Eight qualify for state from Eastern C

Eight Phillips County Class C athletes will be represented at the State C Track and Field meet in Laurel on Thursday, May 23, through Saturday, May 25.

The Dodson Coyotes, Saco Panthers, and Whitewater Penguins track teams fared well at the Eastern C Divisional meet in Lambert last weekend, placing at least one state qualifier their boys and girls teams.

The Whitewater Lady Penguins placed highest amongst the six Phillips County squads, taking fifth place in the girls meet with a total of 47 points. The Dodson Lady Coyotes were eleventh with ten points. Saco took thirteenth with six points. In the boys meet Dodson took thirteenth with four points, and Saco and Whitewater tied for fifteenth with two points.

Four out of five Penguins that competed at the Eastern C will be headed to state this week.

"This is a very young group of kids with no senior or junior leadership, they were like seasoned veterans in the way they handled themselves with the nerves," Coach Charlene Wasson said. "They stayed calm and collected in the things that they did and they just really had a focus on getting themselves to state and they did that."

Whitewater freshman Hannah Hanley was the lone divisional champion among Phillips County teams last weekend winning the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash and placing in both the 300 hurdles and and 100 hurdles.

In winning the sprinting events Hanley crushed Whitewater High School records, posting a new personal best if 13.44 seconds in the 100 and a new personal best of 27.40 in the 200.

Hanley took fourth in the 300 hurdles with a personal best of 50.21. She took sixth in the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.80 a new best, placing at the meet but not qualifying for state. This season, only the top five qualified for state out of the Eastern C.

Teammate Kia Wasson, a sophomore, took second place in the 3200 with a time of 13:29.10 and third in the 1600 with a time of 6:17.96.

Whitewater's Kelsee Cummings took second in shot put with a throw of 34-06. Cummings had a throw of 75-11 in discus placing thirteenth in the event.

Saco freshman Jaycee Erickson qualified for state in pole vault by clearing 8-0 and taking third. She just missed out on qualifying in javelin and 100 hurdles, taking eighth place in both events with a throw of 92-06 in javelin and a time of 18.22 (new best) in the 100 hurdles.

Dodson junior Christina Jaynes took third place in discus with a throw of 100-05. Jaynes also took fourth place in shot put with a throw of 34-06.

Coyote Michael Jaynes took fourth in triple jump leaving a mark at 39-11. He also took seventh in long jump with a leap of 17-09.50.

Whitewater sophomore Beau Simonson took fifth place in shot put with a throw of 40-01.25. He was also ninth in discus with a throw of 109-04.

Saco senior Josh Salveson took fifth place in pole vault, qualifying for state for the first time in his high school career.

Dodson sophomore Jeramiah Benson posted a personal best in the 400. His time was 59.47, giving him tenth place in the race.

Dodson Head Coach Tianna Bloomer was thrilled with her team's performance at the Eastern C.

"They did wonderful," Coach Bloomer said. "Tina finally threw over 100 again. Michael learned to fly. And Jera ran his best time ever! Extremely pleased with their performance. Michael was so pumped to place and go to state. He was almost there for long jump. Very close."

Lady Penguin Petya Rozalinova took twelfth in discus with a personal best of 79-02. Rozalinova also took thirteenth in shot put with a personal best of 24-10.

Saco Sophomore Chayten Pippin took thirteenth in the 400 with a time of 1:00.26. He also had a distance of 32-11 in triple jump, placing sixteenth in the event.