KHS track on upswing

The Kilgore High School track & field team was divided on gender lines last weekend, with the boys in Gladewater on Friday and the girls in Whitehouse on Saturday.

Both teams did well again, both gradually improving, according to coaches Phillip Lane (boys) and Miller Mata (girls).

"We're just trying to build this thing," Lane said. "We're just trying to slowly but surely get interest back in the program. We're trying to get some young kids interested and show them a little success, and build off of that."

Mata, whose mother Nina guided the KHS girls track team for many years, is also enjoying the direction her kids are moving.

"I am incredibly pleased with the way our girls ran," Mata said. "Even some girls that didn't place beat their personal records, which is very good. ...I ask that they improve each week, and all of my girls did that this week."

The teams come back together this weekend for a meet in Mount Pleasant, beginning with field events at 1 p.m. Friday. The event is at the track facilities at Sam Parker Field.

Results from the girls meet in Whitehouse:

+ The 800 meter relay team of Brandi Johnson, Andrea Ashley, Tai'Shea Reese, and Shae Morgan won gold for KHS in the time of 1:45.68.

"Our 800 meter relay had the fifth-fastest time in the region, which is somewhat of a big deal, considering the teams and the amount of teams in the region," Mata said.

+ Also winning a first-place award for Kilgore on Saturday was Samone Jones, who took first in the shot put with a toss of 36 feet, 11 inches.

+ Reese finished second for KHS in the 100 meter dash (12.49 seconds) and in the long jump (17 feet, 11 inches).

+ Raven Wiley was second for the Bulldogs in the discus, a throw of 104 feet, 9 1/2 inches.

+ The relay team of Johnson, Ashley, Reese and Morgan was third in the 400 meter relay, a time of 50.34 seconds.

+ Wiley was third in the 100 meter hurdles (18.22 seconds).

+ Johnson was third in the 300 meter hurdles (49.60 seconds).

+ Ashley was sixth in the high jump (4 feet, 8 inches).

+ Yamika Smith was sixth in the 200 meter dash (27.77 seconds).

Last Friday for the Bulldogs at Gladewater, here are varsity boys results:

+ In the high jump, senior DeAundray Rossum jumped 6 feet, 4 inches, taking first place for the Bulldogs. Also, Shawn Edwards finished fourth (6 feet) in the event and Joe Colbert was sixth (5 feet, 10 inches). In the long jump, Rossum finished fifth, a jump of 21 feet, 1 1/2 inches. Two jumpers went over 22 feet. Pittsburgh's Kendall Wright went 22 feet, 11 inches to win the event.

+ Colbert ran the 100 meter dash for KHS and finished second, running it in 10.84 seconds. The winner had a 10.3.

+ Fourth place in the 4X100 relay for Kilgore was the team of Alex Portley, Colbert, Hakeem Colbert, and Rossum.

+ In the shot put, Dominique Jones took second, a throw of 44 feet.

+ Colby Rosen was second in discus, a 119 feet, 5-inch throw. "He's done an excellent job," Lane said. "He's really taken a liking to the discus. He's putting in some time. He's the kind that wants to take it home with him and practice."

Rosen won the discus competition with a throw of 120 feet, 4 inches in Carthage just before spring break.

Junior varsity boys results last Friday:

+ The JV Kilgore boys finished fourth overall (75 points).

+ The 1600 meter relay team finished third (3:55.6). Devron Harvey, Kendall Moore, Frank Reddic and Jordan Henderson composed the KHS team.

+ On the 1600 meter run, Kilgore's Joel Venegas was second (5:11.34). Kilgore's Daniel Ramos was sixth. Ramos (12 minutes) and Venegas (12:15) ran the 3200 meter run for the Bulldogs.

+ Reddic took second in the 200 meter dash in the time of 24.7 seconds.

+ Moore ran the 400 meter dash in 56.9 seconds.

+ The boys 4X200 meter relay team - was Harvey, Josh Medford, Henderson, and Courtney Maddox - finished fourth overall.

+ Kilgore's Matt Williams finished third in the 100 meter dash (11.6 seconds).

+ In the long jump, Jordan Henderson took third for Kilgore (19 feet, 3 1/2 inches). Henderson also took fifth (36 feet, 4 inches) in the triple jump.

+ In the discus, Shadow Stokes finished second for KHS (96 feet).