Reese hoping hard work pays off
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD/ UIL STATE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

File photo by Lester Murray SHE'S NOT PLAYING IN A SANDBOX - Kilgore High School senior multi-sport athlete Tai'Shea Reese (above) is shown here practicing the long jump at the Kilgore track complex beside R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium, in preparation for the regional track meet two weeks ago. Reese won the long jump in Denton, qualifying her to move on to the state round this weekend. Reese, who also played basketball and volleyball for KHS, is making the trip to Austin for the state track meet for the second consecutive year.

The state's biggest stage for track and field will once again have a Kilgore High School performer on it come Friday morning.

KHS senior Tai'Shea Reese, who is no stranger to Austin, will represent Kilgore in the long jump at the UIL State Track and Field Championships Friday morning at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the University of Texas campus.

Reese qualified for the state long jump last year, as well, but didn't do well - she was nervous, by her own admission.

But KHS girls track coach Kerry Strong believes this might just be Tai'Shea's opportunity to shine.

REESE

"She has really been working hard," said Strong. "I don't think she's so much nervous as she is anxious. She really wants to do well. She understands that this is her last time in high school and wants to make the most of it."

Strong said today's practice will be Reese's last before the meet.

"We haven't done a lot of jumping," the coach said. "Most of her work has been conditioning and drills, but she has jumped some and looked good."

Counting her own appearance last year in Austin, Kilgore athletes have been involved in several state track meets since the new century began. Whitney Clark competed for Kilgore in girls hurdles in both the 2004 and 2005 state track meets, and Courtney Thomas represented KHS in the boys short-distance runs in 2005.

Reese goes in with good momentum, having won the girls long jump at the UIL Class 4A Region II meet on April 26 at the University of North Texas in Denton. That day, she was at least a foot better than her nearest competitor, and finished with a best of 19 feet, 9 inches, also now her personal best.

Strong said Tai'Shea is working on methods for a better performance in Austin.

"If she can get the height and pull her knees," he explained, "it will allow her to glide a little more and increase her distance. I think she is ready. I desperately want her to do well. She's one of the best kids I have ever coached, and I want her hard work to pay off."

See how Tai'Shea did in Sunday's Kilgore News Herald sports section.