PREP TRACK & FIELD: 9 from area qualify for state meets

Columbia’s J’Liyn Smith leads the pack during the 400m at the Region 1-3A meet on Wednesday. Smith won the race in 58.06 seconds. (NANCY SCOTT/Special to the Reporter)
Columbia’s J’Liyn Smith leads the pack during the 400m at the Region 1-3A meet on Wednesday. Smith won the race in 58.06 seconds. (NANCY SCOTT/Special to the Reporter)

J’Liyn Smith followed up a district title with a Region 1-3A championship in the 400m dash on Wednesday.

Now she’ll take aim at the podium at the Class 3A state meet.

Smith won the race with a personal-…