JUMP TEXAS MAGAZINE

2009-02-04T12:33:00.004-06:00

Member of Lancaster girls track team dies at 16

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

By RANDY JENNINGS / The Dallas Morning News

rjennings@dallasnews.com

LANCASTER – Members of the Lancaster girls track and field team spent Tuesday trying to cope with the death of a sophomore teammate.

Sharla Butler,

16, died late Monday afternoon, a little more than a

month after suffering seizures that were caused by a form of encephalitis.

Sharla Butler was a sophomore at Lancaster.

"I don't think it really has hit us that Sharla won't be back running with us," said Jerneshia Mergerson, a junior sprinter. "This whole thing feels like it never really happened. Everybody just wants to go home."

Butler, a sophomore, was the youngest of Sonia and Raymond Butler's four children.

Two older sisters, Sha'Ray and Shira, also ran for Lancaster and attend Kansas and Jacksonville State (Ala.), respectively, on track scholarships.

Lancaster coach Beverly Humphrey said Sharla could have been the best in the Butler family and one of the best to compete for Lancaster.

As a 4-foot, 8-inch freshman, Butler advanced to the Class 4A Region II meet in the 400 meters.

"I had big plans for her," said Humphrey, who has coached Lancaster to eight straight state championships. "Her goal was to someday compete in the Olympic Trials, and I believe she could have done it."

Members of the Lancaster team prayed together after Tuesday's practice.

When Butler began feeling sick in late December, she thought she had the flu. She was taken to a doctor after seizures on Christmas Eve.

Family members thought she was improving after treatment, but Sha'Ray Butler said her sister had an eight-minute seizure on New Year's Eve. She was rushed to a hospital, but her condition deteriorated over the next few days. She eventually lost consciousness.

Humphrey, a constant visitor during Butler's hospital stay, has ordered a banner for the locker room with a picture of Sharla and an inspirational message: If it takes work, we'll get it done. If it takes heart, we'll all be as one.

Teammates insist Butler will be on their minds.

"Everything we do this season is going to Sharla's memory," said senior Leah Norman, a senior hurdler. "We want to make her proud."

A wake is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday at Ideal Pentecostal Church in Dallas.

Lancaster's boys and girls track teams plan to be together for Butler's funeral at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Lancaster Junior High auditorium.

"If I could," said Humphrey, with tears welling in her eyes, "I'd give back every championship that we've won if we could have Sharla back for one day."

2009-01-27T00:34:00.003-06:00

BY DON WILLIAMS
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

More than half the Pac 10 Conference and a few schools in the Big 12 wanted Bryce Lamb to play for their football teams. For the time being, Lamb appears content to forego the adulation of big crowds.

The Chandler, Ariz., high school standout said Sunday that he plans to sign with Texas Tech when the national signing period begins on Feb. 4. It’s a track and field scholarship that he’s going to sign.

Lamb said he hasn’t closed the door on the possibility of playing football. But in track, he should be talented enough to contend for trips to NCAA national meets his first year on campus, so that’s where his focus is going to be.

“I do like to play football, but if the track season goes good enough, I don’t think there would be too much more thought about it,” Lamb said.

In competition, Lamb has career bests of 52 feet, 2 inches in the triple jump and 25-9 1/4 in the long jump. During the 2008 high school season, his junior year, Lamb had two of the top six triple-jump marks in the nation and long-jump marks that ranked third and 15th nationally.

He also played running back and safety for his high school football team and said he has football offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, UCLA, Colorado, Colorado State, Nebraska, Washington State, Oregon State, Air Force, Texas-El Paso and Minnesota. Lamb, who is 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, said most of those schools recruited him to be a defensive back.

Asked whether he preferred one sport over the other, Lamb said, “I don’t think I enjoy one more than the other. I just think I work harder for track than football maybe.”

By NCAA rule, an athlete on track scholarship can’t play football his first two years on campus. To do so any sooner, he’d have to give up the track scholarship.

To put Lamb’s personal records into perspective, a 25-9 1/4 long jump would have been second at last year’s NCAA Midwest Regional outdoor meet and would have tied for first at the 2007 Midwest Regional. A 52-2 in the triple jump would have been sixth at last year’s Midwest Regional.

Tech’s Anthony Flemons, who was an NCAA outdoor qualifier in the triple jump in 2007, went a career-best 52-9 1/4 to win the prestigious Drake Relays two years ago and finished third in last May’s Big 12 outdoor long jump with a career-best 25-3 1/4 — shorter than Lamb’s personal best.

Lamb hasn’t been recruited by Tech football coaches. However, he said he had the blessing of Tech’s track staff to try football in the future if he wanted.

“When they told me that, that kind of reasoned it all up for me,” he said. “It’s a good place to play football, and that’s where I wanted to go run track.”

Lamb is a cousin of Terra Evans, a freshman sprinter from Phoenix on the Tech women’s track team.

2009-01-18T23:09:00.003-06:00

2009-01-13T13:18:00.000-06:00

INDIANAPOLIS - USA Track & Field on Tuesday announced that it has revamped the process for selecting its team for the IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships.For the first time, the team will be selected based on performances at a Team Trials event - World Youth Track & Field Trials - which will be conducted less than two weeks before the 2009 IAAF World Youth Championships.

Since the inception of the World Youth Championships in 1999, the U.S. team has been selected by a committee, which reviewed the performances of athletes who had competed in one of three national championship events - USA Youth, USA Junior, and USATF Junior Olympics - a full year prior to the World Championships. "Our goal is to send the best possible team to the World Championships, and having a selection meet just prior to the World Championships allows USATF to do this," said USATF Youth Division Chair Lionel Leach. "As is the case with our elite athletes and their teams, our youth athletes will be able to 'select themselves' based on how they perform at a qualifying meet."

The 2009 World Youth Track & Field Trials will be held on June 30 - July 1 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in conjunction with the first two days of the USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The event will serve as the qualifying event for the 8th IAAF World Youth Championships to be held July 8-12 in Bressanone, Italy. For more information on the 2009 World Youth Track & Field Trials, including qualifying standards to enter the Trials and team selection criteria, please visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/WorldYouthAthleticsTrials.

2009-01-01T20:22:00.004-06:00

Mountain Pointe senior forgoes spring semester, jumps to Oklahoma

BY Larry Ward

ahwatukee.com

Last spring, Will Claye soared at the state 5A-I triple jump championship.

A few days later, the Mountain Pointe senior made a quantum leap.

When his Pride teammates will be competing in high school events this spring Claye will be jumping as a collegiate freshman for the University of Oklahoma.

"I've been planning on this since the end of the last school year," Claye said. "I realized when I was a freshman that I had to have the grades and I got used to studying. I was ahead in my classes and I had all my credits, so I figured I might as well do it."

Claye's last day at Mountain Pointe was Dec. 18 and he will be leaving a couple of weeks later for Norman, Okla.

Claye posted the best jump in the country last year, when last spring he flew 52 feet, four-and-a-quarter inches to win the triple jump title.

He also won the prestigious Arcadia (California) triple jump event last spring and was the even'ts state champion as a freshman in 2005. Claye was second in the triple jump to his longtime friend and rival, Chandler High School's Bryce Lamb, in 2006 and won the United States Track and Field Junior Olympics championship a year earlier.

"I felt I was ready," Claye said. "I feel like I can compete against anyone. I've always liked to compete against people who were a little bit older."

Although it is rare for a high school senior to finish early to enter college and compete in athletics, it happens more often in track and field, explained Jeremy Fisher, an Oklahoma assistant coach who recruited Claye.

"The great thing about track is that it isn't age discriminatory because 53 feet is 53 feet no matter if you're 15 or 25 years old," Fisher said. "It can be different in something like football where you come in and a sport isn't in season. You can get lost in the shuffle."

Claye isn't likely to get lost in the shuffle.

Most freshmen have a few weeks to get acclimated and adjust, but the Sooners open the indoor season on Jan. 9, seven days after Claye arrives in Norman.

"Will and I have a great relationship already and I want to make the transition as easy as possible for him in training and competing," Fisher said.

Claye and Fisher were slowly drawn toward each other over the past years after Claye started exploring what programs had the best jumpers.

"I looked up the stats and (Oklahoma) had some of the best jumpers in the country," Claye explained. "I started talking to the coaches there and they had been interested in me before so I decided to go there."

It was as easy a choice for the Sooners.

"Will was the No. 1 returning jumper in the country," Fisher explained. "His marks were very respectable and with very little increase in bulk he'll be a national qualifier with All-American status."

Claye and Lamb have been friends since middle school and have challenged each other to excel.

"Will and Bryce were good enough to push each other to get better," Fisher said. "It's a great opportunity for Will at Oklahoma, but it will be interesting to see how Bryce does now."

There won't be any bench time for Claye at Oklahoma.

"He'll come in and be successful even at the level he is now," Fisher said, "Obviously he's going to get better. He's only 17 and has a minimal lifting background so he's just developing. By the time he's a senior and 21 or 22 years old it's going to be a huge difference."

But Claye doesn't intend to wait that long to make his mark.

"I want to win the championship next spring and go the Olympics in 2012," Claye said.

