Three KHS tracksters qualify for regionals
HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

The District 12-4A Track & Field Championships are only half-over, and already, Kilgore High School's track team has three regional meet qualifiers.

Tai'Shea Reese, Samone Jones and Joe Colbert each qualified for regionals on Tuesday at Hallsville High School. Reese qualified in the long jump, Jones in the shot put and Colbert in the boys long jump.

The meet was to be completed today.

Reese, who not only made regionals last year but moved on to the state meet in Austin, is looking for a return trip. She's well on her way. In her long jump win on Tuesday, Reese had one of her best jumps of the year: 19 feet, 2 inches. Jones finished second in the shot put, earning her spot in regionals (at the University of North Texas in Denton on April 25-26).

Also for the KHS girls, coached by Kerry Strong, Jessica Shepherd qualified in Tuesday's preliminaries to run in today's 200 meter dash final; Reese qualified for the finals for the 100 meter dash; Shae Morgan qualified in the 400; and Brandi Johnson qualified to run in today's 300 meter hurdles. A top three finish means they'll also qualify for a spot in Denton.

Colbert, a senior who has had a phenomenal season, placed second in the boys long jump, a best of 22 feet, 1/4 inch, earning a trip to North Texas. Xavian Sanders also competed for Kilgore, finishing fifth (21 feet, 1 inch) and Steven Smith did as well, finishing seventh.

Kilgore's Dominique Jones finished fourth in the shot put (46 feet, 3 inches).

The boys mile run, discus, high jump, triple jump and all relays were to be contested today, as is the 100 meter dash finals. Colbert qualified first in the preliminaries for the 100, and had the third-best time in the 200 meter dash prelims.

Joel Venegas finished fifth in the 3200, with a time of 10 minutes, 53.4 seconds.

In junior varsity, Jordan Williams has qualified to run in the 400 meter dash, and Robert Morgan has qualified to run in the 200.