Area's top sprinters to be displayed at SEMO North Conference meet

Central's Nicole Jackson and Jackson's Rachel Kahle are two of the top sprinters in the state.

The two juniors will put their skills on display Friday at the SEMO North Conference track and field meet at Central Junior High. The four-team meet -- Sikeston and Poplar Bluff are also included -- will begin at 4 p.m.

Jackson set school records in the 100 and 200 dashes at the Poplar Bluff Invitational last week, finishing ahead of Kahle in both events. Both runners earned all-state honors last year, when Jackson finished second in Class 4 in the 200 and Kahle was eighth in the 100.

"I think it's good, clean competition," Central coach Lawrence Brookins said. "I'm sure if they get a chance to run against each other again, Rachel will be ready for it. I hadn't planned on running Nicole in the 100 [at Poplar Bluff], but she begged me to get into it."

In high school an athlete can compete in no more than four events, which will leave Brookins with a tough decision. Jackson typically runs in the 200 as well as the 400, 800 and 1,600 relays.

Brookins said he has not decided whether Jackson will run in the 100 as of Monday.

Kahle has competed in the triple jump and long jump this season for the first time and has excelled in both events. Along with Kahle, Heather Hileman should have a chance for multiple wins for Jackson. Hileman has been one of the area's best in both hurdles events as well as the high jump.

Central's girls had a dominating performance at the Poplar Bluff Invitational, scoring more than 200 points, and will likely be the conference favorites.

"There were several folks that had stellar nights," Brookins said of the Poplar Bluff meet. "Hopefully, that will carry over if we train right this week."

Individually for the Tigers, junior Brianna Egbuka has put up impressive throws in the shot put including a throw of 39-4 at Poplar Bluff.

"That's getting close to major league caliber," Brookins said. "Thirty-nine feet is pretty good. If she can maintain consistency, she'll be a force to be reckoned with."

Central junior Matt Willingham cleared a personal-best 15 feet in the pole vault at Poplar Bluff. The Tigers have also been strong in the 400 relay, and Tyler Terry has fared well in the long and triple jumps.

The conference meet will be the final meet for Jackson and Central before the Class 4 District 1 event at Oakville.

"In my mind, the meet at Poplar Bluff and the conference meet are great final chances to see what you've got as we fill out our district entries," Brookins said.

Notre Dame will travel to Kennett on Friday for the SEMO Central conference meet, while Perryville will host the Jefferson County Conference meet today and Thursday.

Show Me Conference Meet

The emergence of Poplar Bluff's swimming team in the fall of 2002 helped lead to the formation of the Show Me conference, and in turn a conference swimming meet.

Central and Notre Dame have added to their rivalry with some tight competitions for conference crowns.

The Show Me Conference girls meet will have some added competition this season, with first-year program St. Vincent joining the meet. Saxony Lutheran -- the Crusaders competed in the meet last year with their lone swimmer Emily Younghouse -- have gained several swimmers this season and will again compete in the meet.

The meet will begin 4 p.m. today with the diving competition. Swimming events will begin 4 p.m. Thursday.

The Tigers cruised to the conference crown last year.

College notes

• Notre Dame graduate Deanna McCormick, a senior at Quincy University, recently received the Mart Heinen Award, which is given to the top male and female senior athlete of the year. McCormick was a first-team all-conference selection for the basketball team, averaging 13.3 points and 6.2 rebounds a game.

* Central graduate Marcus Klund, a junior at Lindenwood University, earned NAIA second-team all-American honors as a defensive back for the football team this past season.