PREP TRACK SEASON ENTERS THE BLOCKS; CAPE CENTRAL BOASTS NEW FACILITY

Armed with a brand-new facility and five consecutive district titles, Cape Girardeau Central High's track and field program again will look to make plenty of noise this season.

Central's boys and girls each are riding a string of five straight district and SEMO Conference championships. And this year, for the first time in a long while, they won't have to leave school and use Southeast Missouri State University's facility for meets and practices.

"Our new track is really nice and it's been a real benefit to our program," said Central coach Jerry Dement. "Now we can walk right out the back door and practice. We're proud of it and really appreciative of all the people who helped make it possible."

Central is just one of several local track squads entering the season with high hopes. Following is a look at some of those teams.

Cape Central

Both Central teams again figure to be conference and district favorites as they feature plenty of talent and depth. More than 100 athletes are participating in the program.

"We've got a nice run going and we've built up a good tradition, something the kids really take pride in," said Dement. "Hopefully we can continue it. If things go right, both teams should have a good chance (to win conference and district again)."

Central's boys feature seven returning state qualifiers, although none of them were able to place in last year's state meet.

The entire state-qualifying 4x100-meter relay team of seniors Chris Allen, Emmanuel Harris and Steve Criddle, along with junior Ross Conner, returns.

Criddle, Harris and junior Demetrius Totten are back off both the state 4x200 and 4x400 squads while sophomores Gabe Austin and Mark Stone return from the state 4x800 group.

Allen also qualified for state in the long jump.

Among other athletes, many of them returnees, who figure to be solid are seniors Demarco Williams (throws), Lee Schlitt (pole vault) and Craig Knoth (throws); juniors Clay Willis (throws), Jeff Thiele (throws); Cory Lewis (hurdles), Mark Barylski (sprints) and Donnie McClinton (sprints); and sophomores Ross Tilghman (distance), Justin Hawkins (distance), Casey Dwyre (pole vault), Jon Lowrance (middle distance), O.J. Turner (hurdles) and Michael Cox (hurdles).

"We have some holes to fill, but I think we can have a very successful season," said Dement, who primarily works with the boys squad.

Central's girls, which tied for 15th at the 4A state meet last year, could really be loaded as several state-placers return.

"We should have an awfully good year," said girls coach Lawrence Brookins. "We've got strength in most areas and a lot of depth."

The Lady Tigers' list of returning state-placers is led by junior standout Dionna Webb, who finished second in the long jump with a school-record leap of 18 feet 2 1/2 inches. She placed eighth in the 100-meters at state while also qualifying in the 200 and 4x400 relay.

Senior Marissa Uzoaru was eighth in the triple jump while the 4x800 relay team placed eighth and set a school record.

Back off the 4x800 group are seniors Myka Bohnsack and Sarah Chaudhari, who was also on the 4x400. Bohnsack also qualified for state in the 3,200 as she set a school record.

Other returning state qualifiers are senior Courtney Haman in the high jump and sophomore Heather Jenkins in the shot put.

Among many others Brookins expects to be solid are seniors Leeanne Lee (distance), Bonquita Cox (sprints, jumps) and Heather Duschell (throws); juniors Amanda Hutteger (distance), Katie Kunz (distance) and Elizabeth Meyr (distance); sophomore Bethany Hicks (distance); and freshmen Brittany Ballard (distance), Rachael Sprigg (distance) and Kim Pancoast (distance).

"We've got a lot of very good distance runners and a lot of freshmen are looking good," Brookins said.

Central's teams open the season Tuesday at home against Sikeston.

Jackson

Jackson will field young squads this season, but coach Bob Sink believes his teams will have enough talent to be competitive.

"We're real young with both groups, particularly the boys," he said. "But I think we've got some potential and we've got some kids who can do well."

Jackson boys return just one state qualifier in senior Kevin Bricknell, who just missed placing in the high jump by finishing ninth.

Other senior returnees Sink will be counting on are Matt Hale (sprints), Blake Pope (distance), Zach Fulenwider (throws), Harith Jones (jumps) and John Cotilla (throws).

Among others back from last season are juniors Chris Freeman (hurdles) and Jason Jones (jumps); and sophomores Jonathan Coleman (hurdles), Todd Shelton (400) and Tim Spradlin (throws).

"There's some potential there, but we're untested and young," Sink said. "We've also got about 25 freshmen, which is our biggest freshmen group in a while. Some of them could help us."

As on the boys side, six seniors will look to spark the girls, including several who have been key contributors since they were freshmen. The Lady Indians had no state qualifiers last year.

Seniors for the Lady Indians are Holly Collier (sprints), Sarah Stiegemeyer (distance), Annie Stoverink (distance), Christy Thoma (distance), Sarah Strack (hurdles) and Kasie Jones (jumps). Jones did not compete last year but barely missed making state as both a freshmen and sophomore.

Among juniors being counted on are Beth Becker (middle distance), Megan Kuntze (sprints), Jennifer Love (hurdles, jumps) and Jannine Love (sprints, jumps).

Jennifer Love just missed qualifying for state in both hurdles last year as she was named the Lady Indians' outstanding athlete.

Several sophomores figure to contribute, including Lindsey Meyr (jumps, sprints), Heidi Jansen (throws) and Sarah Propst (hurdles). Meyr set the school long jump record last year as a freshman.

"Our girls should be pretty competitive if they really get after it," said Sink.

Jackson's teams begin the new season March 30 with a home quad meet featuring Kelly, Fredericktown and Dexter.

