Local Weather Forecast
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Complete Forecast for  Jul 05 2008

By SHANE STARK
Staff Writer

AUSTIN — No practice.

No problem.

Without attempting to land his jumping foot during the week, Pittsburg senior Kendall Wright made a lasting mark Friday. Wright, the defending champion, set a new Class 3A record in the boys triple jump at the UIL State Track and Field Championships at The University of Texas’ Mike A. Myers Stadium.

On a day when temperatures neared triple digits, Wright gave the mid-afternoon crowd an injection of energy by leaping 50 feet, 8 3/4 inches. Before a large support section that rivaled any on the day, Wright broke the long-standing mark of 50-7 3/4 that Atlanta’s Dedrick Kidd set in 1991.

“I thought it was just a personal-best,” said Wright, who just after the jump flanked UIL officials to see the measurement. “It felt good. I feel good.”

Wright, who signed with Baylor to play football and basketball last February, faulted on his first attempt. He appeared to jump farther than the record on the attempt, but his lift foot landed just past the board.

Settled down, Wright began his short trip to the record books a few minutes later.

“I was just happy to get a jump,” Wright said.

Wright, who pocketed a matching set of golds last season (triple jump and long jump), went for additional hardware during the night session. However, he finished fifth in the 100-meter dash in a time of 11.00 seconds.

Ironically, that was the only event at which he practiced this week. Pittsburg coach Dexter Patrick said continuous rain in East Texas caused Wright to avoid the triple jump.

“We have a slippery board at our track,” he said. “All he did was practice for the 100. … (But) he likes competition.”

Much of the competition came from Taylor’s Mark Jackson. Jackson, who earned the silver, jumped 49-0 on his third attempt of the first round.

Crockett’s Lonnie Bacon took home the bronze with a leap of 47-07. Bullard’s Charlie Moore came in seventh at 44-06.

Wright, who improved upon his qualifying jump by almost two feet, wasn’t done after setting the record. His others were 48-09 and 49-08. He faulted on his final two attempts, even though the crowd stood and begged him to break his own mark.

“He’s a phenom,” Patrick said.

In the long jump, meanwhile, Wright challenged a strong field in which four sprinters broke 11 seconds. The top four were Snyder’s Kenneth Turner (10.61), Madisonville’s Brock Taylor (10.73), Fairfield’s Gavan Bass (10.81) and Ingleside’s Jay Mueller (10.97).

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Wymer Pulls Off Big Upset

Arp’s Randi Wymer, the lowest seed running, overcame Wallis Brazos’ Haleigh Pustka with a strong surge down the stretch to capture the bronze medal in the 2A girls 3200 run.

Wymer finished in 12:02.81.

Hamilton’s Amber Weems earned gold in 11:46.31, while Geronimo Navarro’s Courtney Haas captured silver in 11:50.01.

Elkhart’s Rebecca Jensen, who finished second to Wymer at the Region III meet, was the lowest seed coming in. She wasn’t present for the race.

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Loden Misses Rallies In Long Distance Events

White Oak’s Catherine Loden started the day on a down note, finishing fourth in the 3A girls 3200 run (11:36.56) after setting the class record in the event only two years ago.

But she ended on the medal stand, capturing bronze in the 1600 in 5:02.83.

The finish came in one of the fastest 3A races in state history.

Iowa Park’s Kelsey Johnson (4:53.75) and Argyle’s Kristie Krueger (4:54.36) both broke the state record, which Krueger set last year in 4:57.43.

Loden finished fourth in the 3200 in 11:36.56.

Loden, who didn’t compete in the state meet last season due to injury, came in with the top qualifying time (11:05.47). However, she was outrun by Iowa Park’s Kelsey Johnson (10:56.86), Canyon’s Aries Bazulda (11:23.23) and Kingwood Park’s Bree Schrader (11:29.75).

Spring Hill’s Amber Moore finished fifth in 11:53.98.

Krueger broke Loden’s state mark last year (10:41.83).

In the 3A boys 3200, Wills Point’s Michael Morris placed fifth in 10:02.18.

Lufkin Hudson’s Jose Leos (10:09.56) and Kyle Hawley (10:18.09) finished sixth and seventh. White Oak’s Spencer Lynn rounded out the field (10:27.88).

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Arp’s Title Push Begins Slowly

The Arp boys team, which with three relays qualified has a legitimate shot at the team championship, will enter today pointless after one event.

Tigers senior standout Trumaine Jones, who has been battling a slight injury, finished seventh in the long jump at 20-11. Jones, who will compete in three events today, came in with the second longest qualifying jump (22-06).

However, he couldn’t overcome the six athletes who finished ahead of him. The medalists were Floydada’s Aarrhon Flores (23-02 3/4), Hitchcock’s Anthony McClain (22-11 1/5) and Olney’s Cody Cope (22-08 1/4).

With four events remaining, Arp is still eligible for 60 points.

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Silver Spoon Afternoon

Three area athletes left Myers Stadium with silver medals in field events.

In the 3A boys shot put, Canton’s Keavon Milton came in second place with a throw of 57-0. He finished behind Whitesboro’s Hayden Baillio (66-0 1/4).

In the 3A girls shot put, Spring Hill’s Leslie Jordan recorded a 41-04 3/4 to place behind Crandall’s Emily Atkins (43-00 1/4). Jordan came in sixth in the discus (129-08).

In the 1A girls high jump, Cayuga’s Jamie Hope ended the evening on the medal stand at 5-05. Rochelle’s Bonnie Richardson took the top podium after clearing 5-05