Sprint relays provide boost for Jackson

MANCHESTER, Mo. -- Jackson senior Rebecca Martin and sophomore Rachel Kahle combined individual championships with strong relay races to help lead the Indians at the Class 4 sectional meet Saturday at Parkway South.

Martin won the shot put and ran legs on the state-qualifying 400 and 800 relays. Kahle won the 100 and ran on both relays.

The top four finishers in each event qualified for the state meet which begins Friday in Jefferson City.

After dominating Southeast Missouri in the sprint relays, Jackson will try to make its mark at the state meet this year. The Indians were shut out of all-state honors in both relays last year at the state meet.

Martin said she thinks Jackson will bring home a relay all-state medal this time around.

"Actually, yeah I do," she said. "I think we can make all-state this year. Especially in the 4x2."

The Indians won the 800 relay with a time of 1:44.58. This comes a week after rival Central nipped the Indians at the district meet when Jackson ran a 1:45.37.

Kahle said racing against rival Central throughout the year has helped make them better.

"I'd like to thank Central. If we didn't race them we wouldn't be where we're at now," she said.

What makes the Indians' work in the relays even more impressive is they have had to do it without Jenna Holten, who ran on the relays throughout the season until a recent injury. Without Holten, the Indians won the 800 relay and lost to Eureka by one-hundreth of a second in the 400 relay in 50.07.

"We've had some fill-ins that have run well," Martin said.

Added Jackson coach Bob Sink: "We continue to run faster and faster on our 4x2. If you can run that fast on the final day [at state], you'll be in the top eight."

Kahle, who had a disappointing sectional last year as a freshman, beat out the field by nearly one-half second in the 100.

"It's amazing because there's amazing people here and I never picked that I'd be one of those amazing people," Kahle said. "I didn't think I was going to do that good this year because last year was such a letdown."

Jackson state qualifiers

Girls

Pole vault -- 1. Amy West 10-0

Discus -- 4. Amanda Peiffer 108-8

Shot put -- 1. Rebecca Martin 37-0

100 -- 1. Rachel Kahle 12.43

800 relay -- 1. 1:44.58 (Jordan Cook, Rachel Lowes, Martin, Kahle)

400 relay -- 2. 50.07 (Cook, Kami Miinch, Martin, Kahle)

800 -- 4. Lowes 2:23.71

Boys

Discus -- 3. Billy Uren 138-5

Shot put -- 1. Andy Glass 55-3