3A WEST CENTRAL DISTRICT TRACK
2006-05-21
by Bill Christianson
Journal Reporter
Ugwoaba shines bright
Highline senior wins three golds, one silver
TACOMA -- The triple jump is the fun one. The relay team builds camaraderie. The 200 meters is too long, but the 100 is just right.
That\'s Nkeiru Ugwoaba\'s take on the four events in which she medaled at Saturday\'s Class 3A West Central District track and field meet at Mount Tahoma High.
The Highline senior who is bound for Portland State unleashed golden performances in the triple jump, 200 and 400 relay and added a silver in the 100.
``In a way, I wanted to win everything,\'\' said Ugwoaba, who took gold in all four events at last year\'s district meet. ``But that\'s OK, I am still happy with how things went.\'\'
Led by Ugwoaba, the Pirates nearly defended their district crown, finishing a close second behind Franklin Pierce, which had 83 points. Highline finished with 81.5.
Ugwoaba began her day by winning the triple jump with a mark of 37 feet, 1½ inches, beating second-place finisher Jennie Pegouskie of Lakes by more than three feet. Ugwoaba placed second in the triple last year at state and won the gold as a sophomore.
After the win in the triple, Ugwoaba settled for second in the 200 with a time of 12.79. Fife\'s Angela Jensen, a wrestler in the winter, won with a 12.61. Jensen also won both hurdles.
Ugwoaba finished her day with a pair of wins, running the anchor leg of the 400 relay team, which clocked a 50.00. Ugwoaba then scooted to victory in the 200 in 26.13.
After her stellar day, she broke down all of her events.
``I like the triple jump the best because it\'s fun,\'\' she said, adding that the 100 is her favorite running event ``because it\'s short.\'\'
And as for the other two events: ``I like the relay because I get to work with other people and the 200 is just too long.\'\'
Ugwoaba, along with fellow relay legs Kelly Mason and Whitney Wagner, ran on last year\'s state-title team. Soocer star Kaitlyn Heinsohn is the latest addition to the team, which will look to defend its title. The Pirates\' relay team ran a season-best 49.40 in Friday\'s prelims, but Rainier Beach, which feature speedy freshman Sharnay Combs, has the state\'s best time at 48.99.
Morris helps Renton boys finish second
It wasn\'t a meet record, but it was another fun win for Korion Morris.
The Renton senior flung the discus 185-9 to claim his second gold medal in as many days to help the two-time district defending Indians finish second behind Lakes.
The two teams have combined to win the last nine district crowns, with the Lancers taking seven of them.
Morris, the defending shot put and discus state champion, won the shot put with a meet-record of 61-11 on Friday. He was 3-11 short from tying his own meet mark in the discus, which he set last year. But for the Arizona-bound Morris, it\'s not about records, it\'s about having fun.
``I\'m having a great time out here,\'\' Morris said. ``I\'ll never be in this situation again. I have to take advantage and have fun. The good throws will come if I\'m relaxed and having fun.\'\'
The Indians\' 1,600 relay team of Jason Meyers, Chris Stone, Travis Jones-Killings and Jason Harris, continued to impress, winning the gold with a season-best 3:24.16, which is the top 3A time in the state.
* ALSO: Highline junior Marlon Murray won the 200 title with a time of 22.88, just off his personal-best of 22.41. He also claimed the silver medal in the 100 with a time of 11.29. ... Tyee\'s Charles Serisier went 1:58..43 to win the 800 gold medal. ... The Renton girls 1,600 relay team clocked a 4:11.89, shaving more than three seconds off its prelim time on the way to a golden run.