WESTSIDE — Two west-side athletes took gold medals at the state track meet in Nashville on Tuesday, Cole Cripps in the pole vault and Jordan Neeley in the 400-meter dash.
Cole Cripps, a Gentry junior, cleared 14 feet, 6 inches, at the state meet for the championship. The number-two spot went to Trace Beene, a Nashville athlete who cleared 14 feet. Cripps had been focussing his efforts on the pole vault throughout the season, although he's also done well in the long jump, triple jump and high jump. The vault was Cripps' personal record and set a new Gentry High School record in addition to winning the state championship.
Brett Jackson, a Gentry freshman recently moved up to varsity competition, took third in the pole vault, with a vault of 12 feet.
Jordan Neeley, a Gravette senior who recently signed to run track and cross country for The Citadel in South Carolina, took the gold in the 400-meter dash with her time of 61.12. Teagan Dixon of Gravette took third with a time of 62.99. Neeley took first in the 100-meter at district competition in Gravette last month.
Gravette girls' 4x100 relay team (Haley Betz, Taylor Eaton, Krystin Branscum and Jordan Neeley) took sixth in the state competition with a time of 52.50.
Alex Fink of Gravette finished fifth in high jump, clearing 20 feet, 3 inches; and third in the 400-meter dash, with a time of 50.97.
Gravette's 4x400 relay team took silver in the state competition with a time of 3:33.73. The team was made up of Gunner Berger, Danny DeLapp, Roberto Barrios and Alex Fink. Gravette's girls took sixth in the event, finishing in 4:26.96. Running were Kyrstin Branscum, Jordan Neeley, Tori Foster and Teagan Dixon.
Chastery Fuamatu, a Gentry sophomore, took second in the girls' shot put, with a throw of 36-01. She also took sixth in the discus with her throw of 97-01. Hannah Boss, another Gentry sophomore, took eighth, throwing 96-02.
The Gentry girls' 4x800 relay team (Hannah Boss, Kya DeZurik, Lauren Little and Mallory Morris) took third in the event with a time of 10:50.27. Gravette girls finished in ninth. The Gentry boys (Nick Lench, Zach Palmer, Aaron Walker and Jarod Lawrence) took fourth in the boys' event with a time of 8:51.45.
Mallory Morris, a Gentry senior, took third in the 800-meter run, finishing the race in 2:27.79.
Overall, on the girls' side, Gentry finished in a tie for ninth place with 24 points. Gravette girls finished 15th with 22 points. Gentry boys finished in 10th with 21 points. Gravette boys were in 11th with 18 points.