MOULTRIE — Colquitt County High’s Ryan Helms had little trouble defending his state diving championship on Thursday, defeating runner-up Alex Watson by more than 70 points.

And Colquitt County took second through fifth place in the girls competition, but the championship went to Lexie Bryant of Duluth High.

Helms, who won the state Class AAAAA championship a year ago as a freshman with a 472.60, had a 518.70 on Thursday in the championships, held at The Westmin-ster Schools in Atlanta.

Watson had a 445.25.

Colquitt County also took fourth and sixth place, to put three divers in the top six.

Owen Blank, who was third last year, was fourth with a 423.80. Nic Price was sixth with a 395.80.

Collins Hill High placed two in the top five when Jordan Horsley was third with a 441.95 and Mark Brochy was fifth with a 409.55.

Brochy was second behind Helms last year.

Colquitt County’s Jacob Russell, who was fourth last year, made the trip to Atlanta but was unable to compete.

Russell injured his lower back in practice on Saturday. He also will miss this weekend’s All-Star Challenge in Orlando.

Helms is half way to accomplishing what only three other Georgia divers have achieved: winning four straight titles.

Two of those are Colquitt County divers: Brad Baell, who won from 1985-1988, and Adam Terrell, who won from 1990-1993.

Former Colquitt County High diver Eric Winnard, now diving at Oconee County, won the state Class A-AAAA championship. He placed second last year.

Bryant, who was fourth in the state meet last year and third the year before, finally took home the championship as a senior, scoring a 432.10.

Just 12 points back was Colquitt County High freshman Ali Lepech, who had a 420.25.

Colquitt County junior Hannah Moore, who won the championship as a freshman and was second behind Sarah Ohr of Harrison High last year, was third with a 418.55.

Anna Aguero, who was third last year, was fourth with a 410.90.

The other Colquitt County diver, Staci Howard, was fifth with a 364.90.

Both the girls and boys Class AAAAA championships drew 13 divers.

For divers to score points for their teams, they must score a 270 or better. In the girls event only eight of the 13 scored 270 or better.

Colquitt County was able to enter just four of its girls, although all six — including Maddie Qurnell and Erin Goodman — scored 270 or better in qualifying meets.

The members of the Colquitt County High diving team, excluding Russell, will travel to Orlando to take part in the All-Star Challenge, which will run through Sunday.