THE TEXAS UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE

TRACK AND FIELD STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Two days and five divisions of fast-paced, far-flying and high jumping athletics competitions kick off at the Texas UIL state track and field meet on Friday, May 9, 2008. Click on underlined red links for results and schedules.

ARCHIE SMITH

ANNAPOLIS, MD — West Point junior and Texas native Archie Smith won the Patriot League triple jump with a personal best mark of 15.02 meters (49 feet, 3.5 inches), qualifying for the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) regional meet, scheduled to take place May 30-31, in Tallahassee, FL.

WWW.DANDRAWS.COM

When it comes to sports art, www.dandraws.com leads the field and the track. A former collegiate triple jumper, who compete for the University of North Carolina, artistic illustrator Dan Harris spearheaded the phenomenon that has made "DanDraws" a cyber and household name.

TEXAS SCHOOL for the DEAF
Triple jumper Delvin Furlough, coach Larry Smith, coach Jesse Bailey and triple jumper Justin Perez, seen above, center, making the American Sign Language hand sign for the word "jump."

WACO — The Texas School for the Deaf in Austin placed two athletes in the finals of the boys triple jump at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools on Friday, May 2, at the Hart-Patterson athletics complex.

Delvin Furlough finished third with a mark of 41-feet-8 and Justin Perez fifth with a distance of 40-feet-1.25.

KENNY ROSEMAN

WACO — On the 30th anniversary of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, Trinity Christian High School junior Kenny Roseman established two new TAPPS state meet track and field records on Friday, May 2, at the Hart-Patterson athletics complex.

Roseman jumped 47-feet-4.75 in the triple jump and 22-feet-5 in the long jump to claim double gold in the boys class 4A division and surpass previous record marks of 45-feet-9.75 (C. Smith, First Baptist, 1997) and 22-feet-1 (Brian Joseph, Midland Christian, 2002).

An Amateur Athletic Union and USA Track and Field All-American, Roseman is also the 2007 Texas Relays triple jump champion.

JANESA MOORE

WACO — Horn High School scholar athlete Janesa Moore placed second in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Region II-5A track and field championships at the Hart-Patterson athletics complex. Horn posted a mark of 38-feet-3.75.

MARQUISE "all-2-da" GOODWIN

WACO — Who said the GOOD guy finishes last? Definitely not Jump Texas, and especially not when the good guy has a three-year history of oustanding jumps and his first name is Marquise; he's assured a 'GOOD-WIN,' or in the case of the University Interscholastic League Regioin II-5A track and field championships, maybe two. So, as is often said in the lone star state, 'It's all-2-da good.'

Across the state of Texas and throughout the nation (and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, where, last summer, he won the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational meet sponsored by the National Scholastic Sports Foundation), Marquise lived up to the royalty of his calling and, true to the team number and mascot name imprinted on the front of his maroon warm-up jersey (Rowlett Eagles, #2), flew out of the sandpit at Hart-Patterson athletics complex with double crowns — one in the triple jump (49-8.75) and one in the long jump (24-4.75).

Goodwin currently leads all Texans with the No. 1 outdoors long and triple jumps, and on the national scene, under all-conditions, Goodwin ranks No. 7 in the long jump and No. 5 in the triple jump.

CHRISTIAN TAYLOR

NEW YORK, NEW YORK — A talented, versatile horizontalist and long sprinter, Christian Taylor posted an early 52-0 in the triple jump at the Tennessee State University Invitational, indoors, and never looked back. He has been a consistent force in the long jump, triple jump and 400 meters in 2008, and proved it with triple gold medal performances at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in late March.

Effortlessly transitioning into his outdoors campaign, Taylor jumped within two inches of his indoors best, uncorking a 51-10 at the Marietta Invitational and moving into the No. 1 position.

Taylor competed as a member of the 2007 U.S. World Youth Championships team, last summer, in Ostrava, Czech Republic, and garnered a gold medal in the hop-step-jump. He is currently ranked No. 2 in the long jump (25-4.50) and No. 5 in the 400 meters (47.08).

CHARASCHIE LOCKHART

WACO — Dallas Skyline horizontalist Charaschie Lockhart advanced to the University Interscholastic League class 5A state track and field meet with her victory in the high school girls triple jump on Friday, April 25, at Hart-Patterson Staidum.

