Friday, April 25, 1997

Area teams should do well in regional meets

By BILL HART

Senior Staff Writer

Abilene has never produced the boys and girls Region I-5A champions the same year, but that could change today and Saturday in Lubbock.

Cooper won both championships at the District 4-5A meet two weeks ago, while the Abilene High girls were a close second. All three have shots at the regional crowns because they qualified quality as well as quantity.

AHS has two relay teams entered where points are doubled. But the Lady Eagles have only Ashlee Espinoza (3,200), Jamie Green (1,600), long jumper Heaven Balanciere and 200 runner Tamara Grayson in the individual events.

Cooper has long jumper-triple jumper Angela Brown, Kelly Garcia (1,600, 3,200), discus thrower Robin Padgett, 100 hurdlers Gloria McDonald and Nikki Black and intermediate hurdler Bonnie McHan, plus the sprint relay. Brown owns the best long jump in the state (19-21/2).

Cooper sent three athletes to state last year, but only boys triple jumper Chris Cherry is back. He's also in the long jump. The Cougars have Dominic Rhodes in both sprints, Michael Smith in both hurdles, Peter Abrigg in the 400, Matt Royals in discus and the 400-meter relay team.

First and second place in each event qualifies for state in two weeks.

Region I-4A

SAN ANGELO - The Big Spring girls are favored to repeat as champions, but they should get a strong test from Pampa. The boys race is open, but Big Spring should be one of the contenders.

The Lady Steers won all three relays last year, and most of those runners are back. Also returning are 300 hurdler Dee Hill and triple jumper Keesha Lott, who qualified for state. Others who placed high at regional are back, including long jumper/triple jumper/sprinter Jaclyn Owusu.

The only other girls defending champion is Brownwood shotputter Tracey Anderson.

Tory Mitchell of Big Spring qualified for state in both the 100 and 200. Big Spring also has a good sprint relay team.

Robert Reed made it to state in the triple jump as a sophomore, but missed last year because of an injury. But the Sweetwater standout is back and is also entered in the high jump. Hurdler Matt Fambro of Snyder, who made it to state as a runner-up, also returns.

Brownwood's best hope for a top two finish is quartermiler Colby Freeman, while Joaquin Cortez of Stephenville was third a year ago in the pole vault.

Region I-3A

ODESSA - The Wylie girls are seeking their third straight championship and they have enough back to do it.

The Lady Bulldogs have three relay teams and 11 individuals in the competition, including Toni Starks (100) and Heather Hatchett (100 hurdles) who made it to state last year.

Among the defending champions are triple jumper Crystal Rose of Eastland and shot putter Kristi Tyson of Comanche. Krissy Nigar of Clyde was runner-up in the long jump and Breckenridge was second in the 1,600 relay.

In the boys division, Wylie qualified both relays and six individuals for regional, including quartermiler Jeff Patty who was fourth in the 800 last year.

Colorado City has a top sprinter in Arian Emerson and a strong sprint relay team, while Clyde's Lance Ralston has thrown the discus 182-8.

Region I-2A

Trey Jernigan won the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at Sundown last year, but he's now running for Hawley. His main competition could come from teammate Josh Brazee.

Stamford could be a contender for the boys title. Paul McClendon won the long jump last year and was second in the 400, while Josh Murphree was second in the high hurdles. Both ran on the second-place sprint relay team.

Other defending champions are Roy Williams of Clarendon (400), Gary Serna of Sundown (800), Robin Hanna (pole vault) and Felipe Bernal of Iraan (discus). Serna was second in the 1,600 last year.

Cole Roberts of Shallowater won the Region I-3A discus last year, but the school dropped in classification and he'll be at the I-2A meet this year. Another state meet hopeful is Jim Ned vaulter Dwayne Dacus, who was second last year.

Girls champions returning are long jumper Brittney Lanehart of Iraan, shot putter Kim Davis of Seagraves and 300 hurdler Amber Rupprecht of Canadian.

Also back is Lara Woods of Albany, who was second in the triple jump.

Freshman Katherine Duncan of Roscoe is favored in both the 3,200 today and the 800 Saturday. Her times in both events are among the best in the state.

Region II-2A

STEPHENVILLE - Hillerie Shelton of Cisco, who won the triple jump in Region I-2A and at the state meet last year, is now competing in Region II-2A. Her 39-31/2 is also the best in the state.

Among the girls' defending champions are Cassidy Watson of Goldthwaite (1,600, 3,200) and Early discus thrower Angi McDaniel. Elizabeth Beckemeyer of Goldthwaite was second in the shot put. Adriana Osornio of Dublin was second in the 1,600 in Region I-2A last year.

Other top entries from this area are triple jumpers Julius Reed and Chancelor Fletcher of Cisco, Bangs shot putter David Story and Goldthwaite vaulter Bobby Deeds, plus the Cisco girls 400 and 1,600 relay teams.

Region I-A

LEVELLAND - Rotan, Roby and Jayton competed in Regon II-A in Abilene last year, but now they are in Region I-A along with Munday.

Konnett Mays of Roby won the 100, 200 and triple jump at regional last year and she's also in the long jump. She's capable of winning all four.

Kandis Longan of Munday won the 1,600 last year at regional and at state. She'll also run the 800. Anna Waldrip was second in the 100 hurdles last year at Knox City, but she's competing at Munday now.

Junior Serrato of Munday won the 800 last year and was third in the 1,600.

Other top area entries are long jumper-triple jumper Jay Ben Alls of Rotan, Kristi Downing of Jayton, who was second in the girls 100 last year and is a top high jumper, and Munday's Kizzie Shields in the girls 400.

Paducah is favored in the boys division and Munday in the girls. The Mogulettes also have good relay teams entered.

Region II-A

Most of the returning state meet qualifiers from this area are competing in other regionals, but champions Shawna Faircloth of Eula (high jump) and Shalon Waldrop of Robert Lee (shot put) return.

Other girls who made it to state last year are Kim Hall of Bronte (second in the 100 hurdles) and Bree Bolding of Robert Lee (second in high jump). Glenda Crawford, who lives at Priddy but goes to school at Evant, won the discus and was second in the shot put. The other defending champion is Kami Williamson of Menard (long jump).

Matt Strickland of Lueders-Avoca (400) and Rory Peacock of Woodson (high hurdles) are back to defend their crowns. Other boys winners returning are Curry Dawson of Water Valley (discus), Matt Williams of Sterling City (100 and 200) and Josh Richter of Sands (triple jump).

Baird competed in Class 2A last year and has shot putter Chad Barron and pole vaulter Eric Wall back who have done well. The Lady Bears have two good relay teams, and Adrienne Kerbow posted the best time in the low hurdles of all the entries.

Region IV-A

Korey Morris of Rising Star (300 hurdles) and Justin Simpson of Blanket (high jump) went to state last year out of Region II-A, but they are now in Region IV-A.

Sarah Dodds of Bookesmith has high jumped 5-2 and is entered in the long jump. Priddy has a top distance runner in Brandon Stegemoller.

Zephyr's girls could contend for the crown with three relays and six individuals, including Kendra Cornelius, who was second in the long jump last year at Region II-A.