Mortimer Jordan boys track and field coach Todd Feeney felt good about the chances of his 4-by-100 meter relay team to repeat as state champions. After all, their winning time was better than their gold-medal time from 2010.

He even had a close-up view of Monday’s final heat, serving as a zone judge to make sure the baton handoffs went properly.

They did — for every team except his. The Devils’ first and second runners couldn’t seem to make the exchange. By the time they did, they were over the boundary line.

Feeney threw down his hands in disgust, hesitated for the briefest of moments, the held up the yellow flag to signal a disqualification.

“I really don’t know what caused it, but probably a lack of getting to work together,” Feeney said. “You have got to work it day after day after day, and we haven’t had the chance to do it.”

Two of Feeney’s team had been serving an alternate-school suspension for an infraction unrelated to the team, cutting into practice time.

“For the past several years, we’ve been very good at that [handoffs],” Feeney said.

All four members of the team — Jared Hines, Rod Washington, Marquis Dobbs and Ryan Swann — qualified for the Class 5A state meet in Gulf Shores through individual events.

Hayden will send Krista Stricklin, who took gold in the 100 meter dash.

Fultondale will also send several athletes to the Class 2A meet at Birmingham-Southern.

Monday’s meet was held at Hoover High, moved from its scheduled site in Tuscaloosa last weekend because of the tornado outbreak.

We are still awaiting the publication of full results by the AHSAA. Check back for further updates.