District track meet gets off to strong start
April 16, 2009

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

ROYSE CITY -- Jessica Franklin and Megan Frausto helped the Greenville Lady Lions and Royse City Lady Bulldogs get off to strong starts during Wednesday’s opening day of the District 10-4A track and field meet.

The start of the two-day meet was moved up from Thursday because weather forecasts are calling for thunderstorms on Friday. Today’s remaining field events will begin at 2 p.m. and the running finals are to commence at 6 p.m., but could get moved up if weather conditions change.

Franklin finished fourth in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet 1 1/2 inches and then posted the top two qualifying times in the 100-meter hurdles (15.2 seconds) and the 300 hurdles (47.40).

Frausto finished second in the long jump and also ran the fastest qualifying time in the 400-meter dash at 58.70. Frausto will also run the 800 meters today and will face Franklin again in the triple jump.

The girls triple jump field should be strong as it will also include Highland Park’s Katherine Culwell, who won the long jump with a 19-1 leap on Wednesday.

Greenville picked up some big points in the boys and girls shot put.

Sha’Kia Whetstone of Greenville won the girls shot put with a toss of 32-7 3/4.

“It feels real nice,” Whetstone said of her victory.

Manon Steward and Tristian Farley of Greenville finished second and third in the boys shot put and like Whetstone will advance to the Region II-4A meet in Denton. Steward tossed the 12-pound shot 49-8 and Farley’s throw went 48-3 1/4. Brock Wempa of Royse City won the event at 51-3 1/2.

Cobbie Johnson of Greenville qualified first in both the boys 100 (11.30) and 200 (22.51) dashes.

B.J. Farrar of Royse City qualified second in the boys 400 at 50.45.

Ryan Hughes of Rockwall cleared a career-best 16-0 to claim the boys pole vault. Luke Beck of Royse City was second at 15-6 and his younger brother Joseph Beck cleared 15-0 for third place.

Highland Park took both of the first two running events, the 3200 meters. Sara Sutherland of Highland Park won the girls 3200 by nearly 24 seconds with her time of 11:25.85. Matt Galvin of Highland Park claimed the boys 3200 at 10:04.05.

The top three finishers in each event will advance to the regional meet.