CENTRAL TEAMS SWEEP JACKSON INVITATIONAL

JACKSON -- Under a radiant sun that hasn't visited this meet in recent years, a big day from two underclassmen helped to lead Cape Girardeau Central High's girls track and field team to a commanding victory in the 10-team Jackson Invitational Saturday afternoon at Jackson Junior High School.

Central sophomore Dionna Webb and freshman Heather Jenkins each won two events. Webb won the 100-meter dash in 12.48 seconds and the long jump with a leap of 16 feet 10.25 inches. She also placed second in the 200.

Jenkins took the shot put with a heave of 36 feet 6.5 inches and the discus with a throw of 114 feet 11.5 inches.

The Lady Tigers scored 190 points and Jackson was second with 124. The other teams were Poplar Bluff (102.5), Perryville (72), Kelly (64), Potosi (34), Murphysboro, Ill. (32.5), Cairo, Ill. (26), Sikeston (6) and Fredericktown (3).

"It was nice to have some good weather for a change," said Central girls coach Paula Watkins. "We're very pleased. To end up with 190 points when you only have three senior girls that are scoring for you, that's pretty good."

Central's boys also won; the Tigers totaled 119 points and Jackson was second with 101. The remaining teams were Poplar Bluff (96), Perryville (84), Murphysboro (77), Sikeston (70), Cairo (52), Potosi (43), Kelly (29), Fredericktown (22).

"It was a pleasant surprise on the boys side," said Central boys coach Jerry Dement. "We had some young ones step up and really do a nice job. It was a satisfying victory."

Jackson coach Bob Sink also had praise for his teams -- and the weatherman.

"It was a great day. I forgot we could have these kinds of days for track meets," Sink said with a laugh. "I was very surprised with our boys finish. Our boys are awful young, and our kids stepped it up a notch. That was the most pleasing thing that happened today."

Central senior Kristen Tallent won the 400 in 1:00.83 and senior Tobie Bittle won the 800 in 2:26.29. The Lady Tigers won the 4x800 relay 10:16.64 and the 4x400 relay in 4:13.64. The 4x800 team was comprised of Bittle, Sarah Chaudhari, Myka Bohnsack and Tallent, and the 4x400 team consisted of Tallent, Webb, Amanda Hutteger and Bittle.

Jackson junior Sarah Stiegemeyer won the 1600 in 5:46.68 and sophomore Jennifer Love won the 300 low hurdles in 50.99 seconds. The 4x100 relay team of Megan Kuntze, Brandi Majka, Holly Collier and Lindsey Meyr won in 52.99 seconds.

Kelly's Amy Arteme won the 3200 in 12:40.97.

Although it had no individual winners, Central's boys won the 4x200 and 4x100 relays. The 4x200 team won in 1:33.24 and consisted of Steve Criddle, Demetrius Totton, Chris Allen and Emmanuel Harris, and the 4x100 team, which won in 44.67 seconds, was comprised of Criddle, Ross Conner, Allen and Harris.

Jackson junior Nathan Windeknecht won the long jump with a bound of 21-0 and took the triple jump with a leap of 40-11 1/2.

Perryville's Ryan Hohenadel won the 1600 in 4:36.16 and Jared Tanz won the 800 in 2:02.76. The Eagles' 4x800 relay team of Hohenadel, Tyson Brown, Tanz and Nathan Davis won in 8:16.03.