It may look like Ray Hall is dancing, but that’s not the case as the Florala junior goes through a pre-jump routine to get his steps right.

Hall will be going through the pre-jump routine today to get ready for Saturday’s long jump event at the Class 1A track and field sectional at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

This is Hall’s third year participating in track at FHS. He started as an eighth grader running sprints, and then started jumping during his sophomore year.

“I did pretty well,” Hall said about first trying to jump for the school.

Going into tomorrow’s tournament, Hall is ranked at No. 2 in his category.

Wildcats coach Troy Stewart, who is taking Hall to the sectional, said that he’s got to finish in the top six to advance to the state round.

“I feel like he has a great chance to be in top six,” Stewart said.

Without sounding cocky at all, Hall thinks so, too.

“I feel extremely comfortable that I can place in the top six; I even feel comfortable that I could place in the top three,” he said.

Hall said he had to register his long jump distance into a computer system for the state athletic association, and the next closest distance is 19.3 feet, compared to his 20 feet.

Pretty much getting his take-off foot (left) right on the jump itself and making sure there isn’t a foul are the keys to tomorrow’s event, Hall said.

FHS is also competing against J.F. Shields, J.U. Blacksher, A.L. Johnson, Keith, Linden, Maplesville, Marengo, McIntosh, Red Level, St. Luke’s, St. Jude and Sunshine.

The Wildcats will also be joined by Opp, who is competing in Class 3A, Section 1, also at UA.

Bobcats track and field coach Brian Dickerson said the team has gotten better every week.

“These kids are really focused,” Dickerson said. “The’ve worked hard. We’ve had some kids who have done some special things this season, and we expect them to perform well this year.”

Coaching his team members to get past the “wall” is a top priority, Dickerson said.

“We have specific things we do every day,” he said. “We work on technique, we work on conditioning. Then, it all comes together in a mind set thing. When you’re running, you are hitting a wall and you’ve got to be able to push past that. Once you condition your body to push past those points, then you begin to experience success.”

Opp’s Orlando Lacey is ranked No. 2 in the 100-meter run, and No. 1 in the 200.

Jonathan Hines is in the top three.

In girls, Saquaya Lane is competing at No. 3 in shot-put, and No. 4 in discus.

The top five teams advance to the state tournament next week. Teams who finish at number six and seven are the wildcards.

Dickerson said the goal is to finish in the top five at the sectional.

The Bobcats are in the same sectional with American Christian, Bayside Academy, Cottage Hill, Gordo, Greene

County, Greensboro, Holt, T.R. Miller, Montevallo, Northside, Sispey Valley, Southside-Selma, Thorsby and W.S. Neal.