Lockhart jumped 40-2 1/2 to win the Region II-5A meet.

STEPHEN MICHEL

LARAMIE, WYOMING — Horizontalist and sprinter Stephen Michel ranked amongst the top high school boys, indoors triple jumpers, this season. Posting a mark of 49-feet-10½, Michael — an A-average scholar athlete — catapulted into the national lead in January and held the position for nearly a month.

OMAR CRADDOCK

POCATELLO, IDAHO — Age-16 horizontalist Omar Craddock of Jump Corps won the boys' division triple jump at the Simplot Games in Pocatello, Idaho, on February 16. Simplot celebrated its 30th anniversary with the presence of more than 2,000 scholar athletes and an all-star cast of Olympians, to include former American and world triple jump record holder Willie Banks.

Craddock posted a mark of 50 feet, 10½ inches to win the event and move into the U.S. No. 2 position, behind 2007 World Youth Champion and current No. 1 Christian Taylor. On the all-time national prep list, Craddock moved into the No. 12 position.

Earning a lone star distinction, Craddock became the first Texas prep boy in history to surpass the 50-foot barrier indoors. The high school junior also catapulted into the all-time, No. 1 indoors position for the state and No. 7 on the all-time state list — indoors or outdoors.

THE SIMPLOT GAMES

POCATELLO, IDAHO — The largest high school indoors meet in the Midwest celebrates 30 years, today, Valentine's Day, as the Simplot Games commence at Holt Stadium on the campus of Idaho State University.

Some of the top prep scholar athletes from across the United States and Canada will be in attendance.

Tune in to Altitude Sports and Entertainment on Sunday, March 2, at 2 pm to view the premier of the Simplot Games. Altitude is available on DISH network channel 410 and Direct TV channel 644.

Contact your local cable company for more information on the Simplot Games or visit the following sites: Simplot Games (www.simplotgames.com) Altitude TV (www.altitude.tv), and/or DyeStat (www.dyestat.com).

SIMPLOT PREVIEW 2008

RICH GONZALEZ of DyeStat

GIRLS

HIGH JUMP

Both Tara Richmond of Poly (Long Beach) and Camilla Dencer of West Valley Christian (North Hills, Ca.) are entered at 5-8. Richmond best win came in placing second at the USA JO Intermediate Division and Dencer had her best effort in placing fourth at the State meet. Both cleared 5-7. Kaycee Brunel of Nampa Christian, Nampa, Id.) has done 5-7 and both Danielle O’Donnell of Canada and Aziza Baker of St. Mary’s (Stockton) are entered at 5-6.

POLE VAULT

Junior Shade Weygandt of Mansfield (Tx.) and senior Rachel Laurent of Vanderbilt Catholic (Houma, La.) have been playing ‘can you top this’ as they both move up the all-time indoor list. Weygandt, who was the winner here last year in a national freshman indoor record of 12-9, opened up with a 13-7 at the Vault summit to improve her indoor best by one inch and remain No. 4 on the all-time list. Laurent then cleared 13-7 ¼ to win the State qualifier meet and move into fourth all-time. Weygandt answered with a 13-8 clearance at the Trojan Games in Enid (Ok.) to retake fourth on the all-time list. Elizabeth Stover of Longmont (Co.), a gymnast who had just taken up the event when she place third here last year at 11-9, improved all the way to 12-9 ½ outdoor in placing third in the USA JO Young Womens Division at Walnut. She has a best of 12-1 this indoor season. Lindsay Baird of South (Eugene, Or.), who had a best of just 12-3 outdoors last year, cleared 12-7 at the Vault Summit to rank No. 5 in the nation. Chelsea Barr of Nampa Christian (Nampa, Id.) was the State 2A champion and has a best of 12-2.

