FOX VAULTS TO TOP OF 4A; CENTRAL SENIOR CAPTURES POLE VAULT CROWN

Cape Girardeau Central High senior Jim Fox has certainly had a couple of exciting days.

Thursday, Fox officially signed a letter of intent to compete in track and field for the University of Tennessee's high profile program.

And Friday, Fox capped a brilliant Central athletic career when he finished first in the pole vault during the opening day of the Class 4A State Track & Field Championships in Jefferson City.

"It's been a good two days," said Fox with a chuckle. "Tennessee is a place I've always wanted to go. They've had the national champions in the pole vault the last couple of years. I got my papers in the mail Thursday so I was fired up."

Fox was just one of several Central athletes who excelled Friday as the two-day state meet got under way. On the girls side, Laura Lukens placed second in the discus while Nichole Thiele was fourth in the long jump and the 4x400-meter relay team set a school record in advancing to today's finals.

The bulk of the events in which Central's boys and girls have athletes entered will be today. That includes two-time defending high-jump champion Jay Meystedt.

As for Fox, he entered the pole-vault competition favored to win the title. And he pretty much breezed, having just one miss total before he topped out at a height of 15 feet 6 inches, which matched his personal best and Central school record that he set a couple of weeks ago.

"I missed once at 14 feet, but that was my only miss," said Fox. "I tried 16 feet but missed all three times. But I thought I vaulted pretty well."

Fox was confident entering the state meet and said he felt little pressure, even though he was the favorite.

"I was confident. I hadn't lost yet this season, so I didn't want to lose," he said. "There was a little bit of pressure, but it probably helped me."

Last year Fox finished second in the state pole vault.

"I was hoping to get it last year, but maybe it was better I didn't," he said. "That was my goal this year, to win state."

Said Central coach Jerry Dement, "Jim just had a super career at Central and it's great to see him go out with a state championship."

Now Fox will get to relax today as he cheers on his Central teammates.

"That's going to be nice," he said.

Meanwhile, Lukens missed out on a state championship, but the junior was more than happy with her second-place performance in the discus. Her distance was a personal-best 130 feet. The champion threw 136 feet.

"I'm thrilled," she said. "I knew there was a lot of tough competition. I was seeded fifth, but I guess I had a good day."

Lukens will also compete in today's shot put, where she is seeded fourth.

Thiele also had a strong performance, leaping 16-11 3/4 to place fourth in the lone jump.

And the Lady Tigers' 4x400 relay team of Kristen Tallent, Thiele, Tosha Smith and Tobie Bittle clocked 4:01 to set a school record and advance to today's finals.

On the boys side, the Tigers' 4x200 relay team of Travis Cox, Marcellus Gross, Diandrai Webb and Diante Sims ran its best time of the year in advancing to today's finals.