It's not a pipe dream for the Pride jumper who enjoys mathematics and plans to get a degree in computer engineering.

"You'll see Will competing in the Olympics in 2012 and 2016," Fisher said. "I've told him that even though Oklahoma is a four-year academic and collegiate commitment he has an eight- or nine-year athletic commitment."

2009-01-01T15:08:00.003-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR: '08 is gone. '09 is here, and with the new year comes a talented corps of known and unknown jumpers. Stay tuned for the top returnees from Texas and throughout the United States?

2008-07-10T15:40:00.003-05:00

DAILENYS ALCANTARA

BYDGOSZCZ, POLAND — She's only a "youngin," but can outjump most boys a year or two her senior.

Youth prevailed in Poland on Day 3 of the World Junior Championships as 16-year-old Cuban triple jumper Dailenys Alcantara (DAH-ee-LAY-nees AHL-kahn-TAH-rah) uncorked an effort of 14.25 meters (46-feet-9), literally distancing herself from an international field of 12 of the best horizontalist on the planet.

Last year, as a 15-year-old, Alcantara won the World Youth Championships (17-and-under) in the Czech Republic, where she jumped 13.63 meters (44-feeet8.75).

2008-07-09T16:37:00.002-05:00

MARQUISE GOODWIN

BYDGOSZCZ, POLAND — Texas native Marquise Goodwin won the long jump competition on Wednesday, July 9, during the World Junior Championships.

Goodwin, 17, covered a distance of 7.74 meters (25-feet-4.75).

2008-06-25T17:52:00.002-05:00

TEAM TEXAS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Team Texas boys and girls ran away with titles at the 33rd Annual Great Southwest Track and Field Classic in June 7.

2008-06-25T17:26:00.002-05:00

CHRIS PHIPPS

GREENSBORO, NC — Lodi High School (N.J.) triple jumper Chris Phipps, (pictured above with coaches), garnered a silver medal at the Nike Outdoor Nationals with a mark of 49-feet-4.5.
One of the top prep horizontalists in the nation, Phipps jumped 50-feet-5 at the Bergen County Meet of Champs in Hackensack, New Jersey, in May.

2008-06-25T17:16:00.002-05:00

KEENAN TURNER

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Houston native and multis athlete Keenan Turner, a product of the legendary Cinco Ranch High School program, produced a personal best mark in the long jump (24-feet-6.5) during the Great Southwest Track and Field Classic.
Turner placed fourth in the competition.

2008-06-25T17:02:00.002-05:00

COLBY LOWE

GREENSBORO, NC — In a historic 2-mile race won by California distance runner German (pronounced: HURR-mahn) Fernandez (8:34.40), Colby Lowe of Texas clinched a bronze medal and posted a state of Texas, 2-mile record time of 8 minutes, 47.07 seconds.

2008-06-25T16:53:00.002-05:00

YCHILINDRIA SPEARS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Ychlindria (pronounced: SH-linn-DREE-uh) Spears is a legend in Texas athletics history. She not only sprinted numerous 11-second 100 meters and sub-24 second 200 meters, Ychilindria posted horizontal marks of 44-feet-2.25 in the triple jump and 21-feet-3.25 in the long jump.

2008-06-25T16:39:00.002-05:00

ANDRE McDONALD

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Missouri decathlete Andre McDonald impressed the track and field world in 2008 with his range as a multis athlete and individual events performer.

McDonald, who placed fourth at the Great Southwest Track and Field Classic, won the indoors long jump (22-feet-11.5) at the Simplot Games in February.

A 7-foot high jumper, 24-foot long jumper and lethal sprinter in the 100 meters and 110-meter high hurdles, McDonald will pursue athletics on the collegiate level while studying at Kansas State University.

2008-06-24T17:27:00.002-05:00

USATF JUNIOR NATIONALS

RESULTS

2008-06-17T17:30:00.002-05:00

A-RI(SE)-ZON(E)-A

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Arizona high school standouts and national phenoms Bryce Lamb and Will Claye won each of the horizontal jumps at the Great Southwest Classic on Saturday, June 7, 2008.
Lamb covered a distance of 25-feet-9.75 in the long jump and Claye, who is the No. 1 ranked prep triple jumper in the United States, posted a mark of 51-feet-0.25 to win the event.
In 2007, Lamb qualified for and participated as a member of the athletics team representing the United States at the World Youth Games in the Czech Republic. This year, Claye has qualified to participate in the triple jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

2008-05-08T19:10:00.003-05:00

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.

2008-05-08T18:55:00.003-05:00

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.

2008-05-08T16:49:00.002-05:00

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.

2008-05-03T17:05:00.002-05:00

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.

2008-05-03T16:45:00.003-05:00

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.

2008-05-03T16:36:00.001-05:00

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.

2008-04-29T17:58:00.003-05:00

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.

2008-04-29T17:32:00.003-05:00

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).

2008-04-29T17:22:00.002-05:00

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.

2008-03-08T19:45:00.007-06:00

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.

2008-02-22T17:17:00.004-06:00

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.

2008-02-14T14:36:00.008-06:00

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.

2008-02-14T14:14:00.003-06:00

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.

2008-01-29T14:52:00.000-06:00

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.

2008-01-23T18:30:00.000-06:00

2008-01-23T18:16:00.000-06:00

MARQUISE GOODWIN

HOUSTON — U.S. No. 1 returnee Marquise Goodwin defended his long jump ranking from the previous year with a spectacular early season mark of 24-feet7. Competing for Garland GT One Track Club, the Nike Outdoor Nationals champion took a convincing victory over the field.

2008-01-23T18:04:00.000-06:00

DANA DOCKERY

HOUSTON — Track Dynamite sparked a pit fire at the Yeoman Fieldhouse on the University of Houston campus Saturday, January 19, as triple jumper Dana Dockery posted a solid performance in front of more than a thousand athletics spectators.

On her first jump, Dockery covered a distance of 36-feet-½ to win the event.

2008-01-23T17:58:00.000-06:00

JASMINE TUCKER

HOUSTON — Jump Corps horizontalist Jasmine Tucker placed second in the girls triple jump at the Carl Lewis Track and Field Invitational on Saturday, January 19, at the Yeoman Fieldhouse on the University of Houston campus. Tucker posted an indoors mark of 35-feet-8.

2008-01-23T17:56:00.000-06:00

JUMPTEXAS.MAGAZINE@YAHOO.COM

2007-12-01T17:28:00.000-06:00

ERICA ALEXANDER

FRIENDSWOOD — Clearbrook High School 100-200-400-meter specialist Erica Alexander is a triple, sprints threat. With a successful 2007 athletics season behind her, to include a blazing anchor leg for Team USA during the World Youth Championships girls' medley relay in the Czech Republic, this past summer, Alexander is undeniably poised to continue running away with the gold.
So, where is Alexander attending school fall 2008 — and why? Is there more gold in her future? Read on to find the answers.
Jump Texas: Thank you for granting JTX Online Magazine Blog an exclusive opportunity to break the news of your verbal commitment to a major D-I school.

Erica: Thank you. I am really excited about my college choice.

Jump Texas: You recently made a decision to continue your track and field career on the collegiate level. How exhausting of a process was it for you to narrow a field of multiple top-rated collegiate athletics programs down to one?

Erica: It was very exhausting, because I knew that once my last visit was over, I was going to have to start making some major decisions. Each and every school that I visited had something special to offer, both academically and athletically, and before I knew it, it felt as though everything became cloudy. I also thought that I would disappoint the coaches (who really were nice people) if I didn't choose their school, and that's when my mom and dad had to remind me that the coaches go through this process all the time and that they would understand. It also didn't help that we had scheduled all of my visits (both official and unofficial) in eight weeks, only to find out during a recruiting visit that the signing date had been moved back almost three months. I was exhausted both physically and mentally.

Jump Texas: To what extent did academics and your intended major play a role in the selection of this particular institution?

Erica: Academics and the area that I plan to major in played a huge role in my final decision, and this university is so well-known for its research. First, my parents and I did plenty of research on our own to see which schools had the best program for my major and post-graduation. Based on that, we then chose the universities to visit. Don't get me wrong, though. I still wanted to attend a school that has a history of developing its athletes into becoming some of the best in the country and world, and hopefully I will be able to run professionally, but that will only take me so far.

Jump Texas: What advice would the Alexander family like to offer American youth athletes preparing to run at the post-secondary level?

Erica/Mr. Alexander/Mrs. Alexander: We all agree that "high standards" in the classroom is so important because it affords you so many more choices and opportunities when selecting a university. Secondly, have some idea of the type of school that you would like to attend and make sure you do your own research. Finally, you should follow your heart and be sure to ask any and all questions that make sense to you (even if you think it may sound senseless to someone else) during the recruiting process. At the end of the day, it's the athlete that has to live with the choice and commitment for the next 4-5 years.

Jump Texas: Most online readers have scrolled this far in the Q-&-A, attentively reading line after line to answer one question, 'Where is Erica attending school next fall?' So, how about providing a clue, a small clue --- a super small, minuscule clue, like the name of the school has a 'U' in it, as in UT, UCLA, UL Lafayette, USC (East), UNM, USC (West), U of H, USL --- 'U' know?

