Mario Jackson and Patrick Jenkins catapulted Statesboro into the lead after Day One of the Region 3-AAAA track and field meet Saturday at Georgia Southern.
Jackson won the high jump and long and finished second to Jenkins in the triple jump. The two juniors racked up 44 of their team’s 62 points to put SHS in first ahead of Ware County (50.5).
Jackson won the high jump after being the only participant to clear the 6-foot, 4-inch mark. He made it exciting — clearing the height on his third attempt after nicking the bar with his right foot, then watching from the mat as the bar rattled and held on.
“The first two attempts — when I knocked the bar down — I wasn’t really worried about it because I’ve gotten six-four before,” said Jackson.
From there, in between, sporadic rain showers, Jackson jogged over to the triple jump where Jenkins had already dominated the competition.
Moments earlier, Jenkins, a junior, flew to a mark of 47 and1⁄4 inch on his first try. The other jumpers from the region just shook their head in disbelief, knowing the event had ended before it had even begun.
“I kinda knew I was going to win it already,” said Jenkins. “I won it last year — but I didn’t expect to jump this far (today).”
Jenkins holds the school record in the triple jump. The only thing left for him to do during the triple jump was make sure Jackson came in second.
“I was just trying to get second to help the team out in points,” said Jackson.
Get second is what he did, landing at 45-93⁄4.
From there it was on to the long jump. After coming up an inch shorter on his second jump from his first jump, Jackson used his third flight to soar 22-63⁄4.
Jenkins finished third with a 21-11, sandwiching Demitris White (22-6) in second.
Cedric Wynn finished fourth in the high jump (6-2), Sherrod Natson finished third in the shot put (49-6 1/4), Sherard Hankerson finished fifth in the shot put (48-1) and Victor Sweet finished third in the discus (130-8) to help the Blue Devils out in points.
Statesboro did not factor into 1600m final, also run on Saturday. Other Devils who will participate on Day Two include: Joseph Mainer, Jarie Wharton, Kentavius West, Justin Jordan, Orlando Rock, Nicholas Jordan, Aaron Lester and Johnathan Coleman.
All 10 schools will return to GSU on Monday for the running finals. Greenrbrier made a late surge Saturday to finish with 45.5 points while Brunswick is in third (20).
“We’re gonna win,” said Jackson.
Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
Jackson won the high jump and long and finished second to Jenkins in the triple jump. The two juniors racked up 44 of their team’s 62 points to put SHS in first ahead of Ware County (50.5).
Jackson won the high jump after being the only participant to clear the 6-foot, 4-inch mark. He made it exciting — clearing the height on his third attempt after nicking the bar with his right foot, then watching from the mat as the bar rattled and held on.
“The first two attempts — when I knocked the bar down — I wasn’t really worried about it because I’ve gotten six-four before,” said Jackson.
From there, in between, sporadic rain showers, Jackson jogged over to the triple jump where Jenkins had already dominated the competition.
Moments earlier, Jenkins, a junior, flew to a mark of 47 and1⁄4 inch on his first try. The other jumpers from the region just shook their head in disbelief, knowing the event had ended before it had even begun.
“I kinda knew I was going to win it already,” said Jenkins. “I won it last year — but I didn’t expect to jump this far (today).”
Jenkins holds the school record in the triple jump. The only thing left for him to do during the triple jump was make sure Jackson came in second.
“I was just trying to get second to help the team out in points,” said Jackson.
Get second is what he did, landing at 45-93⁄4.
From there it was on to the long jump. After coming up an inch shorter on his second jump from his first jump, Jackson used his third flight to soar 22-63⁄4.
Jenkins finished third with a 21-11, sandwiching Demitris White (22-6) in second.
Cedric Wynn finished fourth in the high jump (6-2), Sherrod Natson finished third in the shot put (49-6 1/4), Sherard Hankerson finished fifth in the shot put (48-1) and Victor Sweet finished third in the discus (130-8) to help the Blue Devils out in points.
Statesboro did not factor into 1600m final, also run on Saturday. Other Devils who will participate on Day Two include: Joseph Mainer, Jarie Wharton, Kentavius West, Justin Jordan, Orlando Rock, Nicholas Jordan, Aaron Lester and Johnathan Coleman.
All 10 schools will return to GSU on Monday for the running finals. Greenrbrier made a late surge Saturday to finish with 45.5 points while Brunswick is in third (20).
“We’re gonna win,” said Jackson.
Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.