Franklin leads Lady Lions in district meet
April 16, 2010

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- ROYSE CITY -- Jessica Franklin won the 100-meter hurdles and qualified for regional in three other events to lead the Greenville Lady Lions at the District 10-4A track and field meet.

“She stepped up,” said Lady Lions coach JoAnna Vaden. “She was a competitor. She went after it.”

Franklin won the 100-meter hurdles despite hitting a late hurdle and stumbling.

“She had a good recovery,” said Vaden.

Franklin clocked a time of 15.91 seconds to win the hurdles.

She added to Wednesday’s runner-up finish in the long jump (17-9 1/2), with a second in the triple jump on Thursday and a third in the 200-meter dash. Franklin leaped 36 feet 10 1/2 inches in the triple jump to finish behind Brianna Richardson of Rockwall-Heath (40-2).

Franklin, who underwent successful knee surgery this winter, then ran a 26.64 for third in the 200 behind Timeka Sandifer of Newman Smith (25.32) and Halle Woodard of Richardson Pearce (26.25).

Franklin qualified for the Region II-4A meet in both jumps, the 100 hurdles and the 200. She scored 32 of the Lady Lions’ 34 points as Greenville finished seventh in the team standings behind Highland Park (134), Newman Smith (128), Rockwall (102), Richardson Pearce (85), Rockwall-Heath (84) and Royse City (45). R.L. Turner trailed the field with six points.

A strong showing in the field events helped the Greenville Lions finish third in the boys team standings with 94 points. Highland Park took the team title with 169 1/3 points. Rockwall was second at 99 1/3. Newman Smith finished fourth with 78 points, followed by Richardson Pearce (61 1/3), Rockwall-Heath (61), Royse City (39) and R.L. Turner (17).

The Lions added to Dijoun Sheppard’s victory on Wednesday in the long jump (22-7 1/4) by going one-two-three in the triple jump on Thursday. Durant Freeman won the event with a career-best leap of 44-8. Sheppard was second at 43-10 and Cobbie Johnson finished third at 42-7 1/4.

Sheppard also cleared 6-2 for second in the high jump as Mitchell finished third with a clearance of 6-0.

Johnson, who was the defending district champion in the 100 and 200, finished third in the 100 at 11.22 and was second in the 200 with a 22.25.

Sheppard, the defending champion in the 110-meter hurdles, finished second with a 14.95.

The Lions’ 4x100-meter relay wound up fifth at 43.50. Rockwall took the event with a 42.40.

Greenville’s 4x200 ran a 1:31.03 for fifth as Highland Park won in 1:28.81.

Highland Park also took the final event, the boys 4x400 at 3;26.54) as the Lions finished seventh with a 3:34.24.