Amherst hosts track invitational

By Laura Clark

Published: April 24, 2008

Earning big points in the field events and sprint relays, the Amherst girls team finished 12th out of 23 teams on April 19 in the Amherst Lancer Invitational, which drew several of the top Group AAA and AA teams in the state. E.C.Glass won first place, followed by Brookville, Spotswood and Fort Defiance.

“Some of our kids really rose to the occasion and ran some of their best times,” Amherst coach Lance Carter said. “Our girls 4 X 400 was really impressive. They almost qualified for state.”

This relay placed second with a time of 4:16.76, which Carter said was two seconds off the fastest 1,600-meter relay he’s ever coached. The relay included Allyssa Knight, Olivia Turner, Jessie Schnurer and Candace Davis.
Knight and Davis were also on the third-place 400-meter relay team with Lacear Hubbard and Shawna Kyle. Knight said the handoffs improved from previous meets, and every runner did her equal share, especially pushing the next leg.

“We vibe off each other,” Knight said. “I always feel like my biggest competition is my team itself because we all do really good, and we try our hardest at practice.”

The bulk of the Lancer points came in the field events. Thrower Jericah Glover was fifth in discus and ninth in shot put. Indoor state champion Lacear Hubbard placed fourth in long jump and seventh in triple jump. Davis placed eighth in triple jump. Turner tied for seventh in high jump, while Hubbard tied for 14th.

The boys’ track team also relied on top finishes in field events to earn an 18th place as a team out of 22. Top jumper and sprinter Jeremy Lewis—recovering from injuries—did not compete. Senior jumper Jeff Ware is nursing shin splints, but competed and won fourth place in high jump. Chris Cabell was fourth in triple jump.

Cabell also ran the third leg of the fourth-place 1,600-meter relay team, which included Antwon Chilton, Terrance Morse and James Hutchinson. Senior Kyle Brown threw 122 feet on his way to a 10th place finish in the discus, a one-foot improvement from his personal record.

“I think it’s the most competition in an invitational I’ve been to all year,” Brown said. “I probably could have thrown it further, but the wind was getting under the discus.”

Brown said he is looking ahead to the Seminole District Meet in May and finds friendly competition against his own team, especially fellow senior Jamie Braxton. Brown says he’s got Braxton 2-1 for wins on the season.

“We’re just trying to get the most points to win districts. If I can beat him, I’ll win it,” he said, pointing to Braxton, who shook his head.
Carter said the teams showed in the invitational they are on schedule to peak for district, region and state competition.
Brown said he would like to throw into the 140-foot range, and break the school record, as well as be in the top five in the regional meet.

“It depends on the weather,” he said. “If the wind gets behind you, you can easily throw another 20 feet.”

The Lancers also had some solid finishes in the middle distance events. Chilton placed ninth in the 400, and Laurice Garland was fifth in the 300-meter hurdles.