Showing four fingers of her right hand and a big smile on her face, Ashley Furlong walked toward Karagan Bulger, who suddenly got teary-eyed and hugged the Southern Regional assistant track and field coach.

“I can’t believe it,” said the sophomore sensation, still huffing and puffing, not only from a killer 400-meter hurdles race, but also from the excitement of finishing fourth in the state. “I really can’t believe it. This is amazing.”