LUKENS' BEST `SHOT' GOOD ENOUGH FOR 4A STATE TITLE

JEFFERSON CITY -- Cape Girardeau Central High senior Laura Lukens "shot" to the top at the Missouri Class 4A Track and Field Championships Friday.

With a throw of 40-9 in the finals of the shot put, Lukens bettered the field by nearly two feet in winning her first state championship in the event.

Lukens finished fourth in the event last year and was rated fifth among the state throwers after Friday's preliminary round. She saved her best for last as two of her three throws were better than those of the seven other competitors in the finals.

"She really handled the pressure well," said Cape Central coach Jerry Dement. "She threw her best when it really counted. She rose to the occasion in the finals."

Lukens, who returned to Cape Girardeau for graduation Friday night, will have a chance to add a second state title today in the discus, an event she's rated No. 1 in the state.

"If she has a good day she has a very good chance of being a double winner," said Dement.

Also competing for Central Friday, Elizabeth Kunz finished all-state for a third straight year in the high jump, placing seventh with a jump of 5-2.

Kristen Tallent advanced to today's 400-meter final, clocking a career-best 58.8 in heat competition.

Central's 4x400 relay team, the defending state champions, also qualified for today's final with a school-record time of 3:58.1. The squad, comprised of Tallent, Tosha Smith, Tobi Bittle and Nicole Thiele, placed second in its heat.

"They put themselves in position to win," said Dement.

On the boys' side, Travis Cox equaled his best time ever in qualifying for today's 300 intermediate hurdles final. Cox finished third in his heat in 38.8.