LONG JUMP

Defending champion Karynn Dunn of Diamond Ranch (Pomona, Ca.) won with a mark of 19-10 ¼ which turned out to be her best legal mark for the year. She had a wind-aided 20-6 ½ in the State prelims and another wind-aided mark of 19-11 ¼ to finish fourth in the final. Vashti Thomas of Mt. Pleasant (San Jose) won the MLK Run for the Dream at 19-0 ½ to rank No. 4 indoors this season. Last year she had 20-2 in the Central Coast Section semifinals to rank No. 5 in the nation and them placed third at State with a wind-aided 20-1½. Junior Andrea Geubelle of Curtis (Tacoma, Wa.) had a 19-7 outdoors last year before an injury ended her season early. Ashtyn Baltimore was third here last year in 18-7 and then jumped 19-04 ¾ to place third at Mt. San Antonio Relays and then finished sixth at state with an 18-10¼. Ciarra Brewer of James Logan (Union City, Ca.)was second at the MLK Run for the Dream at 18-6 ½. Last year she had a best of 18-10 to win the USA JO Youth Division at Walnut. Sophomore Audrey West of Star Valley (Afton,Ut.) won the BYU Invitational at 18-10 ½ to rank No. 7 indoors. Sophomore Olivia Hudson of Wilson (Long Beach) jumped 18-10 to place fifth in the USA JO Intermediate Division in 2007.

TRIPLE JUMP

Vashti Thomas of Mt. Pleasant (San Jose) was third here last year at 38-10 ¾. This year he has done 40-5 ¼ to rank No. 1 in the nation. Outdoors last spring she jumped 41-6 ½ in the Central Coast Section finals to rank No. 4 in the nation, was second in the State meet with a wind-aided 42-3 ¼ and placed third at the U.S.A. Junior National with a 41-1 ¾. Amanda Hunter of Marlborough (Los Angeles) was sixth at the Washington Open at 39-1¾ to move into seventh on the yearly indoor list. Last year she was second at Arcadia with a personal best of 41-2 ¼ and then finished eighth in the State meet with a 39-11 ¼. Freshman Ciarra Brewer of James Logan (Union City, Ca.) was third at the MLK Run for the Dream and last year outdoor she had a best of 39-3 in a U.S. Regional JO meet. Junior Alexandria White of Washington (Denver) has jumped 38-8 ¾ to win the Joe Davies Indoor meet. Last Spring Andrea Guebelle of Curtis (Tacoma, Wa.) won the XO Invitational at 38-9 1/2.

BOYS

HIGH JUMP

Andre McDonald of Park Hill (Kansas City, Mo.), the defending champion at 6-10, begins the challenge of winning three field events here. Outdoors, last spring, he had three meets over 7-0. He won the State 4A meet at 6-9 and had a best of 7-0 ½. Maurice Valentine of Castro Valley (Ca.) was the State champion at 6-10 and had a best of 7-0 ¼ in the Summer. Another jumper to watch is Kevin Rutledge of Bellarmine Prep (San Jose), who won the Central Coast Section finals at 6-8 and has also long jumped 23-2 ¼.

POLE VAULT

Last year the two best Youth Division (under 18) pole vaulters in the world were Nico Weiler of Los Gatos (Ca.) and Corey Shank of Northrop (Ft. Wayne, In.), and both will be here. Weiler, a foreign exchange student from Germany, is the yearly indoor leader at 17-2. Last year Weiler was just outstanding, winning the State meet at 17-2 just one week after clearing a personal best of 17-6 ¼ at the Central Coast Section finals. Weiler went on to win the World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic at 17-3. But for a fault in qualifying system the U.S. uses, that requires competing in one of three national meets a year before the World Youth Championships, Shank might well have joined Weiler in Ostrava. Shank has a best of 16-4 ¾ to rank No. 7 indoors this season. Last year as a junior, after a severe back injury prevented him from competing in the summer of 2006, he won the State meet at 17-0. Weiler and Shank are just two of an outstanding field that includes five 16-0 vaulters. Blair Wallingford of Roseville (Ca.) has already done 15-8 at the Vault Summit and last year was second in the State meet at 16-4. Justin Gebicki of East (Cheyenne, Wy.), who also has done 15-8 at the Vault Summit, was second in the State 4A meet at 15-6 and a week earlier cleared 16-3. Jason Pelletier of Bryan (Ar.) has in indoor best of 16-1 ¼ this season. Last year he won the State Meet of Champions at 15-8 and had a best of 15-9 ¾ in finishing fourth at the Nike Outdoor nationals.

LONG JUMP

Andre McDonald of Park City (Kansas City, Mo.) — sound familiar? —was fourth here last year at 22-10 ¼. He went on the win the State 4A meet at 23-0 ½, just two weeks after jumping 23-10, where no wind gage was present. Kevin Rutledge of Bellarmine Prep (San Jose) has not competed indoor, but has a best of 23-2 ¾ last spring.Steven Michel of Laramie (Wy.) was fourth last year at 22-9 ¼ and has a best of 23-4. Junior Omar Craddock of Killeen (Tx.) is entered with a best of 22-11 and already has done 49-5 in winning the Carl Lewis indoor meet.

