JACKSON GIRL RUNS TO SHOW ME SUCCESS; TAYLOR SANDERS WINS FOUR MEDALS IN COLUMBIA

Running 1500 meters can be a haul for just about anyone.

But six-year-old Taylor Sanders of Jackson appears to have the legs and lungs to handle the distance.

Taylor, the daughter of Dennis and Karen Sanders, won four track medals at the Show Me State Games in Columbia last month. Racing in the six-and-under division, Taylor won two gold medals in the 1500-meter run and walk, a silver in the 100-meter run and a bronze in the 400-meter run.

"She ran all four races the same day," said her father Dennis Sanders. "By the time of her last event (the 400 meters), she was pretty tired."

But, as Taylor has learned, a little fatigue is just part of the sport she loves.

"She likes to run," said her father Dennis Sanders. "She does the road races in the summer and the track events when there's a meet."

Although she's competed in road races such as the Riverfest Run twice, the Show Me Games was the first track event of her short career.

"This is the first year she actually competed in a track meet," said Dennis Sanders. "The Show Me games was her first competitive meet."

Dennis said his daughter's love of running started at age five.

"I was running last year and she kept bugging me to let her run with me," Dennis Sanders said. "We competed in the Riverfest Run and it has just kind of taken off. She seemed to really enjoy it and has wanted to keep doing it.

"It's fun for her and I enjoy running with her. We both have a really good time."

Taylor isn't alone in her love of running. Younger sister Brianne, just four-years-old, has also shown an interest in the sport. They both run for the Jackson Track Club and Brianne competed in her first Riverfest run this year.

In other Show Me Games news:

* Jonathan LeGrand, who will be a senior at Notre Dame High, placed third in the 16-18-year-old boys open golf competition at the Show Me Games.

LeGrand had a score of 73.

* Area results from the Show Me Games should be reported to the Southeast Missourian sports staff at 335-6611.