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Athlete of the Week: Lake takes state for Jenkins County
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Jenkins County's Zandra Lake, seated third from left, won the state title in the triple jump Saturday in Albany. - photo by Special to the Herald

            After a couple of lean years, this season saw a return to prominence for the girls track and field team at Jenkins County.

            The team’s runner-up finish at the Region 3-AA meet was a good start, but Zandra Lake gave the Lady War Eagles an even better finish to the season as she took the individual title in the triple jump at the GHSA state meet at Albany last weekend.

            “Zandra has really been great for us,” said Jenkins County coach Charley Waters. “The fact that we were struggling as a team had nothing to do with talent. Zandra and the rest of our girls have always been able to compete. We just needed to get some more girls to participate. Now that that’s happened, I’m glad to see everyone getting the credit they deserve.”

            Before the state meet began, it might have seemed as though just qualifying for the finals would have to do.

            Lake finished second at the region meet, and her qualifying distance was good for ninth of the 16 girls at Albany.

            Lake pulled saved her best for last, covering an even 36 feet – four more inches than the next best jump and 3-feet, 2.5-inches more than her showing at region – to nail down the state title.