Inexperienced Central ready to make noise

~ The Tigers send five individuals and two relays to state.

Central may not have a returning state champion heading with it to the Class 3 and 4 state track and field championships today -- last year's 200-meter winner Nicole Jackson did not come out for the team this year -- but that does not mean the Tigers won't come home with a first-place medal.

Returning all-state seniors Tyler Terry (triple jump), Brianna Egbuka (shot put) and Matt Willingham (pole vault) will all take their shots at a first state title this weekend.

Terry is the top returning competitor for the Tigers. He was runner-up at the state meet in the triple jump and long jump last year. Despite a disappointing fifth-place finish in the long jump at the sectional meet, Terry won the triple jump at the meet.

"If he has a good day, he can win the thing," Central coach Lawrence Brookins said.

Egbuka was seventh last year in the shot put and will compete in both the shot put and discus this weekend. A throw of 42 feet, 7 3/4 inches won the shot put last year.

Heading into the state meet Egbuka has thrown 42-2. Heather Jenkins, who went on to star at Southeast Missouri State, holds the Tigers' record with a throw of 42-9 1/2.

"She's got a real good shot," Brookins said. "I would tell you her No. 1 goal is to make the event finals in each event first. Her second goal would be to beat the school record."

Jackson senior Amanda Peiffer and freshman Jill Rushin will join Egbuka in the Class 4 shot put and discus events.

Willingham was on his way to becoming one of the favorites in the pole vault this season until a late-season injury hampered his chances. A jump of 13-6 -- the same height that earned Willingham an eighth-place medal last year -- got Willingham into the state meet. Willingham had previously vaulted 15-0 during the season.

"If he wasn't hurt, I'd say you're looking at a potential state champion, but with the injury I think you're potentially still looking at an all-state high finish," Brookins said.

Junior middle distance runner Chase Johnson is also making a return trip to the state meet. He finished 13th in the 800 last year, but won the sectional Saturday in a season-best time of 1 minute, 57.42 seconds.

"I expect something really good to happen for Chase in the 800," Brookins said. "He took roughly two seconds off his time [at sectionals], and it's realistic he could shave another second or second and a half off his time, which could put him in the top five at state."

Jackson senior Rachel Kahle will conclude her decorated career by competing in the 100, 200, triple jump and long jump at the state meet. Kahle was sixth in both the 100 and 200 last year.

In Class 3, Perryville senior Brittney Castleberry will compete in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, triple jump and long jump. Castleberry was all-state in the 100 hurdles last year.

Notre Dame thrower Matt Kiblinger won the sectional in the discus and could be an all-state contender in the event for the Bulldogs.