Groups of students from around the area spent the day Saturday competing in Salina for the chance to advance to state both as teams, and individuals.

K-State at Salina hosted a "Math Counts" competition for area middle school students. Students from as far away as Washington County worked individually, and together, to solve mathematical problems.

They initially took individual tests. Next, in the target round, they had to solve two problems within an allotted time period. They then took tests as four person teams.

At the end, the students who had the ten best test scores competed one-on-one in a final countdown round.

The top six individuals and top three teams earned the right to compete at the state level.

Several individual "mathletes" from Salina finished in the top six to advance to state.

Also, four-person teams from Lakewood Middle School, Southeast of Saline, and Salina South Middle School will advance to state.

The state Math Counts competition will be held at the Kansas Highway Patrol Training Center in Salina in March.