NATCHEZ — Track and field is making a comeback at Natchez High School, Natchez track coach Larry Wesley said, and Friday’s invitational meet at Tom F. Williams Memorial Stadium is another jump forward for Miss-Lou track.

“Track and field is back,” Wesley said. “A couple of years back, before track went bad, it was big here at Natchez High School. Last year was our first time hosting a district meet, and now we’re hosting an invitational for the first time in 14 years.”

Wesley said eight teams have confirmed they will compete at the meet, including several local high school teams.

“It’s going to be like a family affair,” Wesley said.

Wilkinson County, Jefferson County, Ferriday and Cathedral will join Natchez in representing the local high schools at the meet.

Wesley said having so many schools in the area participating would help the attendance.

“Having local teams brings some of the crowds, so if the weather holds back it should go pretty well,” Wesley said.

Wesley said larger crowds could work against his home-standing Bulldogs, however.

“I just hope they compose themselves, because we will have people coming out and mingling, so I hope they stay focused.”

Friday’s meet will be the second of the season for Natchez, and Wesley said the team has been up-and-down so far.

“Track is different from other sports,” he said. “It’s very spotty. We have kids that are doing very well in certain events and not as well in others.”

Wesley said his long-distance runners and hurdlers have performed well so far, but the team is still working on the field events because weather has prevented those athletes from practicing as much.

Wesley said his goals for Friday’s competition are pretty simple.

“We just want to compete,” he said. “This is everybody’s first meet or second meet. You always look to win, but we just want to have a good showing.”

Cathedral School track team

The Cathedral School track team will be the smallest fish in the pond at Friday’s track meet, but head coach Tommy Smith said he expects the meet to show the Green Wave athletes where they stand.

“The biggest thing is just awakening the idea of what it will take to be competitive,” Smith said.

Cathedral will be the only MHSAA 1A team at the event, and Smith said all the other teams will come from bigger schools.

“We’re competing against bigger schools,” Smith said. “Most of the are (MHSAA) 4A or bigger. It will be a wake-up call for most people.”

The meet will be Cathedral’s first of the season, and Smith said the team has been practicing for approximately a month. He said he expects some of the Green Wave athletes to be able to compete despite still being a little rusty.

“Our top sprinters should fare pretty well, and our distance runners should hold their own,” he said.

Smith said he has several young runners that are showing promise, and he hopes that every athlete on the over 40-member team is able to find his or her niche this season.

“I want them to be out here,” Smith said. “I’m not going to cut anybody. We want them to develop and find something they like.”

Smith said he is glad the event is in Natchez, and the Natchez track team has made the Green Wave feel comfortable with sharing home-track advantage.

“Coach Wesley makes us feel welcome,” Smith said. “He speaks of it like it is our meet. It’s good because we can relax and not stress about getting (to the meet) for the first meet.”

Wesley said the field events would begin at 3:15 p.m. Friday with the track events to follow. Hazlehurst, Vicksburg and Port Gibson will also participate in the event.