Published: April 08, 2008 02:05 pm            

District championship for Ladycats

By SCOTT TYLER

H-P Sports Editor



Coming into the second day of the District 19-3A track meet, the Palestine Ladycats knew they needed every point possible if they wanted to win the district title.

The Laycats did just that, holding off Fairfield to win the district track title Monday night at Wildcat Stadium.

“It is such a great accomplishment to win the district title,” girls’ track coach Jamie Driskell said. “A lot of girls pitched in to get key points and it was such a team effort.”

Palestine won the meet with 169.5 points and Fairfield finished second with 155.5 points.

Palestine’s success in the hurdle events were key for the Ladycats’ victory. While Fairfield won each event, Palestine got eight points in the 100-meter hurdles (second place by Jocelyn Nays) and 18 points in the 300-hurdles, which included a second-place finish by Gretchen Scoggin, third-place finish by Nays and a fourth-place finish by Ashley Adams.

“Those hurdle runners were a big key for us,” Driskell said.

Palestine also accumulated 15 points for the 400 as Terinika Farris won the 400. Farris had two wins Monday as she also won the 800.

“Terinika has the heart of a lion,” Driskell said.

Palestine also qualified all three relays for regionals. After winning the 400 relay Saturday, the Ladycats took second in the 800 and the 1600 relay.

Sara Bates also qualified for her second event at regionals when she took second in the 1600. Bates also qualified Thursday for the 3200.

Driskell also credited senior Stacha Leslie for helping the Ladycats win their second district track meet in the last three years.

“She is our senior leader and works as hard as anyone this season,” Driskell said.

For the Palestine boys’ squad, the Wildcats did not have the numbers to challenge for the district championship, but the Wildcats did qualify all eight of their varsity runners to regionals.

“I am overall pleased with our effort tonight,” boys’ track coach Booker Bowie said. “I am excited with the number we have going to regionals.”

Palestine only had 12 points coming out of the field events and that may have been the big difference as the Wildcats scored 83 points Monday.

“We fell way behind in the field events but we scored the same as everyone else in the running events,” Bowie said.

Laquadium Foreman qualified for regionals in two events as he won the 800 and 1600.

Darius Simmons qualified for the 400 as he took third place and Bryan Davis qualified after taking third place in the 200.

Samuel Hazel took third place in the 300 intermediate hurdles and qualifies for regionals.

Palestine also qualified the 400 and 800 relays.

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Scott Tyler may be contacted via e-mail at styler@palestineherald.com

        

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