The first clue ....

Erica: Most definitely a "U" ....

Jump Texas: Second clue ....

Erica: Warm and sunny climate (minus the humidity) ....

Jump Texas: Third, and final, clue ....

Erica: A hollow wooden horse ....

Jump Texas: Troy? Troy?!? You going to school in Troy, Texas, off Interstate 35? I'm just kidding. Of course you are referring to none other than the Trojans. Sounds like you struck gold out of state. Your clues definitely point in the direction of coaches Ron Allice and Tina Fernandes, meaning the University of Southern California --- right?

Erica: That's it.

Jump Texas: What proved to be the deciding factor?

Erica: There were really three deciding factors that lead me to feel that USC was the best choice in providing me with the opportunities to become a well-rounded student-athlete.

1) The private and smaller school setting was a definite plus for me.

2) The academic and social environment at USC was a perfect fit! The school is one of the top-rated research universities in the world and I like the diversity of the student population.

3) I felt very comfortable when I was around the coaching staff and the other athletes. It was one of those feelings that you don't get often but when you do, you know it's right. I also believe that the coaching philosophy that's in place will allow me to have a successful season, year after year.

Jump Texas: Mr. and Mrs. Alexander, your daughter, Erica, has been a major presence on the national youth track and field scene for a good number of years, and this past summer her blazing 400-meter anchor leg on the World Youth Girls' Medley Relay showcased her talents abroad, in the Czech Republic. Europe was distant --- overseas --- a continent away. Yet, as parents, how far does a 20-something hours carpool or three-hour plane ride seem to you, now that Erica has verbally committed to attend school in California, which is home to a sizable youth, masters collegiate, professional and ex-pro track community?

Mr. Alexander/Mrs. Alexander: Wow! Twenty hours is a lot of time, and that is why it is our intent to never make the drive! But we felt that as long as we could travel back and forth non-stop, then we all could deal with the 3+ hours of flight time. It was and is very important that we support major decisions made by our children.

Jump Texas: Before calling this Q-&-A session a wrap, Jump Texas would like for you to offer a few words of positivity and encouragement to athletes across the state and nation --- and around world.

Erica: Be humble and never let your ego take over. Don't get discouraged because in track and field you can be on top one race and down on the next. Regardless of your talent level, stay committed to your training and don't forget to challenge yourself. It will only make you stronger both on and off the track.

Jump Texas: Well said and, on behalf of Jump Texas readers, 'Thank you Alexander family.'

Voice Your Opinions

EMAIL jumptexas.magazine@yahoo.com

2007-09-01T17:28:00.000-05:00

YARGELIS SAVIGNE

IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
国际田径联合会[协]

OSAKA, JAPAN — Cuban triple jumper Yargelis Savigne won a gold medal on Friday, August 31, as she dominated a field of world-class, international athletes.

Savigne, 22, posted a mark of 15.28 meters (50-feet- 1¾) to win the event.

2007-08-31T19:03:00.000-05:00

IRVING SALADINO

IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

国际田径联合会[协]

OSAKA, JAPAN — Irving Saladino of Panama won the long jump on Thursday, August 30, with a mark of 8.57 meters (28-feet-1½).
OSAKA, JAPON — El Panameño Irving Saladino se ganó la medalla de oro en el salto largo, jueves, el 30 de agosto, con una distancia de 8.57 metros.

2007-08-29T19:46:00.001-05:00

NELSON EVORA

IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

国际田径联合会[协]

OSAKA, JAPAN — Horizontalist Nelson Evora set a Portuguese national record in uncorking a huge personal best in the triple jump on Monday, August 27, winning the event with a distance of 17.74 meters (58-feet-2½).
Jadel Gregorio of Brazil (17.59/57-feet-8½) and Walter Davis of the United States (17.33/56-feeet-10¼), respectively, garnered silver and bronze in the event.

2007-08-29T19:17:00.000-05:00

DONALD THOMAS

IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
国际田径联合会[协]

OSAKA, JAPAN — Bahamian verticalist Don Thomas, an undergraduate at Auburn University, in Auburn, Alabama, United States, won the high jump competition on Wednesday, August 29, with a clearance of 2.35 meters (7-feet-8½).

2007-08-29T18:21:00.000-05:00

TATYANA LEBEDEVA

IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

国际田径联合会[协]

OSAKA, JAPAN — The Russian women placed 1-2-3 in sweeping the long jump finals on Monday, August 28, at the International Association of Athletics Federation World Championships.

Tatyana Lebedeva posted a mark of 7.03 meters (23-feet-0¾) for the victory. Lyudmila Kolchanova and Tatyana Kotova placed second and third, respectively, with distances of 6.92 (22-feet-8½) and 6.90 (22-feet-7¾).

2007-08-22T20:39:00.000-05:00

JOHNNY CARTER

WALNUT, CALIFORNIA — Team R.A.W. (Ready and Willing) horizontalist Johnny Carter posted one of the leading youth division triple jumps in the nation at the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic Games in July.

Before his summer finale at USATF, Carter, while still 13 years old, bounded over the 40-foot barrier, covering a distance of 40-feet-1 in May.

A month later, the young jumper, who doubles as a 100-meter sprinter, improved his mark from the previous month by 1¼ inches, notching an effort of 40-feet-2¼ and outdistancing his nearest competitor by more than two feet. Carter’s personal best performance, however, materialized in the finals of the youth division triple jump, where he finished with a bronze medal, upping his PR to 41-7¼.

2007-08-05T17:02:00.000-05:00

NEIL TISHER & SHADE WEYGANDT

WALNUT, CALIFORNIA — Pole vaulters Neil Tisher and Shade Weygandt, who, respectively, placed fifth and first in the intermediate girls division at the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics, smile for Jump Texas readers and delight in the metallic rewards of competition. Weygandt vaulted 12-feet-5 ½ and Tisher 11-feet-5 ¾.

2007-07-29T16:44:00.001-05:00

TROY DORIS

WALNUT, CALIFORNIA — The world outside of the state of Illinois came to know the name Troy Doris, earlier this year, when a YouTube posting of the senior jumping 52-plus feet spread like wildfire after it first appeared on the net.
Doris backed up his early season 52 with an outstanding performance at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Thursday, July 26, posting a national-leading 52-feet-5½.

2007-07-29T16:37:00.000-05:00

WILL CLAY

WALNUT, CALIFORNIA — Georgia sophomore Will Clay uncorked a personal best, 15.20-meter effort (49-feet-10) in the Intermediate Boys Divsion triple jump on Friday, July 27, 2007, to win gold during the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic Games.

2007-07-29T16:20:00.000-05:00

COACH BRYAN STITH & KASEN COVINGTON

WALNUT, CALIFORNIA — Fifteen-year-old YMCA Team Idaho triple jumper Kasen Covington, who set a national youth division record last year as a 14-year-old, garnered a silver medal in the Intermediate Boys Division of the hop-step-jump at the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic Games on Friday.

Covington jumped 47-feet-2 inches.

2007-07-29T16:03:00.000-05:00

MITCH HOBSON

WALNUT, CALIFORNIA— Texas high school junior Mitch Hobson placed sixth in the Young Men's Division of the long jump during the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic Games at Mt. San Antonio College.
Hobson produced a mark of 23-feet-9½.

2007-07-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

CHRIS CARTER

SAN ANTONIO — L.C. Express Track and Field Club young men's division triple jumper and Hearne, Texas, native Chris Carter is not merely a Carter, he is, as Jay-Z would phrase it, "The Carter," building a sand dynasty one hop, step and jump phase at a time.

One of the few American prep triple jumpers, this year, to break the 51-foot mark, which has been surpassed by Tyron Stewart (Texas), Troy Doris (Illinois), Chrys Jones (Kentucky) and Christian Taylor (Georgia), Carter rebounded from an early summer track season injury to become the dominate force on the Amateur Athletic Union 17- to 18-year-old boys scene.

2007-07-20T13:21:00.000-05:00

KIA WANSLEY

SAN ANTONIO — Triple jumper Kia Wansley notched a gold medal in her specialty during the Amateur Athletic Union Region IX Track and Field Championships on Friday, July 13, at Alamo Stadium.

A 40-foot club member, who leaped and bounded ahead of the Texas field events class at the beginning of this outdoor season, Wansley has qualified to participate in the AAU Junior Olympic Games, scheduled to take place on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, July 27 - August 4.

2007-06-17T17:29:00.000-05:00

TYRON STEWART

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA — The No.1-ranked high school boys triple jumper in the United States, Tyron Stewart reigns as king of the hill, the hop, the step and the jump.

Pulling off an electrifying, come-from-behind victory in his specialty event, Stewart, who heads to Texas A&M University in the fall, posted a solid mark of 50-feet-7¾.

2007-06-17T17:19:00.000-05:00

BRITTANI CARTER

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA — Ranked No.2 nationally in the high school girls' high jump, Brittani Carter, seen above in a familial embrace during a break from the Nike Outdoor National Track and Field Championships, remained No.1 in the heart of her most adoring fan — mom, who celebrated her birthday Texas-style, with a budding money bloom.

