HERTFORD — The ship setting sail for Greensboro this weekend will be filled with a dozen Perquimans Pirates, with a Camden Bruin following right behind.

That is how many representatives from the area competing in the 1A NCHSAA Track and Field Championships at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T University on Saturday.

File photo (ENLARGE)

Lamar Whidbee (left) and Doug Frierson will compete in the 100-meter dash at the state track meet on Saturday.

The athletes have done well enough to make it to the highest level of competition despite neither school having a track.

"We find unique methods to replicate what we're going to see on the track," Perquimans boys coach Michael Horwat said. "We run on the pavement, on the road. We set our hurdles up on the grass, put them on the road. We can't get a rubber surface. I don't know if that's he key or not to our speed. But we get innovative with our practices."

Junior Doug Frierson, who returns to states for a second year, says that practicing on the grass helps make the team better.

"It works for us," Frierson said. "We do the same thing, as if we had a track. We've got the right equipment out here. But it's not about having a track, it's about what's in the heart, really."

Perquimans boys team will have eight representatives at the state meet. Six will compete in individual events and two as members of Perquimans' three relay teams.

"We have a lot of participants in multiple events," Horwat said. "(Two of them) are in one event — everyone else is pulling at least double-duty."

Senior Lamar Whidbee leads the way for the Pirates. The defending state 200-meter dash champion is set to defend his title, as well as compete for the 100-meter dash crown after winning both events at the East Regional meet. He is also a member of the 4x100-meter relay team that finished second.

Whidbee is looking forward to making it back-to-back 200 titles.

"I've practiced all year and just like last year, I'll run hard and compete," Whidbee said.

Frierson will compete in four events at the state meet. His second-place finish at regionals puts him in the 100 at states. He is on each of the qualifying relay teams — the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400.

Like Whidbee, Frierson credits hard work for the success. He is not about to let up now.

"I run in practice really hard to get better," he said Wednesday after doing just that after school. "Practice makes you better, not perfect."

Senior Jamyrius Miller will also compete in four events at state. He is in all three relays, as well as the high jump, in which he finished third at regionals.

Senior Ron Harrell is a member of both the 4x200 and 4x400 teams and will also attempt to win the 400-meter dash at states like he did in the regional meet.

"This is his first year running track," Horwat said. "He's contributed in a big way."

Sophomore Marcori Ingram finished third in the 200 at regionals, qualifying for states. He is also a member of the 4x100 relay team.

Chris Billingsly, also a sophomore, will have one individual event, the 110-meter high hurdles, in which he was third at regionals.

Senior Bashawn Thatch (4x200 relay) and sophomore Josh Chestnut (4x400 relay) round out the Pirates' contingent.

"We have eight going and we can actually gain a lot of points and do fairy well in the state," Horwat said. "I've tried to put in their minds thoughts of winning a team title. It's not so far out there."

The Lady Pirates have four athletes competing in the 4x100 relay. Kimiko Jones, Jasmine Gary, Kendra Billips and Leroya Banks finished fourth in the East Regional in the event.

We've got a young group of girls," Lady Pirates coach Caroline Rogers said. "Leroya's a freshman, Kendra's a sophomore. Jasmine's a sophomore. I've got one senior, Kimiko. I think I have a good group of girls who are going to have a name for themselves until they graduate."

Banks is looking at more than one event. The freshman speedster won both the 100 and 200 at regionals and is looking to win it all in her first year of high school.

"She's got the speed like (former state 200 champion) Shaquita (Copeland)," Rogers said. "She's right there. She not only could take the 100, but the 200, too."

"I'm overwhelmed to be a freshman running at state my first year," Banks said. "I was overwhelmed with excitement when I found out."

Camden has one athlete going to states. Senior Kevin King will compete in the 1,600-meter run Saturday. He was 12th in the state last year and won event at the East Regional, but will have stiff competition from runners from the western part of the state.

"Kevin's worked real hard this year to improve his time and he had every week this year," Camden coach Thomas Gardner said. "We think with his hard work, he has a good chance at a medal at states."