Jacksons overcome tragedy, lead Central athletes to state meet

Central sisters Nicole and Roxanne Jackson were able to overcome personal tragedy to help lead the Tigers to four event victories Saturday at a Class 4 sectional track and field meet at Farmington High School.

Nicole and Roxanne Jackson's mother passed away on Thursday, just two days before the sectional meet.

Nicole Jackson won the 100- and 200-meter runs and also teamed with Nadia Cox, Dani Gross and younger sister Roxanne Jackson on the first-place 400 and 800 relay squads.

"I'm extremely proud of those girls," Central coach Lawrence Brookins said. "Nicole especially was dominant in her open events, and she helped us in our relays. Roxanne helped in the relays, too. They made us proud."

Central qualified for the state meet in all four relays, finishing in the top two in three relays.

The top four finishers in each sectional event earn a berth in the state competition, which will take place Friday and Saturday in Jefferson City, Mo.

While Jackson was the lone individual winner for the Tigers, several other members of Central's girls team will compete for a state title.

Emma Porter placed second in the pole vault, and Brianna Egbuka (shot put) and Brittany Moreland (1,600) earned third-place finishes for Central. Tiffany Mead qualified with a fourth-place finish in the 400.

"Every girl we took today will be on the van we take to Jefferson City," Brookins said. "Some will be as alternates, but even with that it's pretty exciting."

Jackson wins titles

For Jackson, Rachel Kahle qualified for the state meet in four events. Kahle, a junior, won the triple jump, was second in the 100 and 200 runs and placed fourth in the long jump.

"She's got an opportunity to place in four," Jackson coach Bob Sink said. "She has a better chance in some than others. Probably the two best right now are the 100 and triple jump."

The Indians' Amanda Peiffer won the discus and Katelynn James placed fourth in the event for Jackson. Peiffer also finished fourth in the shot put.

"We did basically what we thought we would," Sink said. "The ones we're taking [to state] have a shot, that's always good."

On the boys side, Central's Tyler Terry won both the long jump and triple jump with personal-best jumps and ran in the 400 relay, and Matt Willingham was third in the pole vault for the Tigers. Central's 400 relay team took third, and Chase Johnson (800) and John Kipper (3,200) each placed fourth.

"Tyler always helps us out in so many different ways," Brookins said. "He's a very consistent guy."

State qualifiers

BOYS

Pole vault -- 2. Matt Willingham (C), 14-6

Long jump -- 1. Tyler Terry (C), 21-9 1/2

Triple jump -- 1. Terry (C), 46-8

400 relay -- 3. Central (Hykeem Hammonds, Terry, Anwar Glenn, Kadeem Hammonds), 43.66

800 -- 4. Chase Johnson (C), 1:58.17

3,200 -- 4. John Kipper (C), 9:42.71

GIRLS

Pole vault -- 2. Emma Porter (C), 10-0

Long jump -- 4. Rachel Kahle (J), 16-11

Triple jump -- 1. Kahle (J), 36-0

Discus -- 1. Amanda Peiffer (J), 118-08; 4. Katelynn James (J), 100-02

Shot put -- 3. Brianna Egbuka (C), 37-06; 4. Peiffer (J), 34-11 1/2

3,200 relay -- 2. Central (Linnea Woldtvedt, Gina Yarbrough, Rachel Burchyett, Brittany Moreland), 9:53.74

100 -- 1. Nicole Jackson (C), 12.28; 2. Kahle (J), 12.36

800 relay -- 1. Central (N. Jackson, Nadia Cox, Roxanne Jackson, Dani Gross), 1:43.85

1,600 -- 3. Moreland (C), 5:06.78

400 relay -- 1. Central (N. Jackson, Cox, R. Jackson, Gross), 49.16

400 -- 4. Tiffany Mead (C), 1:00.9

200 -- 1. N. Jackson (C), 25.30; 2. Kahle (J), 25.64

1,600 relay -- 4. Central (Mead, Woldtvedt, Lisa Langenfeld, Renee Moreland), 4:09.87