AREA TRACK & FIELD TEAMS READY TO GET OUT OF THE BLOCKS

Cape Girardeau Central's Lady Tigers will try to extend an impressive string of accomplishments this year as the area high school track & field season gets under way this week.

The Lady Tigers have won six consecutive SEMO Conference and Class 4A, District 1 championships and they are expected to field another strong team in 2001.

Many of the other local squads also have high hopes entering the new campaign.

Cape Central

Despite having a young team, coach Lawrence Brookins once again expects good things from his girls squad, which placed 11th at last year's 4A state meet.

"We're excited," he said. "If we can avoid injury, we hope to keep that string (of conference and district titles) going."

The Lady Tigers return one of Missouri's best weight throwers in senior Heather Jenkins, who was second in the discus and fifth in the shot put at last year's state meet. As a sophomore, Jenkins placed fourth in the discus and sixth in the shot put.

"Heather is still bothered by a knee she hurt in basketball and she hasn't been able to do a whole lot yet, but we think she'll be fine," Brookins said. "She's definitely one of the best in the state."

Central's girls have one other returning individual state qualifiers in junior Kim Pancoast (1,600-meters). Pancoast, junior Lexi House and sophomores Alex Wieser and Courtney Edge return from last year's state qualifying 4x400 relay team while Wieser, Edge and sophomore Vicky Wilson were on the 4x200 relay squad that made it to state.

Among others Brookins expects good things from are seniors Crystal Morton (hurdles) and DeAndria McCauley (sprints, jumps), an East Prairie transfer who was a 2A all-stater the last two years; juniors Lanie Bohnsack (jumps), Lauren Lee (sprints, jumps) and Sarah Hyslop (jumps); and sophomores Whitney Pingle (distance), Ashley Colon (throws) and Sandrea Smoot (throws).

On the boys side, Brookins is counting on seniors Gabe Austin (distance), Mark Stone (distance), Ross Tilghman (distance), Justin Hawkins (distance), Michael Cox (hurdles), O.J. Turner (hurdles, discus) and Brett McNabb (400, 800).

Also expected to contribute are the likes of juniors Chris Smith (throws), Justin Wells (throws), Marland Heard (jumps) and R.V. Boren (pole vault), along with sophomores Jeremiah Dukes (sprints), Monroe Hicks (sprints), Mike Gerber (distance), Anthony Harris (jumps) and Daniel Willingham (pole vault).

Central opens the season Wednesday at home against Sikeston.

Jackson

Like Cape Central, Jackson returns one of the state's best in junior sprinter Mario Whitney, who was third in the 100-meters and sixth in the 200-meters at least year's 4A state meet.

Whitney, also one of the state's top running backs in football, originally went out for the Jackson baseball team this season but he switched gears and rejoined the track squad.

"We feel like Mario is a real contender to win state this year," said coach Bob Sink. "He's definitely one of the fastest kids in the state."

Sink also has high hopes for the likes of seniors Ray Goodson (discus, sprint relays) and Jon Coleman (hurdles); junior Travis Dambach (shot put); and sophomore Stuart McIntosh (pole vault).

On the girls side, Jackson returns a pair of individual state qualifiers in seniors Lindsey Meyr (400) and Heidi Jansen (shot put). Meyr also competed on the 4x400, 4x200 and 4x100 relay teams that made it to state. Sophomore Rachel Smith and junior Jeanna Bolen were both on the 4x200 and 4x100 groups while senior Cailin Bricknell competed on the 4x400 squad.

Sink also expects good things from, among others, sophomore Heather West (jumps) and junior Krista Mouser (distance).

"I think our girls could be in contention again for the district," Sink said. "Our boys could be decent, but we have a lot of untested kids."

Jackson has its first competition Saturday in the Perryville Invitational.

Kelly

Kelly welcomes back the lone area state champion from last year in junior Adam Daughhetee, who captured the 1,600-meters at last year's 2A meet. Daughhetee was also fifth in the 3,200.

"Adam is a great runner," said first-year coach Marty Powers, who takes over for longtime coach Bill Davis. Davis stepped down after building Kelly into a state power.

"Bill Davis built a tremendous tradition for track," said Powers. "We're young, but I think we'll do okay."

Kelly's boys return one other state qualifier in junior Travis Braun (pole vault). Other Hawks expected to score well are seniors Adam Haines (sprints), Ashley Hahn (distance) and Adam Lofton (400, distance).

The Kelly girls return a state qualifier in sophomore Julia Vetter (pole vault). Powers is also looking for good things from the likes of seniors Laura Ruff (sprints, hurdles), Alana Burford (sprints) and Megan Nelson (hurdles, pole vault).

Kelly opens the season Wednesday at Chaffee.

Perryville

Both Perryville teams were second in the Jefferson County Conference last year and, with several returning state qualifiers, should compete well again this season.

Perryville's girls, coached by Joe Dandridge, welcome back four state qualifiers, including junior Becky Lankford (pole vault). Junior Gina Buerck competed on the Lady Pirates' 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams that made it to state while senior Susan Miller and sophomore Sarah Lappe were both on the 4x400 group.

Dandridge said he is also looking for good things from sophomore Emily Amberger (400, high jump), who was hurt last year.

Perryville's boys, coached by Lance Bell, return one state qualifier in senior Andy Cranick (long jump).

Among other Pirates expected to fare well are seniors Jacob Schneider (distance) and Nathan Moore (distance); sophomores Kevin Bohnert (sprints) and Sam Zahner (throws); and freshmen Jesse Whistler (sprints) and Kyle Dobbelare (jumps).

Perryville opens the season today at Ste. Genevieve.

Scott City

Scott City, coached by Roy Williams and Randy White, has just one returning state qualifier in senior Dana Essner (pole vault).

An athlete to watch for the Lady Rams is freshman Loren Groves (hurdles, high jump, discus), who placed in several events at last year's national AAU meet and is coming off a brilliant rookie season of high school basketball.

Other prospects for the Lady Rams are junior Makenzie Cartwright (long jump, relays) and sophomores Rachel Spinks (1,600) and Jenny Pinkston (sprints, relays).

For Scott City's boys, among those expected to fare well are seniors Ricky Keller (throws), Ben Sample (high jump) and Michael O'Brien (high jump), along with junior Brad Glenn (hurdles).

Scott City has its first meet Wednesday at Chaffee.

Chaffee

Coach Terry Glenzy has a young group this year for both the boys and girls.

One of those youngsters -- sophomore Jennifer Vandeven -- is among the area's premier all-around athletes. She qualified for state last year in the 200 as a freshman.

On the boys side, senior Josh Baker (sprints) is an athlete to watch as he is in his fourth year with the program.

Oran

Oran's young program had a solid season last year and one state qualifier returns in Russ Hatfield, who finished fifth in the 1A 400-meters.

"I expect Russ to do well and hopefully he can finish pretty high again," said coach Mark Gihring. "The rest of the team is really young."