Saturday, April 27, 1996

Cooper thinclads have success at Region

By TED DUNNAM
Assistant Sports Editor

LUBBOCK - For Cooper's Chris Cherry, Friday's competition in the Region I-5A track and field meet was the real thing.

For Lady Cougar Ann Rhiddlehoover, it was simply dress rehearsal for bigger and better things.

Cherry, denied here twice previously, sailed 48-23/4, to finish second in the triple jump, earning himself a trip to Austin. He'll try to give himself a bonus when he competes today in the long jump.
Rhiddlehoover claimed a second consecutive regional title in the discus with a throw of 135-6, and then promptly went out and purchased herself a prom dress after winning the event by eight feet.

"My first two throws were kind of scary," Rhiddlehoover said. "I only threw 118 on my first one and then hit the net on my second one."

However, Rhiddlehoover uncorked a throw of 133 feet on her third attempt which would have held up for the victory. Nevertheless, the Lady Cougar senior bettered that mark in advancing to state for the second straight year.

"I was embarrassed after those first two throws," Rhiddlehoover said. "Then when I threw the 133, I thought it would be good enough to win. I had seen the other girls throw and I didn't really think any of them could beat that.

"This is the most relaxed I've ever felt here. State is nothing compared to this. I get so much more nervous at district and regional than I do at state."

After winning, Rhiddlehoover then went and purchased a second prom dress. Her first prom dress was exactly the same as the girl whom Ann's brother, Jon, is taking to the prom.

'I found out last Thursday that we had the same dress. I couldn't believe it," Rhiddlehoover said. "So I had to go out and get a new one today because she bought hers long before I got mine.

'But I found a nice one, and I think it's prettier than my other one. The mall in Lubbock is so much better than the one in Abilene."

Whatever. Anyway, Rhiddlehoover says she's not just satisfied with going to state.

'This year, I'm out to do some damage," she said. "I hope I tear it up in Austin. Going to Austin last year was just as exciting as this year, but this time I plan to do some damage.
'Hopefully, Jon will throw his best (discus) tomorrow."

'Ann has been throwing well all week long," Cooper head coach Barbara Crousen said. "She came in here pretty relaxed. She just wanted to have fun and throw.

"She started off with those two shaky throws, but that doesn't seem to rattle her. She has so much composure."

Cherry didn't want to see two weeks of preparation go down the drain in his specialty, the triple jump.

"I kept telling myself that I've practiced too hard not to finish first or second," the Cougar junior said. "My coach (Brent Brevard) told me to stop practicing because I was overdoing it.

"But I felt fine today. I jumped well and my shin splints didn't bother me at all."

Cherry was happy with the spring he got on his jumps, but never really hit his mark.

"Coach had me jumping 49 feet on the one jump, but I took off a foot behind the board," Cherry said. "I was really pumped up. With our girls team cheering me on, that helped a lot, too."

The victory should ease any pressure which might be on Cherry today in the long jump.
"I'll be very relaxed tomorrow," he said. "I think I can go 23-6 or 23-7. I don't know how good that'll be because I haven't seen the other jumpers.

"I'm just hoping to make it to the finals. But today I felt good. There was no wind, so what I jumped today was a true jump. I really felt good and took all my jumps."

Today's field events will begin at 8 a.m. while running finals start at 1 p.m.