A graduating senior from Thurgood Marshall High School in Missouri City, Texas, Carter tied at fourth position with Priscilla Frederick of Sicklerville, New Jersey, clearing a height of 5-feet-7 in the high jump competition.

2007-06-17T17:08:00.000-05:00

ZEDRIC THOMAS

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA — Gulf Coast native Zedric Thomas of New Iberia, Louisiana, placed third in the finals of the Nike Outdoor National Track and Field Championships on the campus of North Carolina A&T University.
Thomas covered a distance of 24-feet-5½ in the long jump, for a silver medal, and 48-feet-10¾ in the triple jump, to claim the bronze.

2007-06-10T14:45:00.000-05:00

OMAR CRADDOCK
15.16 meters — 49-feet-9
TRIPLE JUMP
Albuquerque, N.M. — Sixteen-year-old, U.S. intermediate boys triple jumper Omar Craddock posted a national age-group leading mark of 15.16 meters (49-feet-9) at the Great Southwest Track and Field Classic on Saturday, June 2, 2007.
Craddock and Great Southwest Classic jumps teammate Chris Carter, who is ranked U.S. No. 3 with a previous mark of 51-feet-2 ½, scored a combined 18 points as members of Team Texas.

2007-06-09T17:06:00.000-05:00

A'LEXUS BRANNON

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO — Into a negative headwind of 2.8 meters per second, Beaumont Ozen freshman A'Lexus Brannon powered her way against the elements of dry heat and swirling winds to post an impressive leap of 19-feet-2.

2007-06-08T20:14:00.000-05:00

CARTER & CRADDOCK

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO — An all-star Texas boys' team, including the likes of hurdler Robert Griffin, sprinters Rynell Parson and Mychal Dungey, quarter-miler Danzell Fortson, and many other talented youths from the lone star state, clinched a post-high school meet team title on the University of New Mexico campus, Thursday through Saturday, May 31 - June 2.

Scoring 18 points for team Texas, Chris Carter of Hearne and Omar Craddock of Killeen swept the boys triple jump.

Overcoming a bruised heel after his first jump, Carter, who is ranked No. 3 in the United States (51-feet-2 ½) and headed to the University of Houston in the fall, positioned himself in the finals with a three-step, short approach jump in the 42-foot range, before ultimately posting a mark of 47-feet-7 — good for eight points and a silver medal.

Craddock, a sophomore, jumped into action with six marks exceeding his personal best of 48-feet-1 ½, established in the intermediate boys triple jump during the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games in Norfolk, Virginia, last summer. He finished the Great Southwest Track and Field Classic with a best mark of 49-feet-9, to claim 10 points and gold for Team Texas.

2007-05-16T10:32:00.001-05:00

TIFFANY TOWNSEND

AUSTIN — Becoming the first Texas high school girl in history to run a wind legal, fully automated sub-23-second 200 meters, on Friday, May 11, Tiffany Townsend blazed the track at Mike Myers Stadium.

Townsend, 17, eclipsed the previous University Interscholastic League class 4A record of 23.04 seconds — run by Dallas Skyline's La Shon Nedd in 1981 — in posting a time of 22.84 seconds. Her time in the half-lap ranks no. 1, this year, amongst U.S. prep sprinters.

The future Baylor Lady Bear aslo established a new UIL state meet record in the 100 meters (11.21 seconds), earlier in the day, eclipsing Marshevet Hooker's five-year old state record of 11.28 seconds.

2007-05-16T10:16:00.000-05:00

WHITNEY PREVOST III

AUSTIN — Texas City High School senior Whitney Prevost III tripled in the long jump (23-feet-3), 100 meters (10.45 seconds) and 200 meters (20.99) to win gold during the University Interscholastic League class 4A state track and field championships on Friday, May 11, at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

2007-04-02T11:27:00.000-05:00

MASTON WALLACE

HOUSTON — Friendswood Clear Brook High School senior Maston Wallace dominated the Pole Vault Summit, the Carl Lewis Invitational (above) and the Nike Indoor National, before the start of the outdoor season.

He leads all Texas pole vaulters with an indoors clearance of 17-feet-5 and looks to make an impressive showing this weekend at the Texas Relays in Austin, where, in several short months he will be a University of Texas Longhorn.

2007-04-02T11:09:00.000-05:00

SAMANTHA HAMILTON

KILLEEN — Samantha Hamilton of C.E. Ellison High School hopped, stepped and jumped into the No. 2 position in the state with an outstanding performance at the Roo Relays on Saturday, March 31.

Early morning overcast cleared as the 2006 state finalist, Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games medalist and the defending Texas Relays champion unleashed a personal best distance of 39-feet-11.

2007-04-01T14:58:00.000-05:00

TIFFANY TOWNSEND

KILLEEN — Within a 90-minute span, Texas sprinter Tiffany Townsend tripled in the short sprints at the Roo Relays, and set a new school and area record.

Townsend, 17, won the 100 meters in a school-record time (11.30) and tied the Central Texas area record established by former Fairfield High School and ex-University of Texas sprinter Nanceen Perry. Townsend also won the 200 (23.54) and 400 (56.05) .

2007-03-19T19:08:00.001-06:00

TIFFANY TOWNSEND

NEW YORK — Texas sprinter Tiffany Townsend doubled in the 60 and 200 meters at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships at the Armory.

Townsend, 17, established a new Armory record in the 55 meters (6.78), crossing the 60-meter mark in 7.28 seconds during the semifinals; Townsend won the finals in 7.32 seconds.

Crossing the finish line in 23.34 seconds in the 200-meter finals, Townsend garnered a No. 4 spot on the all-time, U.S. high school girls list.

2007-03-15T10:33:00.001-06:00

KeNyia RICHARDSON

NEW YORK — California horizontalist KeNyia Richardson established a new indoor national record on Sunday, March 11, during the finals of the high school girls triple jump at the Armory. Richardson jumped 44-feet-6.75.

2007-02-05T22:21:00.000-06:00

TYRON STEWART & OMAR CRADDOCK

HOUSTON — Tyron Stewart and Omar Craddock, who, last year, as a junior and freshman, respectively, ranked amongst the best horizontalists in Texas, finished 1-2 in the triple jump during the Carl Lewis High School Invitational (CLHSI) on the University of Houston campus, Saturday, January 20.

Stewart, winner of the CLHSI, leads all Texas preps in the indoors triple jump with a mark of 47-feet-5 ½. He ranks No. 7 on the DyeStat National Elite list.

Craddock placed second at the CLHSI with a distance of 47-feet-4, ranking him No. 2 in Texas and No. 8 in the United States.

2007-01-05T11:21:00.000-06:00

RYNELL PARSON

SAN ANTONIO — John Paul Stevens HS sophomore Rynell Parson, fittingly, has a Falcon as a school mascot. During the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games in Norfolk, last summer, he flew 21.05 seconds in the 200-meter semis. This year, under the tutelage of Coach Willie Davis of the San Antonio Blazers Track Club and with the support of the Parson family, Rynell — one of the most GOOGLED youth athletes in cyberspace — is looking forward to another season of high-flying action in the fast lane.

JUMP TEXAS: Congratulations on your spectacular track season. Running 21.05 with a legal 1.6 wind during the semifinals of the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games in Norfolk, Virginia, was quite an accomplishment, especially considering the 110-plus-degree temperatures on the track. Take readers through that race, from the starting blocks to the finish line.

RYNELL: It was extremely hot. I just wanted to make the finals. Warming up before the blocks, I tried to remember everything my coach — Willie Davis from the San Antonio Blazers Track Club — taught me. I prayed, got in the blocks, took a deep breath and took off when the gun went off. At the end of the race, I looked at the clock and was a little disappointed because I was trying to run under 21.0 — but I made it to the finals.

JUMP TEXAS: Were you pleased to walk away with a new personal record and, after the finals, a gold medal in the 200 meters?

RYNELL: Yes, I was pleased.

JUMP TEXAS: You placed yourself in the historical company of elite age-group sprinters, namely former Olympian Quincy Watts, who ran 20.97 as a 15-year-old to set a national, age-group record in the half-lap. Describe the feeling of being amongst the greats at such a young age.

RYNELL: I was shocked and grateful.

JUMP TEXAS: When and how did you first become involved in track and field?

RYNELL: Well, my Mom Sondra Parson and my Aunt Cindy Mckinley were sprinters in high school. They kept me interested in running. They and my dad Roger Parson are my biggest fans, but my cousin Candace Mckinley inspired me, (too). She ran track all four years in high school. For five summers with AAU, she ran unattached as a multi-eventer. Because of her hard work and determination, she received a full academic/athletic scholarship to Dayton Ohio University. She was their first multi-eventer. She graduates May 2007. When it comes to education and sports, were alot alike. My first track meet was in middle school, in the seventh grade. In the eighth grade, I broke two 22-yr-old records at our district meet in the 200 meters and 100 meters. It was alot of fun.

JUMP TEXAS: You're the first high school boy sprinter interviewed by Jump Texas online magablog. This being an online magazine dedicated primarily to jumpers, however, the question must be asked: Have you ever pole vaulted, long, triple and/or high jumped and, if so, do you have any plans to pursue jumping in the future?