TRIPLE JUMP

Stephen Michael of Laramie (Wy.) is the No. 2 indoor jumper in the nation with his 49-10 ½ at the Shine Invitational. Last year he won the State 4A title at 48-5. Junior Omar Craddock of Killeen (Tx.), with his 49-5 in winning the Carl Lewis Invitational ranks No. 4 in the nation. Stephen Scott-Ellis of Canada has a best of 48-7.Andre McDonald of Park Hill (Kansas City, Mo.) — there he is again — was second in the State 4A meet in 2007 with a best of 48-2 ¾. Joseph Hill of Washington (Denver) has an indoor best of 46-5 in January, but last year won the State 4A meet at 47-11. Kason Covington of Capital (Boise, Id.) was fourth here last year and had a best of 47-2 outdoors. Bryan Mack of Arlington (Wa.) won the Washington Preview meet at 46-10.

ISAAC MURPHY

HARKER HEIGHTS — Multi-events athlete Isaac Murphy, of Collins Elite Sprint (C.E.S.), the club synonymous with former prep names such as Tiffany Townsend (Baylor), Jacob Norman (Baylor) and Quincy Bowles (UT Austin), signed a letter of intent to compete for the UT Longhorns on Saturday, February 9.

Murphy, (above), pictured with father, Kenneth, left; mother, Naomi, second from left; and personal trainer and coach Bill Collins, right, competed in the 2007 Great Southwest Classic for Team Texas. A 10.6 100-meter sprinter and 46-foot-triple jumper, whose range spans everything from the short to long distances, the high and long jumps, shot put, discus and javelin, Murphy has become an accomplished jack of all tracks — and fields, while maintaining a 3.1 grade point average at Harker Heights High School.

Hart, Wariner on separate tracks

WACO – Legendary Baylor track and field coach, Clyde Hart, announced today that he will no longer serve as the personal coach for Jeremy Wariner, the world’s number-one ranked 400-meter runner and defending Olympic Champion.

Hart, considered the world’s top 400-meter coach and the coach of the past three Olympic 400-meter champions, cited that the major reason for declining to coach Jeremy was a new contract proposal that represented significant changes from previous contracts.



“I have enjoyed the five years that I spent as Jeremy’s coach,” said Hart. In addition to the Olympic gold medal, Wariner won the gold medal at the 2005 and 2007 World Championships, setting a personal record each year. “I felt that he was on pace to break the world record last year. Although he didn’t achieve that goal, he still was able to run 43.45, the third fastest of all time,” Hart said. “I feel Jeremy will continue to be successful because he has a strong desire to excel and is blessed with tremendous athletic ability. I wish him the very best in his pursuit of Olympic gold,” said Hart.



Hart has also coached Sanya Richards since she turned pro after the 2004 Olympics. There was no World Championship in 2006, but Hart guided Wariner and Richards to undefeated seasons outdoors in the 400 meters that year, including an American record for Richards and a sweep of the IAFF Golden League meets for both athletes.



Hart will continue to coach Richards, the world’s top-ranked female runner over 400 meters the past three years, as well as continue his duties coaching Baylor’s 400-meter runners and 4x400-meter relays. Baylor’s men’s 4x400-meter relay won both the indoor and outdoor NCAA titles in 2007.



Baylor’s head coach for 42 years before moving to the Director of Track and Field in 2005, Hart has coached 32 national champions (15 individual and 17 relay) and 475 men’s All-America performances, including 188 women’s all-America performances. His men’s 4x400 meter relay teams earned outdoor All-America status for 28 consecutive years and captured 16 NCAA titles. Hart’s athletes turned in 10 World-Record performances (9 individual and 1 relay) and 9 NCAA record performances.



Hart has been named National Track and Field Coach of the Year eight times in the last 18 years. He was named NCAA Indoor Coach of the Year in1989 and 1996, and was named the Nike National Track and Field Coach of the Year by USA Track and Field in 1996, 2004 and 2006. Additionally, Hart received the United States Olympic Track and Field Coach of the Year award in 1996, 2004, and 2006. In the eleven years that this award has been given, no other coach has won it more than once.