PEARL – Number 43 was a first ... among firsts.

The Corinth Warriors won their first state track title Friday, totaling 65 points in the 3A meet at Pearl High School.

The championship was the third for the school in 2009-2010 and 43rd overall in eight different sports.

“The kids worked hard and did what they had to do,” said Corinth coach Ryan Summers. “We knew it would take around 65 points to win it. They did everything right and it was a lot of fun.”

The Warriors captured three golds and a sliver and bronze en route to an 11-point decision over runner-up Jefferson County. Kossuth finished fifth with 42 points, just four markers out of the top three.

Evan Blair paced CHS’ effort by winning both the 800 and 1600 runs. Taylor Smith provided the other gold with a school-record time 39.99 in the 300 hurdles.

Blair, a senior, also ran a leg in the 4x400 event as Corinth added four points with a fifth-place finish.

“Evan ran the best three races he’s ever run,” said Summers.

Corinth finished 10th two years ago before moving up to fifth in 2009. The Warriors nearly doubled last season’s point output in winning the 3A title.

Summers was quick to share the continued improvement with his assistants.

“Coach (Patricia) Barr and Coach (Fred) Stafford did a ton for me this year and kept me sane when I felt like panicking,” said Summers. “And Ken (Williams) is Ken. He does anything you ask of him.”

Kossuth’s Casey Parks provided the four gold among the county males, winning the 3200 in 10:37.65. Teammates Kyle Suitor and Andy McElyea were second and third, respectively, in the 3200 as Blair’s title gave the locals a sweep in the event.

Alcorn County netted five golds on the female side, including a pair by Biggersville’s DeAra Gardner in the 1A meet. The junior, who accounted for 33 of the Lady Lions’ 40 points, won the long and high jumps.

The Lady Lions finished tied for sixth -- just six points out of fourth -- with Coldwater. Gardner’s titles extended the school’s gold medal streak to 24 years.

Alcorn Central’s Sam Sagely won the triple jump for the second straight year with a leap of 36-11.5 She finished second in the long jump, finishing her career with three golds, a silver and two bronze medals.

The Corinth girls, who lost senior Lauren Foropoulos to injury at the Region Meet, finished seventh in the 3A meet with 36 points. Susan Shea (high jump) and Jaynesia Johnson (discus) led the way with gold-medal showings.

Shea came in as the defending champion in the pole vault and added a second-place finish to her resume.