Area athletes turn shine at state meet

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Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
Carthage's Kaylee Morgan.
Mount Vernon's Shane Williams
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May 26, 2012

Area athletes turn shine at state meet

From Staff reports The Joplin Globe The Joplin Globe Sat May 26, 2012, 11:49 PM CDT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Webb City and Carthage each came away with three medals Saturday at the Missouri Class 4 Track and Field Championships at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.

Webb City’s Jarvis Jones was third in a photo finish in the boys 100 meters and placed sixth in the 200.

“That’s why they have those digital cameras to do all that work,” said Webb City head coach Mike Smith. “He’s a five-time all-stater in his career at Webb City. He has lived a storybook career.”

Jehu Chesson II of Ladue won the 100 meters in 10.70 seconds. Jamal Robinson of Christian Brothers was second in 10.802 and Jones was third in 10.806.

Jones, who was a wide receiver and defensive back on Webb City’s state championship football teams in 2010 and 2011, has signed to play football at Missouri State University.

Alex Christian of Webb City became a three-time all-state performer when he placed sixth Friday in the long jump.

“You can’t ask for more than that,” Smith said. “They poured it out and did the best they could.”

Kaylee Morgan of Carthage, who qualified for the state meet in four events last year but did not win a medal, captured third place in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 1.5 inches.

“Kaylee on her last jump in the finals goes from fifth to third,” said Carthage head coach Andy Youngworth. “I had some reservations about her competing in three events yesterday. I felt like the long jump was her best chance to get a medal.”

Morgan, who works with Carthage assistant coach Chuck Sailor, has signed with Missouri Southern.

Stefan Stokes of Carthage capped his senior season with seventh place in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.87 seconds.

“He had wanted to break the school record set by Charlie Wright in 1981. He was about a half-second off,” Youngworth said. “For him to medal was a huge accomplishment.”

Bryan Burns of Carthage placed second in the discus with a toss of 179 feet, 1 inch on his final throw. He reached the finals with a throw of 170-3 on his only attempt in the prelims. He works with throwers coach Casey Thayer.

“I can’t really begin to describe the accomplishment,” Youngworth said. “He had a PR (personal record) of 143 last year that was good enough to get him to the sectional.

“Then, all of a sudden, he PRs by 12 feet last week to go to 168. On his second throw today he goes 170 and that got him to the finals. Then, he was the third to last thrower, he uncorks one for 179.

“He broke the school record by 4 1/2 feet,” he said. “That throw right there, in a big meet, he’s going to get some attention from colleges.”

In Class 3 boys, Mount Vernon’s Shane Williams added two medals to his collection by placing third in the high jump at 6-6 and fifth in the long jump. He placed fifth in the triple jump Friday.

Cassville’s Cody Frana was fifth in the 300 hurdles and eighth in the 110 hurdles.

Courtni Smith of McDonald County was sixth in the girls triple jump. Ashley Shumaker of Nevada was fifth in the high jump, and Carl Junction placed eighth in the 4x400 relay with a team of Emily Keeter, Sydney Koch, Alex King and Brittney Rose.