for the school next year.

Selmon is a senior at Natchez High and will be receiving a track and field scholarship at Southwest Junior College.

“I feel lucky and blessed to have the scholarship,” she said. “I’ll continue running forever, even when I’m through with college.”

Woods said that he is taking donations to help send Wimley and Selmon to regional.

Coach “Doc” Woods can be reached at 601-660-1139 for donations.