Groves picks up first state track title early

Scott City's Loren Groves no longer has to worry about when -- and if -- her first state track and field championship will come.

Groves, a junior, set the Class 2 state meet record on her second throw in the discus finals Friday in Jefferson City. Groves' throw of 143-11 delivered her first state title after several second-place finishes. The throw beat the old state meet mark of 137-0 set in 2001. Groves' throw also beat her nearest competitor by 18 feet.

Groves continued her strong first-day performance by putting up the top preliminary time in the 100 hurdles and the second-best preliminary time in the 300 hurdles.

Also on the first day, Scott City's Angie Laxton placed 13th in the 3,200 (13:19.70), and the Rams' 3,200 relay team finished 15th (10:51.01). Kacie Cartwright and Joe Brunner failed to move on to the finals in their events for Scott City.

Vandeven advances in three events for Chaffee

Chaffee's Jennifer Vandeven qualified for the finals in all three of her events at the Class 1 state meet in Jefferson City.

Vandeven posted the third-best time in the 100, was fourth in the 200 preliminaries and finished seventh in the 400 preliminaries.

Chaffee's Amy Holmes finished 10th in the high jump (5-8), Sid Burks placed 13th in the high jump (5-8), Lindsey Everett finished 14th in the 3,200 (14:10.20) and Nicole Poe was 16th in the shot put (26-10 1/2). Chaffee's 400 relay team failed to qualify for the finals, as did Brandon Davis in the 300 hurdles.

Central swimmers post their season-best times

Central's 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams had season-best times at the state girls swim meet in St. Peters, Mo.

Katie Maginel, Cassie Kipper, Hannah Lewis and Sarah Goeke made up the 200 (1:49.57) and 400 (4:00.29) relay teams that finished 29th and 25th, respectively. Kipper also placed 34th in both the 200 (2:07.06) and 500 (5:48.30) free's.

Jackie Erlacker will compete in the diving events today.

-- From staff reports