Pancoast highlights record-setting day

One steady, methodical step at a time, Central's Jennifer Pancoast is establishing herself as the premier girls distance runner in Southeast Missouri.

On Saturday, the blonde-haired sophomore made herself at home at her own school's Cape Relays at Abe Stuber Track and Field Complex. She helped her 3,200-meter relay team christen the day with a victory in meet-record time, later set her own meet record in winning the 1,600 and ran the final 1,600 leg on the distance medley relay.

The three victories also helped Pancoast earn one of the meet's four personal awards as the female track MVP.

"The sky's the limit for her," Central coach Lawrence Brookins said. "The only thing that could stop her is injury."

On Saturday it was nothing but blue skies above with ideal conditions.

"This is my favorite meet of the year just because I like the distance medley and I like all the relays," Pancoast said. "I knew there was going to be some competition here today."

Pancoast teamed with Linnea Woldtvedt, Holly Shaffer and Alex Wieser to run the 3,200 relay in 9:42.84, breaking the meet record of 9:46 set by Jackson in 1994. The foursome's season-best time left them three seconds short of the school record.

Missing from the field was Marquette, which accounts for Central's only loss in the 3,200 relay this year. Marquette dropped out of the field earlier in the week and Central cruised to a 29-second victory.

"We need them to pace us a little bit better and push us a little bit more and I think we can definitely get that record," Pancoast said.

Pancoast matched her career-best in winning the 1,600 in 5:11.33. She teamed with Wieser, Stephanie Wehner and Woldtvedt to win the medley relay in 13:18.6.

Central's girls finished with six victories Saturday. The Tigers got a winning throw of 39 feet, 7 inches by Ashley Colon in the shot put. Colon's throw helped Central to the shot put relay title, and she also had a hand in winning the discus relay.

Central's boys also won six titles, including four relay events. The Tigers' 1,600 relay team of Monroe Hicks, Kenneth Lowe, Will Johnson and Calen Wills ended the meet in a season-best 3:27.63. Central also won the long jump relay and shot put relay. First-place individual performances by Anthony Harris in the long jump (21-10 3/4) and Mark Egbuka in the shot put (47-6 1/2) helped the Tigers to relay titles.

Jackson won five events on the girls' side. Nicole Fadler won the 3,200 (12:99.50), and Trisha Kluesner claimed the 110 hurdles (15.87). Heather West won the triple jump (36-7 1/4) and helped the Indians to the relay title. The foursome of Jessica Venable, Rachel Lowes, Rebecca Martin and Heather Jones won the 1,600 relay in 4:12.53.

Stuart McIntosh turned in the Jackson boys' lone victory, clearing 13-6 in the pole vault.

Notre Dame turned in one victory and set six school records.

"Running against this kind of competition brings out the best in our kids," Notre Dame coach Bill Davis said.

Tyler Cuba set a school record in the boys' 100, winning in 10.64 seconds. For the first time this season on a big stage, the Bulldogs were able to flash their one-two punch in the event. Adam Prasanphanich, out nearly a month with mononucleosis, placed third in a personal-best time of 10.79.

"It's great to have that kind of a quality teammate to come back and really give you a lift," Cuba said. "He's going to push me, and I'm going to push him. He's a great teammate who always wants to help someone else get better."

Prasanphanich, who practiced earlier this week for the first time, placed fourth in the state meet last year.

"I'm feeling all right," Prasanphanich said. "I can tell I'm not in shape. My energy level is lower than when I'm at my best, but hopefully by the time districts come around I can work myself up to where I need to be."

Cuba appears to have put his hamstring problems, which forced him to miss the state meet last year, behind him.

"He's moving this year more than he was last year, definitely," Prasanphanich said.

Perryville's 3,200 relay team, which returns Terry Wood and Kent Hadler from a squad that place third in the state last year, won in 8:23.47. Chase Collon and Ryan Shea completed the winning team.

Perryville's Sam Zahner won the discus (138-3) and helped the Pirates to the relay title. The Pirates' Chris Porter captured the triple jump (45-10 3/4).

Murphysboro accounted for the girls' field MVP and boys track MVP. Keyoina Burks, unbeaten in the sprints this season, had a hand in four victories. She won the 100 and long jump and led Murphysboro to wins in the 400 and 800 relays. Kevin Doran won the 1600 (4:20) and 3200 (9:48).

Sikeston's Michael Colon was voted the male track MVP.

jbreer@semissourian.com

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