RYNELL: In the summer of my seventh grade year for AAU, I long jumped. My longest jump was around 19 feet, but my main focus is sprinting.

JUMP TEXAS: What do you think about what Rynell has accomplished to this point in his track and field career?

MRS. PARSON: We're extremely proud of Rynell. He's always been a goal-oriented child. Once he sets his heart and mind to something, he gives 110% to accomplish that goal. Even though his times in Norfolk weren't what he was shooting for, bringing the gold home was what he was shooting for. As I said, 'We're extremely proud of him.'

JUMP TEXAS: Rynell garnered attention on every major track chat room in the country and, thanks to the Internet, traveled across the world and became the center figure of conversations in other countries. How does it feel to have your son giving new life to discussions about the direction and next generation of track stars from the United States?

MRS. PARSON: The attention is kinda of strange, but exciting in some cases. He's actually very humble. He knows everything has a season, and he hopes to improve during each race. I'm not sure if he's aware, but I google his name sometimes, to see what's being said. Some of it's hard to swallow, but most of the comments are encouraging. I'm glad he's humble and prayed up.

JUMP TEXAS: How has training been going since the AAU Games?

MRS. PARSON: Actually, his real hard training started after football season. He's a runner who played football for his high school. It was their first year as a varsity team. I'm glad it's over. My nerve's were bad at every game. We're looking forward to indoor season. Rynell (works out) with coach Willie three to four times a week, and on other days he's working out on his own.
Jump Texas: Which track meet will be your first during the upcoming season and what can track fans expect this year?

RYNELL: Indoor track season starts January 2007. My first meet is at LSU: January 5 and 6. I pray for improvement everytime I run.

JUMP TEXAS: Ending on an upbeat note, could you offer a few positive words to other athletes, who may be training to compete this year in the sprints and/or jumps?

RYNELL: Never give up. Keep reaching for goals. Dedication and hard work can help more than you know. Ultimately, stay humble and in prayer, because everything has a season. Thanks for the interview. Have a great holiday season and a blessed New Year.

2006-08-09T15:59:00.000-05:00

ENGLISH GARDNER

NORFOLK — East Coast sprinter English Gardner traveled below the Mason-Dixon line and blazed through six 100- and 200-meter rounds to win two gold medals in the Youth (14-year-old) Girls Division at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games on the Norfolk State University campus.

The New Jersey native dropped preliminary times of 12.25 seconds in the 100 meters (w: -1.3) and 24.26 seconds in the 200 meters (w: +1.7); made semis postings of 11.95 (w: 1.8) and 24.31 (+2.3); and concluded the AAU JO Games with finals numbers of 12.19 (w: -0.8) and 24.68 (-1.7) for an impressive double.

2006-08-09T15:25:00.000-05:00

TIFFANY TOWNSEND

NORFOLK — Young Women's (17- to 18-year-old) Division sprinter Tiffany Townsend, a trainee of Collins Elite Sprint in Texas, ran three sub-24-second races during the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games on the Nrofolk State University campus.

Townsend, 17, posted a time of 23.89 seconds (w: +0.7) in the preliminaries on Tuesday, August 1; 23.78 seconds (w: +1.9) in the semis on Thursday, August 3; and 23.80 into a -0.5 headwind on Saturday, August 5, for the victory and a gold medal.

On her 200-meter off days, Monday and Wednesday, Townsend put in work over the century distance, running 12.0 seconds into a light headwind (-0.9) during the prelims; 11.65 seconds into a legal wind (w: +1.3) in the semis; and 12.0 seconds into a strong headwind (-1.7) in a 100-meter finals round won by Odeika Bent of Orlando, Florida. Bent ran 11.96 seconds for gold.

2006-08-09T14:08:00.000-05:00

RYNELL PARSON

NORFOLK — Texas sprinter Rynell Parson of San Antonio set the youth track world ablaze with a 2006 list-leading, age-group performance in the 200-meter semis at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games on the Norfolk State University campus, Thursday, August 3.

Parson, 15, ran 21.05 with a legal 1.6 wind to claim a sizable victory in heat three of the half-lapper. Two days later, on Saturday, August 5, he posted a time of 21.5, running into a headwind (-0.5).

2006-08-09T13:53:00.000-05:00

OMAR CRADDOCK

NORFOLK — Omar Craddock of the Texas-based Jump Corps field events specialty training and scholastic education club brought closure to his freshman summer with a victory in the Intermediate (15- to 16-year-old) Boys Divsion of the triple jump at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games on the Norfolk State University campus, Tuesday, August 1.

Only three months a 15-year-old, Craddock jumped 48-feet-1½ with a legal +1.1. wind. During the 2005 AAU Junior Olympic Games in New Orleans, Louisiana, Craddock posted a distance of 42-4 to win gold in the Youth Boys Division.

2006-07-12T20:16:00.000-05:00

RAMONTE JACKSON

ORLANDO — Seven-year-old long jumper Ramonte Jackson, a native of Mississippi, established a new primary boys record in his specialty on Wednesday, July 5, during the Amateur Athletic Union Club Track and Field Championships at the Disney Wide World of Sports athletics complex, posting a distance of 13-feet-4.

2006-07-10T17:55:00.000-05:00

OMAR CRADDOCK

ORLANDO — Fifteen-year-old triple jumper Omar Craddock, a member of the Texas-based Jump Corps field events specialty training and scholastic education club, won the intermediate boys triple jump on Thursday, July 6, during the Amateur Athletic Union Club Track and Field Championships at the Disney Wide World of Sports athletics complex.

Craddock posted a distance of 47-feet-5 ¾ to set a new AAU Club T&F Championships record. He eclipsed the seven-year-old mark of 46-feet-2 ½ set in 1999 by Southeast Louisiana Road Runners triple jumper Quincy Seaberry.

2006-07-02T17:54:00.000-05:00

JASMINE LEFFALL

LANCASTER — Inside Texas Track Motivation Board members ignited the buzz that made “Jasmine,” the North Texas seventh-grader, who long jumped 18-feet-6, a cyber-universal and household name.

In fewer than 24 hours, the precocious 13-year-old phenom catapulted from obscurity into the international athletics imagination, making a truly meteoric impact on the sport.

Photo of Jasmine Leffall Courtesy of RoJo

Inside Texas Track

JUMP TEXAS: Congratulations on your monumental effort. Jumping 18-feet-6 is a phenomenal accomplishment.

JASMINE: Thank you.

JUMP TEXAS: How long have you been participating in track and field?

JASMINE: ... six or seven years ...

JUMP TEXAS: What did your teammates and classmates think about the jump?

JASMINE: They were shocked and proud of me.

JUMP TEXAS: Is there anything special you do to prepare for competition before or on the day of a meet?

JASMINE: I jog, stretch, run drills and do a couple of build ups.

JUMP TEXAS: Mr. and Mrs. Leffall, in what ways were the two of you instrumental in literally helping Jasmine soar to such heights?

MRS. LEFFALL: Mr. Leffall coaches her, and we both provide a lot of support.

JUMP TEXAS: How did your friends and family respond to the news of Jasmine's 18-foot-6-inch jump?

MRS. LEFFALL: The family was amazed, but knew she had it in her.

JUMP TEXAS: Did either of you ever compete in jumping events or other sports in school? How would you compare your athletic career as a youth to that of your daughter?

MR. LEFFALL: Yes, I competed in a variety of sports. I was very good at it, too. I hope that Jasmine becomes one of the greatest.

JUMP TEXAS: What do you foresee in track and field later this summer and perhaps even next year for Jasmine?

MR. LEFFALL: ... national title ...

JUMP TEXAS: What goals have you set for yourself in track and field, Jasmine?

JASMINE: ... to become nationally known ...

JUMP TEXAS: How about in the classroom? What are your best subjects and long-term scholastic goals?

JASMINE: ... language arts ...

JUMP TEXAS: Mr. and Mrs. Leffall, please share with other parents what you have done to instill a balanced appreciation of sports and scholarship, athletics and academics in your daughter.

MRS. LEFFALL: We have shown Jasmine that the world is at her fingertips as long as she manages her time well and remain dedicated.

JUMP TEXAS: Jasmine, is there anyone else you want to thank or give a big shout out for being supportive?

JASMINE: I would like to thank my former Lancaster Junior High School coach — Coach Taylor, and my present Permenter Junior High School coach in Cedar Hill, Texas, Coach Perry.

JUMP TEXAS: What departing words of positivity do you have to share with Jump Texas readers?

MR. LEFFALL : Look out for Cedar Hill Flames Track Club.

MRS. LEFFALL: Never lose your focus when you have your dream in sight.

JASMINE: Stay positive and keep your head up.

2006-07-02T16:36:00.000-05:00

LaKadron Ivery

WACO — Nike combination sprinter-jumper LaKadron Ivery won the women's long jump on Saturday, June 17, during the USA Track and Field South Region Club Championships at Hart-Patterson athletics complex.

2006-06-18T17:47:00.000-05:00

TYRON STEWART

WACO — DeSoto Roadrunners field events specialist Tyron Stewart kicked off the summer track season with a victory in the triple jump during the USA Track and Field South Region Club Championships on Saturday, June 17, at Hart-Patterson athletics complex.

