NEW MADRID BOYS, VALLE GIRLS WIN HAWK INVITATIONAL AT WIRE

BENTON -- Extremely high winds Saturday did nothing to detract from exceptionally tight, exciting races in both divisions during the annual Hawk Invitational track and field meet hosted by Kelly High School.

New Madrid County Central squeezed past Charleston to capture the title in the 12-team boys division. The Eagles had 140 points to 136 for the Blue Jays.

Rounding out the top five were Ste. Genevieve Valle (71.75), Kelly (66.75) and Ste. Genevieve (57).

On the girls side, which featured 11 teams, defending Class 1A state champion Valle won by the narrowest of margins over Charleston. The Lady Warriors had 109.5 points to 109 for the Lady Jays.

Kelly (102) was also very much in the hunt for the crown while Ste. Genevieve (93) and New Madrid (84) rounded out the top five.

"It was very windy but both divisions were extremely competitive," said Kelly coach and meet director Bill Davis. "The girls meet was really tight. Our girls did a super job. For the boys, New Madrid and Charleston were both very tough."

New Madrid's Derrick Duncan earned the meet's most valuable performer award on the boys side as he won three individual events: the 110-meter hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles and the long jump. He helped account for 28 points.

Charleston's Adrian Rodgers was a double individual winner as he captured the 200 and 400 dashes.

Kelly's boys got a pair of first-place performances, from Nathen King in the 800 and from the 4x800 relay team of Joby Berry, Lucas Choate, C.O. Sheffer and King.

On the girls side, Charleston's Patricia Tate claimed MVP honors as she helped account for 29 1/2 points. Tate won the 400.

Kelly's girls got victories from Jenny Riley in the 1600, Amy Arteme in the 3200 and the 4x800 relay team of Arteme, Riley, April Cousins and Tabitha Shankle.

Complete results of the meet appear in `Scoreboard' on 2B.