Sikeston boys shooting for district title

Members of the Sikeston track and field team work on their handoffs in a practice last week. Relays will be one of the many strengths for the Bulldogs this year. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

SIKESTON -- For every race there is always a starting line and a finishing line. For the Sikeston Bulldogs, the 2008 track season will have a different ending as this will mark the final season of head coach Jerry Dement.

While Dement has seen many great track teams over his 29 year coaching career, Dement believes that this year's team has potential to be one of the best.

Relays will also be one of the strengths of the SHS girls track and field team. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat) [Click to enlarge]

"This is my 29th year of coaching track," said Dement. "I have had some very good teams over the years and I think this year could be one of them."

If Sikeston plans to reach the potential of past teams they will have to do so with a combination of youth in some areas and experience in others on both the boys and girls side.

"On the boys side we have very high expectations," said Dement. "We have a number of lettermen back and a number of district, conference, and state competitors. We have a veteran bunch in many ways and some good young talent to go with it."

This year, the Sikeston boys will be returning several athletes in the sprints, jumps and relays. Dominic Fondon will lead the way for Sikeston in the triple jump while Eli Jackson is back in action in the long jump.

At the core of the relays Fondon, Jackson, Brandon Washington, Tommy Strong and Dominique McCray will be the key to success for the Bulldogs.

"Our relay teams are intact and we had two really good relay teams in the 800- and 400-meter relays last year," said Dement. "When you have all your guys like that come back, you definitely have a good nucleus to start with."

Also for Sikeston, Gavilan Bland, Alex Clark, and Tanner Bryant will all return experience in the hurdles.

While the sprints, jumps, and relays seem strong for the Bulldogs, the area in which they will lack experience is in the shot and discus.

"We lost a lot of points in the shot and discus last year," said Dement. "We do have one sectional qualifier back in Andy Vanover, so we are looking for him to come along and help us out."

In districts last year the boys team placed second, two points behind the eventual state championship team, Potosi. So with many guys back, hopes are high for the Bulldogs.

"After losing by two points last year, these guys are ready to get a district title back," said Dement. "We have a lot of kids with a lot of pride on the team that have been there and done that. So we have high hopes and expectations with this group."

Experience isn't lacking on the girls' side either.

The Bulldogs will return several ladies in the relays. Some of those ladies that will highlight the relay team for Sikeston will include Lashawna Turner and Willa Triblett.

"We really have experience in the sprints and relays," said Dement.

"We also have some very good jumpers as well so, that's the quality of our girls' team. We also got some good young girls to add to that."

Nadia Cox, a transfer student from Cape Girardeau, will add to the relay mix as well as in the jumping events. In the shot and discus events, Elizabeth Engram will also try to add to the Bulldog point total. The ladies for SHS will also try to increase the point total in several other events.

"We also have some hurdlers back this year and we've gained a couple of mid-distance girls that have come in for the basic core of our girls team," Dement added. "But we still have a lot of other ladies that are scratching to find a position for themselves. They've worked hard and should be very competitive this year."

The SHS track team will be in action on Tuesday when they host Charleston and NMCC in their first meet.

"I believe we have a good chance to compete this year," said Dement. "We have 15 teams in our district, in probably the best over all 3A district in the state. I have high expectations for both the boys and girls squads so hopefully we can do well enough to get as many kids to a state meet. Either way we are really excited about this season."