Stewart, 16, covered a distance of 14.08 meters (46-feet-2½) in winning the gold medal.

2006-06-11T14:52:00.000-05:00

DeJon, SAMAURA, VALERIE

COPPERAS COVE — A mixture of brains, beauty and brawn — bedecked in trendy clothes and designer handbags — Copperas Cove High School Lady Bulldawgs track and field standouts DeJon Griffin, left; Samaura Jacquot, center; and Valerie Hancock, right, evoked the sartorial flare and sophistication of Florence Griffith-Joyner on Friday afternoon, June 9, during the post-graduation, college letter-of-commitment signing ceremony at the CCHS Athletics Annex.

Griffin, a class 5A University Interscholastic League state qualifier in the shot put, will attend Northwestern Sate University (Louisiana) and pursue an academic course of study that will prepare her for a career in fashion design.

Jacquot, who qualified for the Region II-5A meet in the triple jump, committed to Texas Lutheran University. She aspires to enter the medical profession and become a heart surgeon.

Hancock, the class 5A state champion in the high jump with a clearance of 5-feet-9, will attend Texas State University. Her aspirations include reaching all-American status in the high jump as a college freshman and becoming a physical therapist.

2006-06-07T20:24:00.000-05:00

CHRIS GILLIS

JUMP TEXAS: So, Chris, when did you first begin participating in organized athletics, particularly the jumps, and what interesting moments do you recall from the early years?

CHRIS GILLIS: I've always played football. Started when I was in fourth grade. That was my first love. My teammates always tried to get me to come out for track, but I thought it was too much running. Everybody that knows me knows I'm not the biggest fan of running. Finally, I just went out and tried it in middle school and had a lot of fun with it. I really fell in love with track the summer after eighth grade, when I ran summer track. At one of the meets, my best friend got hurt long jumping so I jumped in his name and ended up winning the meet. When I got to high school, my first event was the high hurdles and coach would not let me jump until I continued to beg him. The first time he saw me jump he realized he almost made a big mistake.

JUMP TEXAS: You placed well at the recent NCAA regionals in Austin, finishing second and jumping 8.04 meters, 26-feet-4.5. Are you aiming for the school record of 26-feet-9.5 held by BU Assistant Head Coach Danny Brabham?

CHRIS GILLIS: Yes, the school record is a goal of mine, but for the NCAA meet my main goal is to go out and perform well and hopefully come out with a win. If I just focus and jump the way I know I can, the record will fall. JUMP TEXAS: How does it feel being a legitimate contender for gold at the upcoming NCAA outdoors meet?

CHRIS GILLIS: It feels great, but I can't let all the talk and predictions go to my head. I am trying to stay focused on what I have to do. I try not to worry where I or anybody else is picked to finish in the meet. I can only worry about me …. Anything can happen on any day so seeds or predictions do not mean to much to me.

JUMP TEXAS: Texas collegians lead the long jump list on the national scene — 1, 2, 3 — Fabrice LaPierre (Texas A&M), Reggie Lazenby (Stephen F. Austin) and you (Baylor). This is positive for the long jump. What should Jump Texas readers expect at the NCAA meet?

CHRIS GILLIS: It will be exciting to see how well Texas represents at the NCAA meet. Everybody should expect a great competition and a lot of good jumping.

JUMP TEXAS: LaPierre and Lazenby, respectively, are from Australia and Texas. You're originally from New Jersey - commonly referred to as New Jeruz — and, in the 1980s, your home state produced siblings Carl and Carol Lewis, two phenomenal jumpers who competed in college track and field under the tutelage of Tom Tellez at the University of Houston. Describe what it means to you to continue the New Jersey-Texas connection in the new millennium through your affiliation with Baylor University and the legendary Clyde Hart?

CHRIS GILLIS: I really never thought much about a New Jersey - Texas connection. I just wanted to go to a school where I felt I could progress. Many athletes, especially track athletes, come to Texas or anywhere in the south because the weather is so much better year round.

JUMP TEXAS: Have any words of advice or quick tips for aspiring youth jumpers?

CHRIS GILLIS: Never give up. That's the biggest mistake a lot of young people and even older people make. There are going to be times where you feel like there is nothing else you can do. Have confidence in yourself and keep working hard.

JUMP TEXAS: Who are your favorites to win the women's high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault at the NCAA meet?

CHRIS GILLIS: Aw, Man, you going to put me on the spot like that. Well, I’d have to go with (Destiny) Hooker in the HJ. If Marshavette is healthy, I pick her in the LJ. I think Erica McClain will show up at NCs in the TJ and Chelsea Johnson (in the) PV.

JUMP TEXAS: What about the men's high jump, triple jump and pole vault? CHRIS GILLIS: HJ — Manson, TJ — Curry, PV — Skipper ….

JUMP TEXAS: Any predictions for the men's long jump?

CHRIS GILLIS: I predict the best man on that day will win.

JUMP TEXAS: Got any shout-outs to give?

CHRIS GILLIS: First, I have to give all my glory to God, (and then) everybody that has been with me through the good and bad times.

JUMP TEXAS: Please share a few positive thoughts Jump Texas readers can use for inspiration.

CHRIS GILLIS: If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

2006-05-31T17:34:00.000-05:00

COMING SOON

MAY/JUNE JUMP TEXAS COVER

2006-05-27T18:33:00.000-05:00

IRA CROSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

KILLEEN — Ira Cross Elementary School students break from lunch to welcome law enforcement torch runners for the Special Olympics Texas Summer Games on Thursday, May 25.

2006-05-27T18:11:00.000-05:00

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

KILLEEN — Bell and McClennan County law enforcement officials passed the “Torch of Hope” in front of Ira Cross Elementary School on Thursday, May 25, to mark the coming of the Special Olympics Texas Summer Games (SOTSG).

The SOTSG will take place May 25-28 on the University of Texas at Arlington campus. For more information, please call 1-800-876-JOIN or visit www.sotx.org.

2006-05-23T20:15:00.000-05:00

REGGIE WITHERSPOON

WACO — Baylor University quarter-miler Reggie Witherspoon produced the only sub-46 time in the finals of the university men’s 400 meters at the Big 12 Championships on Sunday, May 14, winning in a time of 45.90 seconds.

2006-05-23T18:16:00.000-05:00

TIANCA MOTT

AUSTIN — Navasota High School scholar athlete Tianca Mott won the class 3A division of the long jump at the UIL state track and field meet on Friday, May 12.

Leaping 19-feet-3 to claim the gold medal, Mott outdistanced second-place competitor Janell Appelhans of Perryton by 1 ½ inches. Appelhans jumped 19-feet-1 ½.

2006-05-23T17:03:00.000-05:00

DESS MEEK

AUSTIN — Newton scholar athlete Dess Meek won the class 2A high school girls high jump at the UIL state track and field meet on Friday, May 12. Meek cleared a height of 5-feet-9 for the victory.

2006-05-22T14:20:00.000-05:00

DESTINEE HOOKER

WACO — UT Austin assistant track coach Rose Brimmer, [right], advises freshman high jumper Destinee Hooker, [left], at the Big 12 Championships, Sunday, May 14. Hooker cleared 6-feet-2 ¼ for the win.

2006-05-20T20:17:00.000-05:00

THE O'HARES

WACO — Heavy thunderstorms dumped several inches of rain on the Hart-Patterson track and field complex Sunday, May 14, delaying field events, such as the university women’s and men’s triple jump, by more than two hours.

After field crews removed standing water from the infield, shot put rings and jumping pits, competition resumed in the horizontal discipline late afternoon on Mother’s Day.

Like many parents and grandparents with scholar athletes competing in the Big 12 Championships, the O’Hares [pictured above and left] rode out the lone star-sized storm to cheer on third-generation University of Texas at Austin Longhorn and grandson, Elliot, [right], a former class 4A UIL state [2005] and AAU Junior Olympics [2002] champion. He was AAU runner-up in the hop-step-jump in 2002 and placed fifth at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2005.

Making yet another major finals appearance, the younger O’Hare placed fifth with a distance of 14.90 meters [48-feet-10 ¾], to lead all Texas collegians [UT, Texas A&M and Texas Tech] appearing in the finals.

University of Nebraska triple jumper Daniel Roper won the event with a distance of 15.86 meters [52-feet-½]. No. 1 ranked NCAA Texas A&M long jumper Fabrice LaPierre finished sixth in 14.87 meters [48-feet-9 ½] and Joseph Davis of UT Austin placed seventh with 14.78 meters [48-feet-6].

2006-05-20T17:56:00.000-05:00

BREANNA EVELAND

WACO — Kansas State University pole vaulter Breanna Eveland won the university women’s division of her specialty at the Big 12 Championships on Saturday, May 13.

Clearing a height of 4.40 meters [14-feet-5 ½], Eveland outdistanced her nearest competitor, Jenna Blubaugh [University of Nebraska], by 10 inches.

2006-05-20T16:56:00.000-05:00

QUEITO TEASLEY

WACO — Only a freshman, Queito Teasley made a big splash in qualifying for the finals of the long jump at the Big 12 Championships on Saturday, May 13, finishing sixth in a field which included the no. 1 [Fabrice LaPierre, Texas A&M] and no. 3 [Chris Gillis, Baylor] ranked jumpers in the NCAA.

