CAPE CENTRAL TRACK TEAMS QUALIFY 15 FOR STATE MEET

ST. LOUIS -- The Cape Central track team qualified eight girls and seven boys for state competition during the 4A sectional meet Saturday at Lafayette High School.

The Lady Tigers, coached by Paula Watkins, will return six girls to Jefferson City with state experience from last year starting Friday.

Laura Lukens and Elizabeth Kunz -- both all-state performers from last year -- will be back again. Lukens won the discus with a throw of 138-11. She also won the shot put with a heave of 39-9. Kunz won the high jump, clearing 5-2.

Christine Tallent qualified with a second-place finish in the 400-meter run. Tallent ran her best time of the year with a 58.9. Tobie Bittle also ran her fastest time of the year in the 800 with third-place time of 2:21.

Two Lady Tigers qualified for the long jump as all-stater Nichole Thiele got third with a leap of 16-10 1/4 and Dionna Webb took fourth with a 15-11 1/4 jump.

Two relay teams, the 4x200 and last year's state championship 4x400 team, also qualified.

The 4x200 team took second in a time of 1:45. Members of the team were Kunz, Thiele, Webb and Tosha Smith.

The 4x400 team, running without Thiele who left to play for the Lady Tigers soccer team, still qualified with a third-place time of 4:06. Members of the relay team were Tallent, Webb, Smith and Bittle.

The Tigers, coached by Jerry Dement, only victory came from Andy Dunaway in the pole vault. Dunaway cleared a personal best height of 14-feet.

Travis Cox qualified with a school-record time of 38.08 in the 300 hurdles. Cox took second in a close race. Brian Hodges took third-place with a 21-3 1/2 long jump.

The Tigers 4x100 relay team broke the school record with a third-place time of 43.68. Members of the team are Will Harris, Stafford Moore, Emmanuel Harris and Cox.

The 4x200 team also qualified with a third-place time of 1:30.7. Members included Cox, Stafford Moore, Charles McGinty and Harris.

Lady Indians relay teams qualify

Jackson, coached by Bob Sink, will send only two relay teams onto the state meet after a disappointing day at sectionals.

The Lady Indians 4x100 and 4x200 teams claimed fourth-place in the 4A sectional to barely earn a spot at the state meet. Only the top four finishers qualify for state competition.

The 4x200 team of Megan Kuntze, Lindsay Walker, Brandy Majka and Natalie Essner lowered their time since districts to 1:47.9. The 4x100 sprinters qualified with a time of 50.5. Members are Audrey Essner, Natalie Essner, Holly Collier and Walker.