CHS TRACK TEAMS ADD TO DISTRICT SUCCESS

JACKSON -- Cape Central's boys and girls track teams were both shooting for their fifth consecutive Class 4A, District 1 titles Saturday under a sunny sky at Jackson's Junior High track.

The Lady Tigers left little doubt about who would claim the girls title, totaling 137 points to easily outscore runner-up Poplar Bluff with 99 points.

"Just taking care of business," said Central coach Jerry Dement with a smile.

The Tigers?

It was a little closer and much more controversial, but the Central boys also came away as team champions by outscoring Poplar Bluff 114-88.

The controversy resulted from contact which caused a Central runner to fall in the boys 4x400 relay -- the final event of the day. Central's Travis Cox and Bluff's Garland Martin were running the final leg of the event and rounding the last turn when the two got their legs tangled.

Cox, who led the entire leg, tumbled to the track while Garland continued to the finish line for what appeared to be a Mules' victory. Cox recovered in time to struggle across the finish line in third.

But two officials ruled the Bluff runner had impeded Cox's progress, causing the Mules to be disqualified from the event and erasing their victory.

"Two curve judges said the Poplar Bluff athlete stepped on the heel of the Cape Central athlete and impeded his progress which by the rules is a violation," said Jackson coach and meet host Bob Sink. "As much as you hate it happening you have to make the call. That's the reason you have those people there."

Poplar Bluff coach Mark Barousse was hardly pleased with the ruling, but did not appeal the decision.

"It's an unfortunate incident," Barousse said, still managing to break a smile, "but there will be bigger hurdles in life for them to jump than that."

Fortunately, the disqualification did not decide the outcome of the boys team standings. Dement, and all the officials involved, were thankful for that.

"I'm glad it didn't because Bluff has a tremendous team," Dement said. "It's a break that happens in sports sometimes. We were in the lead and they tripped us; that's their infraction and unfortunate for them."

Despite the controversy, most everyone agreed is was a fantastic day for the track and field events. A sweltering sun and little shade made things difficult at times for some of the competitors, but the two Cape County teams handled things well.

"This was, by far, the warmest meet weather we've competed in, but our kids did really well," Dement said.

Central girls Kristen Tallent (400 meters), Tobie Bittle (800 meters) and Dionna Webb (200 meters and long jump) all won individual titles. Chris Allen (long jump) won the Tigers' only individual crown. Allen was also second in the triple jump.

Tiger relay teams in the 4x100 and 4x200 also won district titles. The Lady Tigers' 4x800 relay team also won with a school-record time of 9:45.40, breaking the old mark by six seconds. Members of the team are Tallent, Sarah Chaudhari, Myka Bohnsack and Bittle.

"Our teams have a lot of pride and a lot of heart," Dement said. "They expressed their talents out here today, too."

Jackson, which finished fourth in both the boys and girls team standings among the 12 schools competing, also qualified several athletes for the 4A Sectional at Lafayette High in St. Louis next Saturday. The top four finishers in each event move onto the sectional.

"We got the ones out we thought we would get out," Sink said of his sectional qualifiers.

Jackson's boys got individual wins from Kevin Bricknell (high jump) and Nathan Windeknecht (triple jump). The Lady Indians' 4x100 and 4x200 teams also claimed district titles. Members of both teams are Megan Kuntze, Brandi Majka, Lindsey Walker and Lindsey Meyr.

A listing of district results can be found in `Scoreboard' on 2B.