Teasley jumped 24-feet-8 ½, three and one-half inches off his best as a senior at Cinco Ranch High School in Katy and five and one-quarter inches off his personal best of 7.66 meters [25-feet-1 ¾], established this March. He is ranked no. 23 overall and no. 4 amongst college freshman.

2006-05-20T15:56:00.000-05:00

GARY JONES

AUSTIN — Ranked the no. 1 high school boys indoors triple jump performer in 2006, with an impressive distance of 50-feet-1, Gary Jones of Webster-Schroeder High School in Webster, New York posted an impressive outdoors mark at the Texas Relays on Saturday, April 8.

Jones, 17, hopped, stepped and jumped 49-feet-5 on the fifth attempt in a series, which included efforts of 48-feet-4.75, 49-feet-3.25, 48-feet-3.75, 47-feet-11.75, 49-feet-5 and 49-feet-0.

Track and Field News magazine recognized Jones in the June 2006 edition, ranking him no. 4 on the U.S. high school outdoors leaders list. An accomplished jumper, Jones recently embarked on an independent editorial career, launching an online field events blog, Jump New York, which reports on jumpers and pole vaulters from the northeastern tri-state area: New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Please click here to visit JUMP NEW YORK

2006-05-16T20:15:00.000-05:00

MARSHEVET HOOKER

WACO — Taking only two of six attempts in the long jump at the Big 12 Championships on Saturday, May 13, UT Austin superwoman Marshevet Hooker won gold with an effort of 21-feet-11.75.

Hooker finished five and three-quarters-of-an-inch ahead of University of Kansas silver medalist Charisse Bacchus, who jumped 21-feet-6.

2006-05-16T18:59:00.000-05:00

CHRIS GILLIS

BIG 12 LONG JUMP CHAMPION

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

26-FEET-1.75

WACO — Baylor University senior Chris Gillis won the university men's division of the Big 12 long jump on Saturday, May 13. Ranked no. 3 by the NCAA, Gillis leapt 26-feet-1.75 in his specialty for the victory.

2006-05-16T18:03:00.000-05:00

MADRY - WALKER - GIPSON

AUSTIN — El Paso Parkland senior Tina Madry, [left], and Ellison High School senior Alesha Walker, [center], put on a high-flying aerial show in the long jump at the University Interscholastic League state meet on Friday, May 12, posting identical distances of 19-feet-7.75 in the finals.

Once the sand cleared at midday in the sweltering Texas heat, meet officials declared Walker the gold medalist, based on her second-furthest attempt of 19-feet-4.5.

After the competition, awaiting the medal ceremony, Madry, Walker and Birdville High School bronze-medalist Whitney Gipson (18-feet-9.75) sat beneath a water-mist cooled awards tent, laughing and exchanging stories.

2006-05-16T15:32:00.000-05:00

PARRISH COX

AUSTIN — Waco University High School Trojan Parrish Cox won gold in the long jump (24-feet-7.5) and bronze in the triple jump (46-feet-11.5) at the University Interscholastic League state meet on Friday, May 12.

2006-05-11T19:19:00.000-05:00

ARMANDO ESTEÑOZ

ELGIN — Eighty-six years old, Mr. Armando Esteñoz of Cuerna Vaca, Mexico, won the gold medal in the long jump during the Lions Club 14th Annual Track and Field Championships on May 6. Esteñoz jumped more than seven feet to win the event.

ELGIN, TEJAS, LOS EEUU — Ochenta y seis años de edad, el Sr. Armando Esteñoz de Cuerna Vaca, Mexico, se ganó la medalla de oro en el salto largo durante una competición del atletismo [The Lions Club 14th Annual Track and Field Championships] el 6 de Mayo. Esteñoz saltó más de dos metros para ganar el evento.

2006-05-07T14:02:00.000-05:00

HEAD OF THE CLASS

Ranking amongst the top 25 high school athletes in the Central Texas area for the 100 meters and the long jump, Lache (pronounced L-A-K-E) Seastrunk — dubbed “The Great Lache” on the cover of the March edition of Jump Texas — is an up-and-coming track star. A three-sport letterman at Travis Middle School in Temple, where, this year, he dazzled Mustang fans with lightning speed in football; high-flying dunks in basketball and a combination of quickness, endurance and “ups” in track and field, Seastrunk, 13, made a lasting impression on the junior high athletics circuit and record books.

Jump Texas: How do you feel about Lache’s performance at the Central Texas track and field district meet?

Coach Butch Olsen: Well, I’ve been coaching Lache since football [season ’05]. Knew he had a lot of talent and in track season we had to get Lache convinced … to trust his [long jump] mark instead of trying to guess…. Last year, he had a hard time hitting his mark. This year, we concentrated on getting his steps down so he could hit the board just right and use his speed to carry him (into the pit). His first track meet, we didn’t have a lot of success. By the middle of the season and going into the Cen-Tex, I knew if he could be confident in him self and trust his mark … he’d get a good jump. I was hoping he could break 21 [feet]; I knew he was going to break 20. He hit 21 one other time, lost his balance, and it knocked him back to 18, but he still won the meet. I was really excited. What’s great about Lache is that he listens to what his coaches tell him. That’s hard these days: finding kids that’ll listen to you. It’s just been a pleasure to coach him.

Jump Texas: Would you say Lache is one of the most talented athletes you’ve ever coached, or is he the most talented? Where does he rank on the scale?

Coach Butch Olsen: I’ve coached both boys and girls … and I’d say, in 13 years, he’s probably one of the most talented boys I’ve coached, especially at his age level. At 13 years old, most of the time you don’t find this kind of talent [especially] in the eighth grade. You might find it … in the sophomore year — or maybe in the junior year, but I think it’s very uncommon to find it at this age. He performs well on the football field and on the basketball court. He always tells me I get really excited when he is performing. I tell him, ‘You didn’t see me on the sidelines, shaking my fist, going, YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!?!’ That’s just the way I am: I get excited when he plays football or plays basketball, or when he’s jumping for me. I’m really get excited about the kids. I get into the game.

Jump Texas: Did Lache break the school record?

Coach Butch Olsen: He set three school records this year. He broke the 100-meter dash record. The old record was 11.21. He set a new record at 10.89. He set a new record in the long jump. The old record was 20 feet, 7 inches. His jump is 20 feet, 9 ½ inches. So that’s a new record. He also set a new record in the 400-meter run. The old record was 54.02 and … he ran a 52.25. So he set three new records, this year, all by himself. He also runs the sprint relay, and the sprint relay set a new record this year. The time on that was 45.57, and the old one was 46.02. They beat it by five-hundredths of a second. Our mile relay won first place (at district). We were only three seconds off … the record. In that one, he ran a 52.59 for his quarter in the mile relay. He performed real well there, too.

Lache Seastrunk: We were down by a little bit. I was on the curve and [the other runner] was already on the straightaway. I remembered Coach Olsen saying, ‘Never give up. Push.’ I just kept pushing, and I got him at the end.

Jump Texas: Coming into the Cen-Tex championships, how did you feel about the possibility of your performances — the potential to jump far and run fast?

Lache Seastrunk: The day of the meet I was just sitting at the back of the bus, y’know, praying, ‘Hopefully, I’m blessed — I’ll do good.’ God gave me this talent to go ahead and use it for him. The coaches — it’s just a blessing to have them around. They believe in me. They’re always helping me, working with me in everything. They never set low expectations. It’s always high. So, I was pushing [my self at district]. I knew … Coach [Olsen] was shocked [during the long jump] ‘cause I jumped out there — finally got my mark down. So, I thank him the most, because he always knows what to do. If I overshoot [the board] a little bit, he’ll scoot me back. I thank Coach Olsen, always, for never giving up on me and believing in me.

Jump Texas: What is your favorite subject?

Lache Seastrunk: … probably (career connections) and English.

Coach Butch Olsen: (In career connections), we talk about how (the kids) should dress — how they should talk when they go in to interviews.

Jump Texas: For what reason is English a favorite subject?

Lache Seastrunk: On my last test, I had a 90.

Jump Texas: Is there any area in terms of the TAKS test that you’re good at?

Lache Seastrunk: English, science, social studies, uh, math — kind of off, but I’m good in that. Those are the four I like.

Jump Texas: How do you feel you’re going to represent in the long jump, over the next four years, at the high school level?

Lache Seastrunk: Only thing I can do is work hard — put forth more effort than I did in middle school.

Jump Texas: Who do you think is the greatest high jumper, long jumper, triple jumper or pole vaulter?

Lache Seastrunk: Can it be a runner?

Jump Texas: It can be a runner.

Lache Seastrunk: Jacob Norman and Michael Johnson.

Coach Butch Olsen: If it were a long jumper, I’d say Carl Lewis. I’d have to put him right up there at the top. He always impressed me. As far as runners go, I’d have to say Michael Johnson.

Jump Texas: What is something you’d like to tell aspiring athletes?

Lache Seastrunk: If you’re struggling, never give up. At the end of the day, you’ll be successful.

