The Pepperell boys took a running leap into the lead at a three-way track and field meet last Thursday afternoon as they hosted Rome and Cedartown in Lindale.

With the Region 6-AAA Bulldogs in the lead following the field events, the Dragons raced past nearby rival Cedartown in the track events and captured first with a score of 87.

Rome came in second with a 54.5 while Cedartown finished with a score of 37.5.

The Lady Wolves walked away with first place on the girls’ side as they led with 65 points over Cedartown (62) and Pepperell (43).

Cedartown’s Tashia White captured first in the 800 (2:44) and 400 (1:02).

No other results for Cedartown were available.

Sophomore Marcus Jackson took the reins for the Dragons as he took first in the boys’ 400 meters (50.86 seconds) and 200 meters (22.75).

He was also the anchor for both the Pepperell 400-meter and 1,600-meter relay teams, both of which took first in a time of 44.58 and 3:38.66 respectively.

Dragon Corey Ginn swept the hurdle competitions as he took the 110-meter race in 15.15 and the 300 event in 43.40.

Jose Cruz posted a vault of 11 feet on the pole vault as well for Pepperell.

“We competed and ran well, and that’s all I you can ask of them,” said Pepperell Head Coach Joey Mathis. “We want to improve every meet.

“They’re a good group of kids and they work hard.”

Rome’s Ben Shippey swept the long-distance races with a 10:34 in the 3,200 meters and a 4:58 in the 1,600.

The Wolves took both the long jump (Demonte Key, 21-6) and triple jump (Teddy Lawrence, 40-7) as well. Rome’s Kristina Watters took the girls’ 200 (28.68), 100 (13.27) and the long jump (17-7).

The senior was also the anchor in the Lady Wolves’ 400-meter relay that finished in first place.