JENKINS TAKES SECOND, SMASHES SCHOOL RECORD

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau Central High School senior Heather Jenkins had the discus throw of her life Friday.

The only thing preventing Jenkins from winning the Class 4A state championship in her specialty was the fact she had to go up against one of the nation's premier throwers.

Jenkins finished second in the discus for the second year in a row, her impressive throw of 152 feet 5 inches bettering her performance of last year by more than 15 feet and coming within 11 inches of the previous state-meet record.

Jenkins also shattered her own previous school record of 147-5, which she had attained at last Saturday's sectional meet.

Marquette's Amarachi Ukabam blistered the state record with a toss of 165-1 that ranks toward the top of the national list.

Jenkins will compete in the shot put today as she looks to better her fifth-place finish from a year ago.

Several other Central athletes, as well as performers from Jackson in 4A and Perryville in 3A, competed Friday as the state meet got under way.

Central's Jeremiah Dukes finished seventh in the triple jump (43-7 1/2) to earn all-state honors. The top eight garner all-state accolades.

Also on the boys side for Central, Michael Cox failed to qualify for the finals in the 110-meter high hurdles. The 4x800 relay team will compete today.

For Central's girls, the 4x800 relay team of Kim Pancoast, Whitney Pingel, Amanda Hutteger and Rachel Sprigg wound up 13th (10:03.35).

The Lady Tigers' Lanie Bohnsack will participate in the high jump today.

Jackson was led by a seventh-place finish from Lindsey Meyr in the long jump (17-3) as she made all-state.

On the boys side for Jackson, Stuart McIntosh was 13th in the pole vault (12-6).

Jackson's 4x400 girls relay team failed to qualify for today's finals while Heidi Jansen will compete in the shot put today.

Perryville had a strong day in the 3A division, namely Susan Miller, who qualified for state in four events and excelled in three of them Friday.

Miller advanced to the finals in both the 400 (59.45, third-best time) and 200 (26.35, fifth-best) and also led the Lady Pirates' 4x400 relay team into the finals (4:07.47, third-best). Miller failed to make the finals in the 100 by one place as she wound up ninth in the qualifying.

For Perryville's boys, Andy Crannick made all-state in the long jump by finishing seventh (20-6 3/4).

Also on the boys side for Perryville, Kevin Bohnert failed to advance in the 100 while the Pirates' 4x100 and 4x200 did not make the finals.