BITTLE WINS 'GOLD' WITH JJK AWARD

When 1998 Cape Central graduate Tobie Bittle applied for the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Gold Medal Scholarship, she hardly had visions of receiving the honor.

"No, it was another one of the many, many scholarship forms I filled out," Bittle said with a laugh.

But this particular application turned out to be well worth the trouble.

Bittle won the $5,000 track and field scholarship as she continues her education and athletic career at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The one year, non-renewable award from the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Center Foundation was one of 15 scholarships -- totalling $50,000 -- granted by the foundation in its sixth year.

"Tobie's a great example for our girls athletic program -- she's well deserving of this," said Central track coach Jerry Dement. "She's a fine young lady and a fine recipient of that award."

Bittle, who plans to major in Nursing, was the only high school senior outside the East St. Louis (Ill.) counties of Madison and St. Clair to win a scholarship from the foundation. According to foundation manager Angela Roberson, only five applications were received in Bittle's scholarship category which consisted of high school seniors who competed in the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Relays April 3-4.

"Each senior participant in the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Relays were eligible to apply for the scholarship," said Roberson. "An essay was required (to apply) and a lot of points were geared toward the essay."

Bittle will run for both the cross country and track squads at Mizzou. Considering her success at Cape Central -- she was a four-year state qualifier in both events -- it was hard for Bittle to choose between the two.

Said Bittle: "When I'm in cross country season I like cross country better and then when I'm in track I like track better."

Bittle couldn't have done much better over her four years of varsity competition. The outgoing senior holds one individual and two school relay records and was a member of a state-championship relay team.

"She had a fantastic career," said Dement. "Tobie not only had a lot of ability, but she was also very dedicated. She worked very hard and set her goals high."

As a sophomore, Bittle was a member of Lady Tigers' state-winning 4x400 team. Bittle returned to state with the 4x400 team her junior year and placed fourth. This past season, Bittle earned some individual state glory with a fourth-place finish in the 800 meters and also helped the 4x800 team take seventh.

With so many great accomplishments, it was hard for Bittle to choose her most memorable.

"The 800 this year was my best (individual) state finish," Bittle said. "But my sophomore year, when we won the 4x400, that was a big highlight because we surprised everyone."

Despite holding Cape Central's school record in the 800 meters (2:17), Bittle is expecting to specialize in the 1,500 meters at Mizzou. Running the longer distance doesn't appear to faze Bittle.

"Hopefully I'll make an impact next year," said Bittle. "I now that I will definitely be getting better because I'll be training with a lot of really good girls. I've always wanted to run for Mizzou."