RICHMOND — King’s Fork’s senior-filled relay team of Tyler Holloway, Joseph Hill, Lawan Brown and Deion Dickens won the 4×400-meter state championship in the final event of the VHSL Group AAA State Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday.

The Bulldogs won the championship after the relay was apparently over and after it seemed Oscar Smith had edged the Bulldogs for the third time in the last three Saturdays.

Oscar Smith was the only team better than the Bulldogs in the Southeastern District Championships and the Eastern Region Championships.

The Tigers and Bulldogs traded the lead throughout the final heat of the state final before the Tigers kept the lead throughout the last leg and a half and Tiger Michael Cherry got to the line a half-stride ahead of Dickens.

After Oscar Smith’s disqualification though, the Bulldogs claimed the title 1.28 seconds ahead of Atlee, the winner of the second of three heats.

KF’s time of 3:18.33 ends the season as the best in the state this year. It’s the first-ever state championship for a Bulldog relay team in the seven years of the program.

In contrast, Lakeland senior JaQuan Demiel had a mixed afternoon vying for his second state championship in the 300-meter hurdles.

Demiel ran the fastest time of his career, 37.65 seconds, yet finished second to Potomac’s Anthony Williams by a healthy margin.

“I ran okay. The hurdle in the corner was my problem. I started thinking too much. My coaches tell me not to think too much. Right there I slowed down a little then I tried to pick it back up,” Demiel said.

Demiel’s accepted a full scholarship to attend and run track at St. Augustine’s College, one of the powerhouse track programs of NCAA Division II.

The summer usually remains busy for track athletes. For Demiel though, the next couple months will be about a more important assignment; getting healthy.

Demiel worked through a hamstring injury for much of the outdoor season.

“When you decide to run, you run your best. You can’t complain about (an injury),” he said.

With the high school season complete, Demiel’s going to rehab from his injury instead of competing in national or AAU meets.

“I need to rebuild it back stronger,” Demiel said.

Injuries took tolls on a couple other Suffolk athletes at the state meet, even as they competed to results nearly any athlete would consider a career-best.

King’s Fork senior Qualitra Brown, running with a lower back injury she suffered during the regional championships, finished sixth in the 400 in 56.79 and seventh in the 100 in 12.42.

Had Brown ran the 400 in 54.89 seconds, the same time she set in winning the Southeastern District title, she would’ve won the regional title and the state title Saturday.

Western Branch’s Keilah Tyson smashed the 100-meter state record, winning in 11.39 seconds, 0.34 seconds better than the record.

Lakeland junior Anaquan Peterson struggled in Friday’s long jump competition and Saturday’s triple jump, finishing 10th in the triple jump.

Lakeland finished third in the boys 4×100 relay in 42.26 seconds with the team of Demiel, Rausheeim Thompson, Quentin Gilchrist and Anaquan Peterson.

VHSL Group AAA State Outdoor Track and Field Championships – Saturday’s results

Boys 4×400-meter relay

1. King’s Fork 3:18.33

(Tyler Holloway, Joseph Hill, Lawan Brown, Deion Dickens)

2. Atlee 3:19.61

Boys 300 hurdles

1. Anthony Williams Potomac 36.99

2. JaQuan Demiel Lakeland 37.65

Girls 400

1. Monica Williams Green Run 55.62

6. Qualitra Brown King’s Fork 56.79

Boys 4×100

1. Brooke Point 42.04

3. Lakeland 42.26

(JaQuan Demiel, Rausheeim Thompson, Quentin Gilchrist, Anaquan Peterson)

Girls 100

1. Keliah Tyson Western Branch 11.39

7. Qualitra Brown King’s Fork 12.42

Boys triple jump

1. Marcus Dean Western Branch 48-11.5

4. Ricky Blake Nansemond River 47-0.25

10. Anaquan Peterson Lakeland 45-1