SHS track opens season

~Bulldogs cruise in quad meet; girls finish second

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston boys track and field team opened the season with a victory while the girls were nipped in a quadrangle held at Sikeston Public Schools Stadium.

The Bulldog boys rolled to the victory with 97 1/2 points, holding off New Madrid County Central (41), Scott City (38) and Charleston (8). Sikeston's girls scored 53 points, falling short of first place NMCC (64). Scott City had 40 points and Charleston had eight.

On the boys side, the Bulldogs had 10 first place finishes out of 18 events, including two relay events.

"We were a little bit rough around the edges but we're pleased with our kids' effort," Sikeston coach Jerry Dement said. "We've got some pieces of the puzzle to put together, but we're establishing some depth. I thought our kids competed well. We've got a lot of training to do and a lot of technical things to clean up, but overall it was pretty positive on both the boys and girls side. We'll do a lot of experimentation and get different combinations put together in the next month or so. I think we'll really round into form by the end of the year."

Sikeston won the 4 x 100 meter relay with a time of 45.16 while the 4 x 200 team won with a time of 1:34.

Sikeston junior Gavilan Bland took first in the 110 meter hurdles (17.03) and first in the pole vault (9-feet).

Sophomore Demetrius Jackson took first in the triple jump at 42'10".

Salamar Cox picked up two firsts in the shot put (48'1") and discus (114'9").

Freshman Eli Jackson took first in the long jump at 20'7 1/2". David Stovall won the 400 meter dash at 54.55. Tommie Strong tied for first in the 200 meter dash with NMCC's Dontrey Washington with a time of 23.47. NMCC's Smoot took first in the 100 meter dash at 11.24.

"I was pretty pleased with the field events," Dement said. "It seems like we did pretty well. We've got some ground to make up in the high jump but we've got potential there. Everything else I was pretty well-pleased. Our relays ran O.K. I'm not satisfied with them yet. We'll be much stronger there as we look at different combinations. I thought our open sprints ran well. New Madrid had a couple good kids that really pushed us well."

On the girls side, Sikeston had four first place finishes. Tasnean Ware won the high jump ta 4'6". Teah Atkinson had two firsts, winning the long jump (14'11 1/2") and the triple jump (30'6").

Andrea Coleman on the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 56.63.

"On the girls side, I was really pleased with their effort," Dement said. "I think we'll improve a lot as the year goes along. We've got to continue to work them hard and teach them to understand what hard work's about. I think they'll come around and get better and better. We had some pretty good performances. I think our girls will be fine."

Sikeston's track and field team will be back in action on Tuesday with a dual meet at Cape Central at 3:30 p.m.

"We're just glad the weather turned out nice and we got to run on a new track, which is fantastic," Dement said. "Everybody was really pleased with that aspect. I thought New Madrid, Scott City and Charleston all competed hard and gave us some good competition, although Charleston was a little short-handed. But we were pleased to go up against some quality competition to start off the season."