CHS TO SEND 12 ATHLTES TO STATE

ST. LOUIS -- Dionna Webb qualified for state in three events and broke a school record Saturday, highlighting an outstanding day for Cape Girardeau Central High's track program at the Class 4A sectional meet at Lafayette High School.

In all, Central advanced six boys in six events and six girls in nine events. The top four finishers in each event will compete next weekend in Jefferson City.

"We had an excellent day for both the boys and the girls," Central boys track coach Jerry Dement said. "Everyone got through who we thought had the best chance. Our kids had the best performances of the year so far."

Webb took first place in the long jump at 17 feet, 10 inches. She set a school record in the 200, but took second place with a time of :25.2. She also took second in the 100 with a time of :12.2.

Also setting a school record was freshman Brittany Ballard in the 3,200 with a time of 11:44. She took second.

Sophomore Heather Jenkins qualified in two events, the shot put and the discus. Jenkins took first in the discus with a toss of 144-0, just inches shy of the school record. She took second in the shot put at 38-8.

Courtney Haman took first in the high jump with a leap of 5-6.

Marisa Uzoaru also qualified in the high jump, taking third at 5-5, while taking fourth in the triple jump at 34-10 3/4.

Kim Pancoast, another freshman, took fourth in the 1,600 at 5:31.

"We all had a pretty good day," Central girls coach Lawrence Brookins said. "And they all have a good chance to score in the top eight at state."

For the boys, Central had four second-place finishes and a pair of thirds.

Chris Allen took second in the long jump at 21-10; Craig Knoth took second in the shot at 49-11 1/2; Lee Schlitt took second in the pole vault at 13-0; and Demetrius Totten took second in the 400 with a personal record :50.1.

Taking thirds for the Tigers were Jeff Thiele with a personal-best 152-0 in the discus and Steve Criddle with a :10.8 in the 100.

Jackson qualifies athletes in four events.

On the boys side at Lafayette, Harith Jones was the only qualifier, taking second in the high jump at 6-4.

For Jackson's girls, the 4x800 relay team of Sara Stiegemeyer, Annie Stoverink, Christy Thoma and Carol Koenig took third at 9:52. Jennifer Love took fourth in the 300 hurdles at :45.8 and Casey Jones high jumped 5-2 for fourth.

"We had a lot of good performances," Jackson coach Bob Sink said. "We had a lot of fifth-place finishes. Unfortunately, you only want fourths or better."

CLASS 3A

DESLOGE -- Perryville's Jared Tanz took first place in the 800-meter run and was part of two state-qualifying relay teams as the Pirates had an impressive showing at the Class 3A sectional hosted by North County Saturday.

Tanz ran the 800 in 1:59.

"He hasn't been beat all year in that event and I hope that holds true at state," said Perryville coach Craig Knaak.

The 4x800 tandem of Nathan Davis, Nathan Moore, James Boice and Tanz finished second with a time of 8:18.

Tanz teamed up with Josh Boxdorfer, Matt Jenkins and Shawn Statler to take fourth in the 4x100 with a school-record time of :44.18.

"It was the first time in the record books that we've taken a 4x100 squad to state," Knaak said.

Moore finished second, while Davis took fourth in the 3,200. Moore ran the race in 10:28.76. Davis finished in 10:40.

For Perryville's girls, Renee Schlichting finished third in the 800 at 2:29.07 and joined Jen Brotherton, Julie Berkbuegler and Jen Hadler on the 4x800 team which took third with a time of 10:07.10.