Local athletes seek peak results at state meet

~ Central, Jackson, Perryville and Notre Dame will be represented at the two-day meet.

Central junior jumper Tyler Terry thinks he knows what it will take to win a state title in his main event, the triple jump.

Terry figures it will take a jump of more than 48 feet, a distance he has yet to hit in a meet.

The returning all-state triple jumper is hoping the big jump comes this weekend when the Class 3 and 4 state track and field championship gets underway today at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City.

"Honestly, probably 48 feet and some change," Terry said.

Ramon Sparks, who got second last year, jumped 48 feet, 1/4 inch at last weekend's sectionals.

"If I get on the board, straighten my arms out, and if I can get those down and get some more speed I should be fine," Terry said.

Warm weather at the sectional meet last week helped Terry post a personal-best jump of 46 feet, 8 inches. Last year at the state meet Terry jumped 45-5 1/4 to finish third.

"At the sectional it was warmer and I was feeling it," Terry said.

Along with his sectional title in the triple jump Terry also claimed first in the long jump. Terry had a personal-best jump of 21-9 1/2. Last year Terry did not qualify in the long jump.

"I'd like to get all-state in both those events," Terry said. "The triple jump's been my main event, but the long jump is starting to be there too."

Last year Terry also competed in the 400 and 800 relays at the state meet, earning all-state honors in the former event. Central, which has once again qualified in the 400 relay, has shuffled its sprint relays all year around Terry and Hykeem Hammonds, with injuries and discipline issues leading to varied combinations.

Terry, Hykeem Hammonds, Kadeem Hammonds and Anwar Glenn will run at state.

"I'm not giving up on anything," Terry said. "We've had a lot of injuries and other things happen. Still, me and Hykeem have just stepped up no matter who we've run with. I'm sure they'll [Kadeem Hammonds and Glenn] step up like they always do."

Another all-state contender on the boys side is junior pole vaulter Matt Willingham, who finished second at the sectional with a vault of 14 feet, six inches. Willingham has cleared 15 feet once this season.

On the girls side, all eyes will be on returning all-state sprinter Nicole Jackson, who is the top returning 200-meter runner in Class 2. Jackson set a new school record in the event this season in 24.7 seconds. Jackson also will compete in the 100, an event she set a school record in this season as well in 11.88 seconds. The winning times at state in the 100 and 200 last year were 11.95 and 24.71, respectively.

Jackson's concentration level could understandably be an area of concern following the death of her mother. Jackson's mother passed away just two days prior to Saturday's sectional meet, but she and her sister, Roxanne, both competed at the sectional and qualified for the state meet. Nicole won both the 100 and 200.

"We're just hoping our two sisters can emotionally get through these last few days of track and field," Central coach Lawrence Brookins said. "It's tough."

The team of Nicole Jackson, Roxanne Jackson, Nadia Cox and Dani Gross will compete in both the 400 and 800 relays this weekend. The same group qualified last year in both events but did not medal.

"They've got a good chance to finish in the medals," Brookins said.

Central's girls will also run the 1,600 and 3,200 relays this weekend. Brianna Egbuka (shot put), Brittany Moreland (1,600) and Emma Porter (pole vault) should be in contention for all-state medals as well.

Kahle leads Jackson contingent

Jackson junior Rachel Kahle's quest to earn all-state honors in four events will be decided this weekend. Kahle qualified in the 100, 200, triple jump and long jump at the sectional meet. This is the first year Kahle has competed in the triple jump and long jump.

"I really think she's got a good chance to place in the 100 and 200, and I think she has an excellent shot in the triple jump," Jackson coach Bob Sink said. "She's going to have to jump a littler better in the long jump [to place]."

Kahle earned all-state honors in both the 100 and 400 relay last year and also competed at the state meet in the 800 relay. At the sectional meet, Kahle finished second to Central's Nicole Jackson in both the 100 and 200. Kahle ran the 100 in 12.36 seconds and the 200 in 25.64 seconds.

"If she runs 25 seconds and change she'll be in the top eight in the 200, and if she runs 12.2 in the 100 she'll be in the top eight," Sink said.

Those are times Kahle has surpassed this season.

Jackson throwers Amanda Peiffer and Katelynn James will also make the trip. Peiffer and James finished one-two, respectively, in the discus at the sectional meet, and Peiffer will also compete in the shot put.

"Both our discus throwers can place," Sink said. "They're going to have to hit their marks, that's the big thing. But that's the way it ought to be in any competition. To be a winner you ought to have your A game."

Class 3 competition

In Class 3, Perryville's boys should contend for all-state honors in the 1,600 and 3,200 relays. The Pirates were all-state in both events last year, placing fourth in the 3,200 relay. The Pirates blazed their trail to the state meet in each event by putting up season-best times at the sectional meet. Perryville's 1,600 relay time of 3:27.17 ranked second all-time at the school.

Notre Dame sophomore Mark Zimmer, who will run in the 400, is the lone Notre Dame state qualifier.

Perryville junior Brittney Castleberry is the lone Class 3 girls qualifier. Castleberry won both the 100 and 300 hurdles at the district and sectional meets. Last week Castleberry set school records en route to winning the hurdle events.

State qualifiers

Central

Boys: Tyler Terry (long jump, triple jump); Chase Johnson (800); Matt Willingham (pole vault); Hykeem Hammonds (400 relay); Kadeem Hammonds (400 relay); Anwar Glenn (400 relay)

Girls: Nicole Jackson (100, 200, 400 relay, 800 relay); Tiffany Mead (400, 1,600 relay); Brianna Egbuka (shot put); Brittany Moreland (1,600, 3,200 relay); Emma Porter (pole vault); Linnea Woldtvedt (3,200 relay, 1,600 relay); Rachel Burchyett (3,200 relay); Gina Yarbrough (3,200 relay); Lisa Langenfeld (1,600 relay); Renee Moreland (1,600 relay); Nadia Cox (400 relay, 800 relay); Dani Gross (400 relay, 800 relay)

Jackson

Girls: Rachel Kahle (100, 200, triple jump, long jump); Amanda Peiffer (shot put, discus); Katelynn James (discus)

Perryville

Boys: Jesse Kueker (3,200 relay, 1,600 relay); Jacob Hayden (3,200 relay, 1,600 relay); Adam Westmoreland (1,600 relay); Kris Cottner (1,600 relay); Kyle Bert (3,200 relay); Ryan Regelsperger (3,200 relay); Josh Hayden (110 hurldes)

Girls: Brittney Castleberry (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles)

Notre Dame

Boys: Mark Zimmer (400)