Junior high girls' track teams finish year strong
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy THE JASPER JUNIOR HIGH eighth grade team includes, left to right, Coach Jacqueline Canton, Jasmine Bronson, Jocelyn Land, Shakil Babino,Andreia Castle,Andrea Barnes. Not pictured are Charlotte O'Brien, Kelsey Murray, and Alexa Dutton.

Jasper Junior High girls track teams turned in a strong season, finishing second and third at the district meet last week.

"I'm especially proud of the seventh graders," Coach Jacqueline Canton said. "They finished in second place. They've been the runner-up in every meet we've competed in and there are only seven girls on the team. That's quite an accomplishment."

Kim Deshotel took first place in three events- long jump where she set a new school record, triple jump, and the 100-meter dash.

Additional first place individual medalists included Kiara Cauley, 200-meter hurdles; and Nykista Hennington, 100 meter hurdles.

Ebony Adams placed second in the triple jump and the 200 meter dash, Nacambria Shaw, second in the 100 meter dash; Daquita Evans, third place 200 meter dash; and Nykista Hennington, sixth place 200 meter hurdles.

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy THE JASPER JUNIOR HIGH seventh grade team includes, left to right, front row, Daquita Evans, Kiara Cauley, Nacambria Shaw, Gabriella Perdchizzi, Ebony Adams. Back row, left to right, Nykista Hennington,T'Lexus McQueen, Kim Deshotel,Taylor Manicom.

Both the 400-meter and 800 meter relay teams also took first place.

Runners were Shaw, Adams, Evans, and Deshotel.

The eighth grade team, who finished in third place, had a season record of three first place wins going into district competition and were expected to stay on top; however, injuries reduced their numbers from 14 to eight.

In field events, Charlotte O'Brien placed second in high jump, Jocelyn Land, second place triple jump; Andrea Barnes, sixth in long jump and fourth in triple; Alexa Dutton, first place, shot put and second in discus; Shakil Babino, second place, shot put; and Andreia Castle, third in shot and sixth in discus.

O'Brien took the top spot in the 2400 meter run and third in the 400m dash. Kelsey Murray was fifth in the 800 meters; Jasmine Bronson, fifth in the 100 meter dash; and Jocelyn Land, sixth in the 200 meter dash.

The 800-meter relay team of Barnes, Land, Bronson, and Hannah Vickers won second place.

The 1600-meter team of Barnes, Vickers, Murry, and O'Brien came in fifth.

"The girls did an exceptional job this year," Canton said. "I am proud of all of them."