By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com
Nearly two dozen athletes from Hopkins County will participate in this weekend's Kentucky State Track Championships at the University of Louisville's Owsley Fraizer Cardinal Park with many opportunities to return some hardware.
Madisonville-North Hopkins boasts a county-best 16 different participating athletes followed by five from Hopkins County Central and one from Dawson Springs.
Maroon high-jumper Jon Hood returns to state as a senior one year after finishing runner-up. In 2008, Hood went to a jump-off before ultimately placing second.
This year, Hood is ranked No. 1 in the state and tied for 30th in the nation. Hood earned the ranking with a 6-10 jump, a personal best, at the Marshall County Twilight Relays on May 5. Hood took first place during regionals with a jump of 6-6.
North boys coach Eric McDurmon said he thinks a height of 6-8 could take this year's first place, but Hood has higher goals.
"I know he's hoping to get a shot at the state record," McDurmon said. "The state record is 6-11 3/4, I believe."
Joe Kington will also return for his second year as a state high-jumper after clearing the 6-0 qualifying mark. Nick Hanvy (disc, shot) and L.J. Gregory (triple jump) will also compete in the field events. Gregory will run with Rashad Combs, J.C. Wade and Martinez Davis on the school's 4x100-meter relay.
Madisonville-North Hopkins boasts a county-best 16 different participating athletes followed by five from Hopkins County Central and one from Dawson Springs.
Maroon high-jumper Jon Hood returns to state as a senior one year after finishing runner-up. In 2008, Hood went to a jump-off before ultimately placing second.
This year, Hood is ranked No. 1 in the state and tied for 30th in the nation. Hood earned the ranking with a 6-10 jump, a personal best, at the Marshall County Twilight Relays on May 5. Hood took first place during regionals with a jump of 6-6.
North boys coach Eric McDurmon said he thinks a height of 6-8 could take this year's first place, but Hood has higher goals.
"I know he's hoping to get a shot at the state record," McDurmon said. "The state record is 6-11 3/4, I believe."
Joe Kington will also return for his second year as a state high-jumper after clearing the 6-0 qualifying mark. Nick Hanvy (disc, shot) and L.J. Gregory (triple jump) will also compete in the field events. Gregory will run with Rashad Combs, J.C. Wade and Martinez Davis on the school's 4x100-meter relay.
Senior Jesse Donahue will run in the 400-meter dash for the second year in a row. Donahue will join Maarten Adams, Jordan Wilson and Austin Schuknecht on the 4x400 relay team.
As for the girls, DeDe McReynolds has been among the strongest throwers in the region and will double her chances at earning one of the state's top performances by participating in both the shot and disc, coach Shelia Clay said.
Like the boys, the Lady Maroons will also send a 4x100 team represented by sprinters Koya and Syimone Baker, Taylor Hampton and Tori Wallace.
For Central, freshman Shalara Wells, who captured first in the 110 hurdles at regional, will lead a promising group of athletes.
"She works real hard," co-coach David Sullivan said. "She's at practice every day. She had a little knee injury close to the end of the season, but she was cleared from the doctor. It was just a bruise I think.
"She's pretty strong on it right now, so that's not really a big worry for us."
Seniors Wesley Ipock and Cody Heady will run in the one-mile and 100-meter dash respectively. In the field, Brianna Cobb will throw shot and Feiarra Foster will compete in the long jump. Cobb claimed first in the shot at region.
Co-coach Stephen Wood said he thinks Cobb's experience will give her a good chance to compete for the top spot at state. Wood added his feelings about taking five athletes to state as a first-year coach.
"It feels pretty good," he said. "Most of it is up to the kids and how hard they're willing to push themselves in practice and meets."
At Dawson Springs, all hopes at earning points will be pinned on high-jumper Jessica Budd, who took second place at regionals with a personal-best height of five feet.
"She's got a long skinny body and that's perfect for high jump," coach Toni Dickens said. "Last year, I think she usually jumped 4-8, 4-10, but this year she's been consistently getting first or second place at her meets."
Central will compete in class 2A events today while Dawson (1A) and North (3A) will participate Saturday.
As for the girls, DeDe McReynolds has been among the strongest throwers in the region and will double her chances at earning one of the state's top performances by participating in both the shot and disc, coach Shelia Clay said.
Like the boys, the Lady Maroons will also send a 4x100 team represented by sprinters Koya and Syimone Baker, Taylor Hampton and Tori Wallace.
For Central, freshman Shalara Wells, who captured first in the 110 hurdles at regional, will lead a promising group of athletes.
"She works real hard," co-coach David Sullivan said. "She's at practice every day. She had a little knee injury close to the end of the season, but she was cleared from the doctor. It was just a bruise I think.
"She's pretty strong on it right now, so that's not really a big worry for us."
Seniors Wesley Ipock and Cody Heady will run in the one-mile and 100-meter dash respectively. In the field, Brianna Cobb will throw shot and Feiarra Foster will compete in the long jump. Cobb claimed first in the shot at region.
Co-coach Stephen Wood said he thinks Cobb's experience will give her a good chance to compete for the top spot at state. Wood added his feelings about taking five athletes to state as a first-year coach.
"It feels pretty good," he said. "Most of it is up to the kids and how hard they're willing to push themselves in practice and meets."
At Dawson Springs, all hopes at earning points will be pinned on high-jumper Jessica Budd, who took second place at regionals with a personal-best height of five feet.
"She's got a long skinny body and that's perfect for high jump," coach Toni Dickens said. "Last year, I think she usually jumped 4-8, 4-10, but this year she's been consistently getting first or second place at her meets."
Central will compete in class 2A events today while Dawson (1A) and North (3A) will participate Saturday.
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