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Sunday, May 17, 1998

Mitchell, Taylor sweep 100 and 200 in 4A at state track meet

By CHIP BROWN / AP Sports Writer

AUSTIN (AP) -- Tory Mitchell equaled the fastest time in the nation by a high school runner in the 100 this year and posted the nation's best time in the 200 this year, sweeping both events in Class 4A at the state track meet.

Mitchell of Big Spring, who established records in both the 100 and 200 (10.37 and 20.78) at the Region I-5A meet, was just as impressive on Friday.

Andrea Taylor of Houston Furr also swept the 100 and 200 meters in Class 4A, while Candi Jones of Bay City repeated as champion in the both the girls' 4A long jump and triple jump.

The 4A boys' team title was shared by Houston Forest Brook, winner of the 4x400-meter relay, and Ennis, winner of the 4x100-meter relay. Each had 30 points.

Friendswood Clear Brook won the 4A girls team title with 58 points, aided by a state meet record victory in the 4x400-meter relay and a victory in the 4x100-meter relay.

The final events in classes 1A, 2A, 3A and 5A are scheduled for today.

Mitchell ran a 10.34 in the 100, equaling the nation's best non-wind-aided high school time this year -- shared by Leonard Hunter of Zachary, La. -- and his 20.72 in the 200 established the nation's fastest time in the 200 by a high school runner this year.

A heated showdown was expected in the 100 and 200 between Mitchell and Tre Gardner of Coppell, who was seeking a rare shot at three golds after easily repeating as champion in the boys' 4A long jump.

But Mitchell's 10.34 was too much for Gardner, who finished in 10.46. In the 200, Mitchell's 20.72 came after pulling away from Olan Coleman of Waco University, who clocked a 21.10. Gardner pulled up with an injury and didn't finish the race.

"I am undefeated and I came here expecting to win," Mitchell said. "There are no prelims at state, so it's one shot."

Taylor wasn't the favorite in the 4A girls' 100.

All eyes were on Latrese Harris of Austin McCallum, who had the state's top times in her class in the 100 this year. But Harris false started and was disqualified, and Taylor seized the opportunity, winning in a time of 11.95, ahead of Houston Wheatley's Kedra Carr (12.01).

In the 200, Furr pulled away from the field, winning in 24.52, ahead of Amber Everet of Pflugerville Connally (24.88) and Subrina Nickerson of Paris (25.01). Harris was seventh in the 200 with a time of 25.29.

Friendswood Clear Brook's 4x400-meter relay team of Gladys Harvey, Brandy Walker, Natasha Davis and Alicia Emanuel clocked a 4A state meet record time of 3:47.02, replacing the previous best of 3:47.5 set by Brenham in 1984.

"We knew going into the race that it depended on us winning to win the state title," Emanuel said. "It feels great winning the title since it was our last time running as a 4A school." Clear Brook will move up to 5A next year.

The 4x200-meter relay team from Dallas Spruce, comprised of Shontae Johnson, Sherletrice Walker, Brandy Stewart and Latisha Burns, set a new 4A state meet record with a time of 1:38.82, replacing the previous meet record of 1:39.20 set by Jasper in 1991.

Jones won both the long jump and triple jump in Class 4A last year and easily repeated this year. She won the long jump with a mark of 19-2-1/2 -- a shade short of her winning mark of 19-6-1/2 last year -- and won the triple jump with a mark of 40-4-1/4.

Kristy Bonn and Tommy Bonn of Lockhart pulled a rare sister-brother double. She won the girls' 4A 1,600 meters, while he won both the boys' 4A 1,600 and 3,200 meters.

Dallas Roosevelt's Teena Clincy repeated as champion in the girls' 4A 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.58, one-hundredth of a second ahead of Zamayal Jackson of Waco Midway, who finished in 14.59.

Jessica Johnson of Southlake Carroll defended her state championship in the Class 4A high jump, clearing a height of 5-9.

In Class 2A, Keyuo Craver of Harleton repeated as boys triple jump champion with a state meet record mark of 50-4-1/2, replacing the previous meet record of 49-8-1/4 set by Toya Jones of Refugio in 1993.

In Class 1A, Celeria Washington of Karnack repeated as champion in the girls' triple jump with a mark of 38-0-3/4, ahead of teammate Crystal Carter, who jumped 37-1-3/4.