JENKINS LEADS CHS CONTINGENT TO STATE

There were two local track athletes with odds-on chances to place high at this weekend's Class 4A state meet in Jefferson City, Mo.

One will be there; the other will not.

At the 2000 state championship, Cape Girardeau Central scored 20 points, while Jackson had nine. Heather Jenkins produced 12 of Central's 20, while Mario Whitney accounted for all of Jackson's points.

CLASS 4A

Whitney, the Indian's stellar junior sprinter, has been bothered by a hamstring injury which forced him out of the sectional qualifying round, thereby nixing his shot at returning to compete with the state's best. He took third place in the 100 meters and a sixth in the 200 at state last year.

Jenkins, however, is a favorite to medal in both the shot put and discus in her third trip to state. Last year, she placed second in the discus with a toss of 137-2 and fifth in the shot put at 39-9.25. Jenkins, a senior, had a school-record discus throw of 147-5 in the sectional meet on May 19, which would have easily surpassed the winning throw in last year's state meet (139-1).

Jenkins' biggest threat will likely come from Marquette junior Amaracni Ukabam, who took first in the shot and third in the discus as a sophomore. She has a discus throw of 161-6 this season, second-best in the nation.

Other Cape Central participants on the girls side will be Lanie Bohnsack in the high jump and the winning sectional 4x800 relay team of Kim Pancoast, Whitney Pingel, Amanda Hutteger and Rachel Sprigg.

Making the trip to Jefferson City for the Central boys will be the 4x800 relay team of Ross Tilghman, Gabe Austin, Mark Stone and Trevor Duncan, who qualified at sectional with a winning time of 8-minutes, 3 seconds. Jeremiah Dukes, with a personal best of over 44 feet, could pose a threat in the triple jump. An improving Michael Cox will participate in the 110 high hurdles.

"If our kids can maintain their composure and enjoy themselves, have some fun, we can do well," said Cape Central coach Lawrence Brookins. "It doesn't take long to realize that you're not at a dual meet in Sikeston. If they can handle the environment, the Show' I like to call it, then they'll be all right."

Jackson pole vaulter Stuart McIntosh, who topped sectional qualifiers with a vault of 14-6, is the only representative for the Indian boys. That height would have gained a fourth-place finish at state last year.

But McIntosh, who missed all of the first half of the season with injuries, reinjured a hip flexor at the sectional meet and his status is questionable.

"He's definitely going," said Jackson coach Bob Sink. "He earned the right to go up there and we'll just have to see how it feels after he warms up."

The Lady Indians' state-bound athletes are Lindsey Meyr in the long jump (season-best of 17-7) and Heidi Jansen in the shot put, along with the 4x400 relay team of Meyr, Jeanna Bolen, Rachel Smith and Jessica Venable.

"We're not taking any dead weight to state," said Sink. "I think all these athletes have a legitimate chance to finish in the top eight."

CLASS 3A

A fairly large contingent of athletes will represent Perryville High School in the state 3A track meet.

"We're taking 13 athletes into the state championships," said Perryville girls coach Joe Dandridge. "We're confident that all of them have a good chance to be all-state performers."

Susan Miller, a qualifier in four events -- the 100, 200, 400 and 4x400 relay -- leads the group. A decision on which events Miller, a senior, will actually compete in at state has yet to be determined. Undoubtedly, the 400 will be included, as she is undefeated in the event and possesses the fourth-best time in the state (59.02). Her teammates on the relay are Sara Lappe, Emily Amberger and Gina Buerck.

The Pirates' boys 4x100 and 4x200 relay team composed of Andy Crannick, Jesse Whistler, Kyle Dobbelare and Kevin Bohnert advanced with school-record times -- 44.07 in the 400, 1:32.23 in the 800 -- at the sectional meet.

Bohnert will also compete in the 100, while Crannick will participate in the long jump. Crannick took first place at sectionals with a leap of 21-5.75 and has a personal best of 21-10.

The team of Nathan Moore, Brian Hadler, Jacob Schneider and Kent Hadler will participate in the 4x800 relay.