Kilgore's Reese finishes third in state
In two trips to the state meet, Reese earned medals twice
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

A NICE FINISH TO A GREAT ATHLETIC CAREER - Kilgore High School senior Tai'Shea Reese (left) smiles as she is on the podium Friday morning to receive her medal for third place in the Class 4A girls long jump at the UIL State Track and Field Championships, held at the University of Texas in Austin. Reese had a best jump of 18 feet, 11 3/4 inches on Friday, good enough to get her in front of all the competitors except two. Reese was competing in her second straight state track meet, having placed second in the long jump last year. The jump ended quite an athletic career at KHS, one in which she stood out as a member of the basketball team, helping them make the playoffs in a couple of her high school seasons, as well as her track success (not just individually, but also as a leg of the KHS girls relay team. Reese also played volleyball.

Very few people can say they were even competing in this weekend's UIL State Track and Field Championships, let alone that they placed in the top three in one of the events.

But Kilgore High School's Tai'Shea Reese can say that twice.

Reese, a senior at KHS, competed at the state track meet for the second straight year on Friday, once again in the long jump, in which she finished second last year. She didn't equal that, but she almost did, finishing third this time and earning a bronze medal.

Reese had a best jump of 18 feet, 11 3/4 inches, bested by a competitor from Beaumont Ozen, A'Lexus Brannon (the winner, with a jump of right at 20 feet) and by Whitney Gipson, a competitor from Birdville (a jump of 19 feet, 10 inches). Those numbers come from the UIL's official state track website.

Right on Tai'Shea's heels was Huntsville's Kaylyne Wright, who jumped 18 feet, 10 inches.

Eight competitors, including Reese, took part in the 4A girls long jump.

The meet was held, as it is each year, at Mike Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin.

It wasn't the best finish of the year for Reese - that came two weeks ago in the UIL Class 4A Region 2 Track and Field Championships at the University of North Texas in Denton, where she finished as the long jump champion with a best jump of 19 feet, 9 inches. That's also her personal best.

"She was a little bit upset with herself, and thought she probably could have done better," said KHS girls track coach Kerry Strong. "She didn't get her best jump of the year, and didn't have a great day, by her standards. But she was here. She won another medal. We're proud of her."

When she reached the podium to accept her medal, Reese did smile. She had a large support group on hand, with Strong, family members, former coaches Nina Mata and Miller Mata, and newly-appointed KISD Superintendent Jody Clements.

The record for the girls, or ladies, long jump was set in 1976 by Kathy McMillan, of Raeford Hoke County, North Carolina, a jump of 22 feet, 1 3/4 inches. The Texas state 4A record is 20 feet, 10 1/4 inches, set by Chandi Jones of Bay City in 2000.

Reese is the third track athlete from Kilgore to reach the state meet since 2003. Whitney Clark did so twice in girls hurdles in 2004 and 2005, and Courtney Thomas reached the state meet in 2005 in the 200 meter dash.

Kilgore has had a long and good history of track and field, and coaches Strong and KHS boys coach Phillip Lane are trying to rebuild the track program. Kilgore sent several athletes to regionals again this year, and a new UIL district realignment means new competition for the Bulldogs next season. Henderson, Jacksonville, Whitehouse and Nacogdoches will be district opponents next year. Marshall, Longview and Pine Tree are all in a different district. Also in Kilgore's district will be Lindale.