14th University of Kentucky High School Invitational Nutter Fieldhouse, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY Saturday, February 17, 2007 DyeStat on-site with SteveU

Jackie Coward Again! - 8.17 60H smashes old mark!

Also US#1s from Chris Bilbrew AL 1:51.08 and his Smiths Station 4x8 team 7:48.77

FINAL Results - Preview by Steve Underwood - Accepted Entries List - Live Results - Meet's Own Site

Headlines - Meet Story

Three of the nation's top five 400 meter runners were at Lexington Saturday, but they didn't face each other and had mixed results.  Smiths Station AL sr Chris Bilbrew (center) was the most successful, winning the 800 in a US#1 1:51.08 and anchoring the country's fastest 4x8 to date in 7:48.77.  Evans FL sr Chris Ward (left), US#1 at 400, dropped down to 200 to take 2nd in 21.75.  Strongsville OH jr Kendall Gregory (left) had a solid 400/200 double in 48.27/22.13, taking 2nd and 6th.  Photo Keeon Gregory

Headlines

• Knoxville West/Track Knoxville jr superstar Jackie Coward destroys her own USR from a few weeks ago, pushing her PR down .12 to 8.17.
  
• Jasmine Stowers SC very strong 2nd in 8.51, beating her own freshman record.
• Chris Bilbrew AL blasts US#1 1:51.08 800
• Smiths Station AL, with Bilbrew on anchor, runs US#1 7:48.77
  
• Joanna Atkins GA wins 400 in US#1 54.07 (#2 by end of day as 53.78 recorded elsewhere)
• Shayla Mahan blazes US#2 7.26 in girls 60.
• Justin Christian US#3 6.72 to win the 60
  
• 60H goes to Shane Wells, MI, in US#2 7.82
  
• Carmel TC sr Brandon Leap-Hall takes boys LJ in 22-05.00
• Smiths Station AL sr Erica Whitby soars to win in girls HJ at 5-06
• Boys HJ goes to Michigan Accelerators' Mitchell White at 6-04
• Erica Penk GA takes PV in 11-06

Coward Puts the 60H Record Way Out There

... And is one of many great performers in Lexington

By Steve Underwood 

Jackie Coward has had a dominating indoor season in the hurdles, ruling the lists over both the 55- and 60-meter distances and taking down the 60 mark with her new HSR 8.29.  But the 60 mark hadn’t been held in as high regard as the 55, with the former being a relatively new event and with 55 greats like Candy Young and Yolanda Johnson basically predating it.

Not any more.

Saturday at the loaded University of Kentucky High School Invitational, Coward sent the 60H record down where it belonged.  With her deceptively powerful legs churning, and showing unmatched rhythm and timing, the Track Knoxville/Knoxville West TN jr rocketed to an 8.17 to cut a big .12 off her 3-week old HSR.  It was the unquestioned highlight of a great day of track and field on the 291-meter oval at Nutter Fieldhouse, where athletes from 19 states came to compete.

But Coward was hardly the only headliner at the meet.  As she would win an athlete of the meet award if one was given, Smith Station AL sr Chris Bilbrew would undoubtedly be the same on the boys side.  Dodging contact and a fall by another athlete, and emerging from a box in the first 200, Bilbrew still made it to the halfway mark of his 800 in 54 seconds and pushed all the way to the tape for a US#1 1:51.08.  Though his mark won’t make the main all-time lists due to the oversize track, only five in history have ever run faster anywhere indoors.

Bilbrew then anchored his school’s 4x800 to another US-leading mark of 7:48.77.

For the most part, sprinters ruled the day in Kentucky, otherwise.  Motor City Track Club/Detroit MI Mumford sr Shayla Mahan was dominant in repeating her sprint double from last year, taking the 60 in US#2 7.26 and 200 in 23.93.  The 60 was particularly special as she moved to =#5 all-time.  Morrow GA/Quicksilver TC sr Justin Christian was similarly impressive with his dash double, as he zipped to US#3 6.72 and 21.72, with the latter holding off Chris Ward, the US#1 at 400.

Joanna Atkins, the Sapphire TC/Stephenson GA sr, defended her title and picked up another national leader, striding 54.07 for 400, only to see her #1 status taken away shortly thereafter by Turquoise Thompson (53.78) at the Simplot meet in Idaho.  Nonetheless, she defended her title and took down her own meet record.  The other mark that was at least top 3 in the US came from Michigan Accelerators/Romulus HS sr Shane Wells, who skimmed the 60H in 7.82, second nationally only to his friendly rival on the west side of his state, Josh Hembrough.

More Highlights, Stories, Pix to come

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