Scott City

According to coach Terry Flannigan, Scott City's teams will be somewhat depleted because several seniors decided not to return for their final seasons.

"We're not going to be near as strong as I thought we'd be," said Flannigan. "Quite a few seniors didn't come out."

Scott City's boys return several state qualifiers, including junior standout Matt Underwood, one of the area's top sprinters. Underwood qualified for the state meet in the 100 and 200 and he also ran anchor legs on the Rams' 4x200 and 4x100 relay teams that placed seventh and eighth, respectively.

"Matt should be our strength," said Flannigan. "He's a good one."

Others returning off the 4x200 relay team are seniors Lance Amick, Brandon Amick and Travis Burger. The Amicks are also back off the 4x100 squad.

Senior Dale Burger qualified for state last year in the pole vault while senior Taylor Goodale is another returning pole vaulter.

Flannigan said the Rams will also be counting on freshmen sprinters Bradley Glenn and Andrew Estes.

On the girls side, there are no returning state qualifiers. But talent returns in the form of seniors Tara Phillips (sprints, hurdles), Crystal Smith (sprints, middle distance) and Lani Bedwell (shot put). The Lady Rams will also look for points from sophomore Ashley Wiggins (jumps, middle distance) and freshman Dana Essner (sprints, middle distance).

"Both teams are kind of unproven," Flannigan said. "We've got a lot of question marks, but hopefully some of the younger kids will contribute."

Scott City opens the season Monday at Chaffee.

Chaffee

Both Chaffee teams will be slim in numbers but should have several competitive athletes.

The boys, with 13 squad members, return two state qualifiers in senior Andy Proffer and junior Andy Obermann. Proffer just missed earning a state medal last year as he was ninth in the high jump. Obermann qualified in the shot put.

Another strong senior is Phillip Groves, the defending conference discus champion.

Among others expected to contribute are junior Josh Baker (sprints), junior Blain Swinford (sprints), sophomore Rocky Portell (sprints, hurdles) and freshman Chase Eskew (middle distance).

"We won't have much depth, but we should have some kids who are pretty competitive," said boys coach Terry Glenzy.

Chaffee's girls squad numbers just 11 and two have been out with injuries, but coach Larry Cleair is hopeful of some solid results.

"We're slim in numbers, but I think we'll have some competitive individuals," he said.

Leading a three-person senior group is Kate Nolen, who just missed qualifying for state in the shot put last year by finishing third in the district meet.

Other seniors are Stevie Burks (jumps) and Jennifer Finley (sprints).

Juniors are led by Kia Hampton (distance), Casey Hampton (middle distance), Kristen Bailey (throws), Heather Anglin (throws) and Jill Little (sprints).

Among the sophomores are Amanda Mott (sprints), Jodi Pfefferkorn (throws) and Courtney Harris (sprints).

Chaffee will host a season-opening meet Monday.

Perryville

Led by a strong senior group, Perryville's teams figure to be solid in 1999.

"We've got a pretty good senior base and we're looking for good things," said coach Craig Knaak. "We've got a lot of competition within the team, which is always good."

Perryville's boys return a pair of state qualifiers in seniors Jared Tanz and Nathan Davis. Tanz was third in the 800 last year while he and Davis competed on the 4x800 relay team that finished fourth.

Knaak will be looking for junior James Boyce and sophomore Nathan Moore to fill in on the 4x800 squad for two graduated members.

The Pirates will also be counting on the likes of senior Jason Rhyne, who pole-vaulted 14 feet last year but suffered a late injury that kept him from having a shot at qualifying for the state meet; senior jumper Josh Boxdorfer; senior sprinter Matt Jenkins; and junior sprinter Shawn Statler.

On the girls side, Perryville returns one state qualifier in senior Tiffany Perkins, who just missed out on a top-eight performance in the discus last year.

Others expected to bolster the Lady Pirates are seniors Jen Hadler (distance), Julie Berkbuegler (jumps), Jill Berkbuegler (jumps) and Jenny Danz (distance); junior Renee Schlichting (distance); and freshmen Jen Brotherton (distance) and Katie Kutz (distance).

Perryville will open the season Saturday by hosting an 11-team meet.

Kelly

Kelly's boys and girls both captured district titles last year and, despite losing some standouts to graduation, coach Bill Davis is again looking for good things.

"We're going to go for it (district titles) again," he said. "It's going to be tough, but we're hoping to be either first or second."

Kelly's boys return a host of key competitors, including seven of eight spots on state-qualifying relay teams from last year.

Seniors Joby Berry, Lucas Choate, Nathen King and C.O. Scheffer all were on the 4x800 squad that placed third in the state. King, Scheffer and senior Daniel Mothershead all competed on the 4x400 squad that did not place at state.

King was fifth in the 800 at last year's state meet while Choate placed eighth in the 3,200.

Davis also has high hopes for freshman Ashley Hahn, who was among Kelly's top seven cross country runners last fall.

On the girls side, Kelly lost six standout seniors but the Lady Hawks do return several key competitors.

Junior Jenny Riley, the school record-holder in the 1,600, was fifth in that event at last year's state meet.

Senior Natalie Robert was a conference champion in four events and a district champ in three. She competed at state in the 200 and on the 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.

Senior distance runner April Cousins is a returning state qualifier, as is sophomore middle-distance runner Megan Nelson.

Junior Hannah Moore won a conference championship in the discus while junior middle-distance runner Tabitha Shankle was a three-time conference champ.

Kelly begins the season Friday at Chaffee.