JENKINS BREAKS CAPE CENTRAL DISCUS RECORD

EUREKA, Mo. -- Cape Central's Heather Jenkins established a new school record in the discus at the Class 4A state sectional meet Saturday.

Jenkins' launch of 147 feet, 5 inches bettered Laura Lukens' old mark of 145-8.

"That's awesome," Cape Central coach Lawrence Brookins said. "She had one of the coaches from another team come up to her and shake her hand and said he had never seen a girl throw the discus that far."

Jenkins also took first place in the shot put with a toss of 40-10.

Jenkins was one of a handful of Cape Central and Jackson athletes who finished in the top four and advanced to state.

Central's girls didn't have as many qualifiers as hoped, but Lanie Bohnsack took second in the high jump at 5-0 and the 4x800 relay team of Kim Pancoast, Whitney Pingel, Amanda Hutteger and Rachel Sprigg took first place in 9:50.

On the boys' side for Central, the 4x800 team of Ross Tilghman, Gabe Austin, Mark Stone and Trevor Duncan finished first in 8:03. Jeremiah Dukes took second in the triple jump at 43-6 and Michael Cox took fourth in the 110 high hurdles in 15.2.

Jackson had qualifiers in four events.

Stuart McIntosh was the only state qualifier on the boys side for the Indians. He took first place in the pole vault at 14-6.

Lindsey Meyr took second in the long jump at 16-11 and Heidi Jansen took second in the shot put at 38-9 1/2. Jackson's 4x400 team of Meyr, Jeanna Bolen, Rachel Smith and Jessica Venable finished second in 4:05.

"We had a lot of fifths," Jackson coach Bob Sink said. "But you'd just as soon be last as fifth. But it wasn't due to lack of effort. We had some of our best efforts of the year."

Class 3A sectional

UNION, Mo. -- Perryville set four school records and Susan Miller qualified for state in four events in the 3A sectional.

Miller established a school record in the 400 and took first place in 59.02. She also helped lead the 4x400 team (Sara Lappe, Emily Amberger and Gina Buerck) to a school record and a third-place finish in 1:59.02. Miller also qualified in the 100 (fourth, 12.68) and the 200 (second, 26.3).

On the boys side, Perryville's 4x100 and 4x200 teams of Andy Crannick, Jesse Whistler, Kyle Dobbelare and Kevin Bohnert established school records. The Pirates ran the 400 relay in 44.07 and the 800 relay in 1:32.23.

Crannick advanced to state with a first place finish in the long jump (21-5 3/4).

Nathan Moore, Brian Hadler, Jacob Schneider and Kent Hadler took second in the 4x800 in 8:14.

SWIMMING

Owen takes fourth

ST. PETERS, Mo. -- Cape Central's Mary Beth Owen ended her brilliant high school career Saturday with a fourth-place finish in the 500 freestyle at the state swimming meet.

She finished in 5:13.02.

"She's had an outstanding career for us," Central coach Dayna Powell said. "She's been a big contributor all four years. It's good to know she'll be swimming next year at college."

Owen, who will be swimming at Drury College, owns three school records and has been a state qualifier in at least one event in each of her four years of high school.

She battled a stress fracture in her leg most of this season.

Lafayette won the state title, followed by Marquette, Parkway South and Glendale.

Neither of Central's divers, Sara Sprigg or Becky Keller, advanced to the scoring round.

Notre Dame's top finisher was Lindsey Meyr, who took 17th in both the 200 and 500 freestyles but did not advance to Saturday's consolation final. Ali Tyson and two relays also competed but also did qualify for Saturday's finals.