2006-05-04T21:01:00.000-05:00

BRITANY PARKER

AUSTIN — McKinney High School senior Britany Parker finished second in the high school girls “A” section of the pole vault at the Texas Relays on Friday, April 7. Parker cleared a height of 12-feet-10.

Her best clearance this year, 14-feet-0, leads all high school girls state competitors and ranks her amongst the best in the United States.

2006-05-01T19:32:00.000-05:00

ATHLETES POST IMPRESSIVE TIMES, DISTANCES

THE CENTROPLEX — Waco High School half-lapper and long sprinter LeJerald Betters leads an all-star area cast of national-caliber athletes from Central Texas. Heading into the final weeks of his senior year and preparing to enroll at Baylor University in the fall, Betters ranks no. 1 on the U.S. high school boys list at 400 meters (46.84); no. 1 in Texas at 200 meters (20.81); and no. 1 in the Central Texas area in the triple jump (47-feet-10 ½). Track & Field News ranks Betters no. 20 on the U.S. men’s 400 meters list. Other nationally- and state-ranked area scholar athletes include:

KILLEEN HIGH SCHOOL

University Interscholastic League class 4A state track meet, Amateur Athletics Union and Texas Relays finalist at 100 meters, Killeen High junior Tiffany Townsend won the 100 meters at the Kangaroo Relays on Friday, March 31, running a school and city record, as well as area-leading time in the 200 meters (23.77). During the preliminaries of the short sprints at the District 16-4A Championships, Townsend lowered the KHS and city records in the 100 (11.38) and 200 (23.72), respectively, narrowly missing the all-time Central Texas area record held by Nanceen Perry in the 100 (11.30) and 200 (23.30). Townsend ranks no. 2 on the all-time area list in both sprints. Her 100-meter preliminary time qualified her in the no. 1 position for the girls’ finals and in the no. 8 position on the boys’ district list. For the 100 meters, high school boys and girls, Townsend is third fastest in the city of Killeen behind James Bivens (10.62) and Justin Harkness (10.99).

AAU Junior Olympic gold medalist and KHS freshman Omar Craddock jumped 47-feet-9 ¾ at the Ellison High School Eagle Relays on Friday, March 10, to lead all class 4A triple jumpers in Texas for six consecutive weeks. Texas Track & Field News officially recognized the outstanding distance in a late March edition of its publication. The winning triple jump distance at the Eagle Relays eclipsed the previous city of Killeen record (45-feet-6) set by Ellison High School all-around scholar athlete Tobyn Rucker in 1992. Holding the distinction of furthest distance ever jumped by a ninth-grader and 14-year-old attending a Texas high school, Craddock established a state class and age-group record. His best attempt this year fell seven and one-half inches short of the national age-group record (48-feet-4 ¼) set in 1997 by North Carolinian Greg Yeldell. He is ranked no. 1 in the Central Texas area; no. 3 in class 4A and no. 5 for the entire state of Texas in the triple jump.

Senior KHS jumpers Andrew Gumbs and Keith Ladson lead the Central Texas area in the long jump, respectively, with distances of 23-feet-5 and 24-feet-0. Gumbs ranks amongst area leaders in the triple jump (47-feet-3) and Ladson, who placed fourth in the long jump at the AAU Jr. Olympics (’05), ranks in the high jump (6-feet-8). Four consecutive weeks, Ladson held the no. 1 position in the state for the class 4A boys’ long jump; he now ranks no. 5 amongst all competitors, classes 1 through 5A.

KHS high jumper Anthony Hemmingway, the 2006 Texas Relays champion, cleared 7-feet-0 twice in competitions this year for a no. 1 area ranking. A consistent and fluid jumper, Hemingway ranks no. 6 in the state of Texas.

KHS senior Amanda McHaney set a school record in the girls’ pole vault with a 10-feet-6 victory at the Kangaroo Relays. Other top KHS performers include: Zac Davis in the 800 meters (1:59.9) and Stephen Smith (6-feet-6).

ELLISON HIGH SCHOOL

EHS senior Alesha Walker garnered a state ranking in the long (19-feet-0 ¾) and 200 meters (24.39). Walker leads all long jumpers and ranks no. 2 in the half lap for area girls. She ranks no. 6 in the long jump and no. 9 in the 200 meters for the entire state.

EHS junior triple jumper Samantha Hamilton leads the state in the triple jump (39-feet-9). Hamilton won the Texas Relays and District 13-5A track and field championships. Other top EHS performers include: Jaravise Donald in the triple jump (45-feet-7 ½) and 300 hurdles (39.16); and Brittany Clarke in the long jump (18-feet-5).

COPPERAS COVE HIGH SCHOOL

CCHS scholar athlete and junior Robert Griffin ranks in several events. A multitalented competitor and AAU Junior Olympian, Griffin is amongst the best in the area, ranking no. 1 in 110-meter hurdles (13.67); no. 2 in the 400 meters (48.49); no. 5 in the long jump (22-feet-7) and no. 7 in the high jump (6-feet-2). His 110-meter time, in fact, leads all Texans and garnered Griffin a position on the most recent Track & Field News list.

Alphonso Powell ranks amongst the best all-around athletes in the Central Texas area. The CCHS senior holds the no. 3 position in the 110-meter hurdles (14.2); no. 4 position in the long jump (22-feet-7) and no. 5 position in the triple jump (46-feet-0 ¼). Other top performers include: Samaura Jacquot in the triple jump (38-feet-5) and Valerie Hancock in the 100 hurdles (14.68).

HARKER HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL

HHHS junior Brittani Simmons ran 11.66 seconds early in the season to establish a school record. She lowered her time once more at the District 13-5A track and field championships, running 11.50 seconds for a victory and trip to the regional meet. Other top performers include: Isaac Murphy in the pole vault (14-feet-0) and Nyesha Davis in the triple jump (38-feeet-9).

TRAVIS MIDDLE SCHOOL

Thirteen-year-old Travis Middle School eighth-grader Lache Seastrunk is the only non-high school athlete on the area leaders list. Jumping 20-feet-9 ¼ at the Central Texas District track and field championships, Seastrunk claims the no. 19 position in the area, inches ahead of high school jumpers from Corsicana, Killeen and Waco.

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2006-04-28T21:13:00.000-05:00

COACH MISSY MITCHELL & VALERIE HANCOCK

WACO — Copperas Cove High School scholar athlete Valerie Hancock won the girls high jump at the Region II-5A track and field championships on Friday, April 28.

In qualifying for the class 5A Texas state meet, clearing 5-feet-8, Hancock narrowly missed a school record (5-feet-10) set by Sharon Elmore in 1984.

2006-04-28T18:48:00.000-05:00

LeJERALD BETTERS

WACO — On his first preliminary round attempt, no. 1 ranked U.S. high school boys 400-meter runner LeJerald Betters fouled a triple jump in excess of 52 feet at the Texas class 5A Region II track and field championships on Friday, April 28.

Betters immediately regrouped to post a distance of 47-feet-1, which ranked him second, behind Thaddeus Gordon of Lufkin (47-feet-5 ½), going into the finals. Betters’ third preliminary jump, a distance of 45-feet-6, measured considerably lower than his second attempt. “Aaaah — my knee popped,” the disappointed Waco High School senior could be heard saying as he exited the sandpit.

Ten minutes later, knee in tact and run-up adjusted to the board, Betters seized the lead on his first jump of the finals (47-feet-8 ½). He then covered distances of 46-feet-10 ¾ and 48-feet-2, the latter his best effort of the day.

2006-04-28T11:43:00.000-05:00

CHRIS GILLIS

WACO — Jumping more than a foot behind the take-off board, Baylor University senior Chris Gillis leaped 24-feet-11 ¾ to place second at the Michael Johnson Classic on Saturday, April 22.

Earlier this month, Gillis finished second at the Texas Relays with a distance of 7.78 meters (25-feet-6 ¼). He is ranked no. 2 on the NCAA collegiate men’s list.

2006-04-28T11:11:00.000-05:00

ADAM KEUL

WACO — Pole vaulter Adam Keul cleared 18-feet-½ to place ahead of all competitors in his specialty at Hart Patterson Athletic Complex on Saturday, April 22.

In 2004, Keul qualified for and participated in the U.S. Olympic trials. Last year, he placed fifth at the U.S. Championships in 2005.

2006-04-27T11:51:00.000-05:00

CHRISTIN CARLILE

AUSTIN — Dallas Highland Park senior Christin Carlile placed fifth at the Texas Relays on Friday, April 7, clearing a height of 3.65 meters (12-feet-0) in the pole vault.

Carlile, who ranks no. 7 in the state, cleared 12-feet-3 at the Tracy Willis Invitational on Saturday, March 18. Her post-secondary vaulting career will continue this fall at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

2006-04-27T11:07:00.000-05:00

ALESHA WALKER

BROWNWOOD — Ellison High School senior Alesha Walker jumped 19-feet-0 ½ to win the District 16-4A track and field championships on Wednesday, April 12.

A multitalented athlete, Walker also placed second in the 200 meters, running 24.39 seconds, qualifying her for the regional meet in Denton, Friday and Saturday, April 28-29.