SHS gearing up for sectionals

BONNE TERRE -- The Class 3 Sectional 1 track and field meet will be held at North County High School in Bonne Terre tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Sikeston will be sending several athletes as they will be vying for the right to compete in the state track meet in Jefferson City.

The Bulldogs will be well represented on both the boys and girls side as five relay teams will be competing. The athletes qualified for the sectional meet by placing in the top four at last week's district meet.

To qualify for state, athletes will need to finish in the top four once again. Only this time, team points are not kept.

"I'm pleased with what we qualified through," said Sikeston coach Jerry Dement. "You always would like to qualify more. We felt like the only bump in the road was our pole vaulter didn't make it. He had a great year and had one bad day at the wrong time. We're pleased with both boys and girls relays. They've competed well all year."

There will be 30 teams competing with District 1 and 2 each sending 15 teams.

"We feel like we can get all our events through if we run well," said Dement. "All the kids we had qualify have had a good year. We're young, but we also have some that returned from last year that qualified for the state. We've got a little experience out there. The kids have been focused this week. We have a realistic chance to get most of our kids through.

The Bulldogs are seeded in the top four in every event except in the boys 4 x 100 meter relay team, which is seeded seventh.

B.J. Green and Bryan Branion have traded off for one of the positions. Sophomores Tommie Strong, Brandon Wright and Brandon Washington will also compete.

"We're going to take some chances on that one and go for broke and hope for the best," said Dement. "We're going to try a few things with them."

Wright, Washington, Strong and David Stovall will also be running on the 4 x 200 relay team. Freshman Dominic Fondon may also get a chance to run as an alternate.

Fondon will also be competing in the long and triple jumps.

"He's kind of continuing the tradition of top-notch jumpers here," said Dement. "Sikeston's kind of been the jumping university and he's joining a long list of great jumpers we've had here."

Salamar Cox is seeded high in the shot put and senior Stephon Turner has a good chance to advance in the 110 meter high hurdles.

"He's been top two or three in every meet this year," said Dement. "He's going to have a good chance to qualify through."

Stovall is also a top threat to advance in the 400 meter dash.

On the girls side, Jackie Nance, LaShawna Turner, Michel 'Le Flye and Chasman Herrion will be competing in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 meter relays.

Turner and Herrion will also team with Teah Atkinson and Traci Jackson in the 4 x 400 meter relay team.

Herrion, a state qualifier in the 100 meter dash last year, is seeded high in the event again this year after winning last week's district meet.

"She's got a great chance to get through," said Dement of Herrion. "She probably could've won the 200 at the district meet but we pulled her out to run on another relay and we're appreciative of that. She was able to run and help get the 4 x 400 team through."