Published: May 12, 2008 11:45 am         

Lindsey strikes gold at state meet

By Craig Holamon
sports@mineralwellsindex.com

AUSTIN — Four track athletes from Mineral Wells and the surrounding area came on strong on Friday during the opening day of the 2008 Texas UIL state track and field meet at the University of Texas.

Strawn High School’s Johnathon Lindsey won a state championship while Mineral Wells’ Jeff Smith, Santo’s Keaton Mata and Strawn’s Lacey Day each turned in spectacular performances.

The following is an event-by-event look at the area results:

Lindsey grabs gold medal

Strawn High School’s Johnathon Lindsey ripped a throw of 174-3 on his way to a first-place finish in the Class 1A Boys Discus Throw.

Lindsey’s winning throw was almost six feet longer than the event’s second-place finisher.

White Deer’s Cameron Armstrong had a throw of 168-4 and finished in second place while Chilton’s Ted Crews had a toss of 159-0 and claimed third place.

Class 1A Boys Discus Throw: 1. Johnathon Lindsey, Strawn, 174-3; 2. Cameron Armstrong, White Deer, 168-4; 3. Ted Crews, Bartlett, 159-0; 4. Nathan Green , Hart, 154-0; 5. Karl Willie, Ben Bolt, 151-4 ; 6. Broderick Scott, Wolfe City, 151-4; 7. Austin Cherry, Chester, 135-10; 8. Zed Hawkins, Albany, 135-4. National record: Niklas Arrhenius, Orem Mt. View, UT, 234-3, 2,001. State record: Roger Roesler, Round Rock, 208-08 1,996. Class 1A record: Jim Verden, Wheeler, 183-5, 1,977.

Smith finishes fourth

Mineral Wells High School senior Jeff Smith posted a career-best time of 38.43 seconds and claimed fourth place in the Class 4A Boys 300-meter hurdles.

Mineral Wells High School head track coach Jackie Harvey was pleased.

“Jeff ran his best time, anytime you have a personal best, it’s good,” Harvey said.

Smith said he was happy with the way he ran after what he called a disappointing performance at last year’s state meet.

“It was good to come back this year. I was here last year and didn’t do a good job this year. It was good to have a chance to come back and do a better job,” Smith said. “I ran my best time but the race wasn’t clean at all. I hit the sixth hurdle. I just pushed it over and kept going.”

Harvey said determination keyed Smith’s track career at MWHS.

“Jeff told me he almost quit when he was a freshman,” the Mineral Wells coach said. “He said he didn’t think he was good enough. It just shows what can happen when you don’t give up.”

Class 4A Boys 300-Meter Hurdles: 1. Chance Casey, Crosby, 36.32; 2. Tyler Stephenson, Lancaster, 37.88; 3. D’Korion Ford , Bay City, 38.24; 4. Jeff Smith, Mineral Wells, 38.43; 5. Christopher Neugent, Lancaster, 38.68. 6. Marcus Calhoun, EL Paso Austin, 38.72; 7. Michael Reese SR Pfluger Hendrick, 39.75; -- Andre Sanders, JR CP Vista Ridge, DQ. National record: George Porter, Lompoc Cabrillo, CA., 35.32, 1,985. State record: Robert Griffin, Copperas Cove, 35.33, 2,007. Class 4A record: Robert Griffin, Copperas Cove, 35.33, 2,007.

Day takes fifth place

Strawn’s Lacey Day opened the meet with a fifth place finish in the Class 1A Girls pole vault.

Day nailed a career-best vault of 10-0 and finished in fifth place on Friday in the Class 1A Girls Pole Vault.

Day said her first trip to Mike A. Myers Stadium was special.

“It’s awesome,” Day said of the atmosphere at the state meet. “I’m glad I had a BP (personal best) today.”

Day, who qualified for the state meet with a vault of 9-6, scored two points with the fifth-place finish while Lindsey, who had a throw of 171-0 at the regional meet, gave Strawn another 10 points.

Kelsey Wilson of Rocksprings finished in first place with a vault of 11-0 while Evant’s Sarah Vann had a vault of 10-9 and finished in second place.

Albany’s Kayli Norton and Sudan’s Mariah Steinbock finished ahead of Day with vaults of 10-6.

Class 1A Girls Pole Vault: 1. Kelsey Wilson , Rocksprings, 11-0; 2. Sarah Vann, Evant, 10-9; 3. Kayli Norton, Albany, 10-6; 4. Mariah Steinbock, Sudan, 10-6; 5. Lacey Day, Strawn, 10-0; 6. Megan Cook, Overton, 9-6; 7. Valerie Miller, Lefors, 8-6; 8. Brandi Jones, Lovelady, 8-0. National record: Mary Saxer, Lancaster, NY., 13-9, 2,005. State record: Shade Weygandt, Mansfield, 13-7, 2,007; Class 1A record: Amanda Alley, Crosbyton 12-0. 2,004/2,005.

Mata wins bronze medal

Santo’s Keaton Mata grabbed a bronze medal with a third-place finish in the Class 1A Boys Long jump.

Mata, who made his third consecutive appearance at the state meet, took the bronze medal in the Class 1A Boys Long Jump with a leap of 22-8.25.

The junior from Santo High School, who had a leap of 22-5.75 at the regional meet, scored six points for the Wildcats.

Class 1A Boys Long Jump 1A: 1. Tyler Speed, Jayton, 22-11.50; 2. Montraze Landrum, Chilton, 22-10; 3. Keaton Mata, Santo, 22-8.25; 4. James King, Wolfe City, 22-3; 5. Calub Brown 22-1; 6. Stryker Pena, Samnorwood, 21-11.25; 7. Matt White, Port Aransas, 21-8.75; 8. John Heffley, Sundown, 21-5. National record: James Stallworth, Tulare, CA., 26-4.75, 1,989. Class 1A record: Charles Clifton, Rio Vista, 24-6.50, 1,964.

Notes ... Gordon hurdler Amber Elkins and Perrin-Whitt’ triple jumper Becca Singleton each made state-meet appearances on Saturday at the Mike A. Myers Stadium. See the Tuesday Index for the results.