Published: April 29, 2008 01:14 am         

Area athletes earn berths at state track meet

Athletes from Boles, Caddo Mills, Leonard and Wolfe City earned berths in the state track and field meet with their performances this weekend at two regional meets.

Joe Gilliard of Boles earned a return trip to state in the Class A hurdles after winning the Region III-A title in Nacogdoches. Gilliard clocked a career-best time of 39.73 seconds.

Gilliard was fifth at state last year with a time of 41.12.

Gilliard was also fourth at the Region III-A meet in the 110-meter hurdles with a 15.85 time.

Desmond Brigham of Caddo Mills advanced to state for the third straight year in the Class 2A high jump. Brigham won the Region II-2A title in Stephenville, clearing 6 feet 4 inches though jumping off an injured left knee. Brigham was third at state last year with a clearance of 6-5 and cleared 6-6 as a sophomore to finish second.

Jaquisha Bush from Leonard is also headed back to state in the Class 2A shot put after winning the Region II-2A title with a throw of 40- 1 1/2. Bush finished third at state in 2006 with a throw of 39-3 1/4. She sat out the 2007 track and field season after becoming injured in a traffic accident.

Woilfe City is sending three athletes to state in four events.

Kealey Gaffney of Wolfe City won the girls 100-meter hurdles at the Region III-A meet with her time of 16.64.

Wolfe City’s B.K. Scott, who also won state in powerlifting, earned a trip to state in discus after finishing first at the region meet with a throw of 145-5.

James King from Wolfe City qualified for state in two events, clocking a time of 22.56 for second in the 200-meter dash and also leaped 22 feet for second in the long jump.

Charla Craddock of Farmersville placed in five events at the Region II-2A meet, taking third in the 400-meter dash (59.56), fourth in the 100-meter dash (12.62), fourth in the triple jump (35-8 1/2), fourth in the 4x100-meter relay (50.87) and sixth in the long jump (35-8 1/2).

The University Interscholastic League State Track and Field Championships are set for May 9-10 at the Mike A. Myers track and field complex in Austin.



Region III-A meet

Stephen F. Austin State University

Friday-Saturday, Nacogdoches

Region II-2A meet

Tarleton State University

Friday-Saturday, Stephenville

BOYS DIVISION

110-meter hurdles — 6. Jared Helmberger, Farmersville, 15.63.

100-meter dash — 3. Nathan Jeffery, Caddo Mills, 11.33.

3200-meter run — 6. Seth Hodges, Lone Oak, 10:31.61.

Shot put — 6. Quincy Roberts, Farmersville, 46-7 3/4.

High jump — 1. Desmond Brigham, Caddo Mills, 6-4.

GIRLS DIVISION

100-meter dash — 4. Charla Craddock, Farmersville, 12.62.

400-meter dash — 3. Charla Craddock, Farmersville, 59.56.

4x100-meter relay — 4. Farmersville (Courtni Torrez, Gabriel Clark, Lauren Helms, Charla Craddock), 50.87.

Long jump — 6. Charla Craddock, Farmersville, 16-7 1/4.

Triple jump — 4. Charla Craddock, Farmersville, 35-8 1/2.

Shot put — 1. Jaquisha Bush, Leonard, 40-1 1/2.



BOYS DIVISION

110-meter hurdles — 4. Joe Gilliard, Boles, 15.85.

400-meter dash — 6. Brixx Hawthorne, Cumby, 52.98.

300-meter hurdles — 1. Joe Gilliard, Boles, 39.73.

200-meter dash — 2. James King, Wolfe City, 22.56.

Discus — 1. B.K. Scott, Wolfe City, 145-5.

Long jump — 2. James King, Wolfe City, 22-0.

GIRLS DIVISION

100-meter hurdles — 1. Kealey Gaffney, Wolfe City, 16.64.

400-meter dash — 6. Misty Nixon, Celeste, 1:03.62.

300-meter hurdles — 6. Ariel Parker, Cumby, 51.51.

1600-meter run — 6. Anne Waidelich, Bland, 5:48.87.