Karson Young lands her 5th place jump of 17′ 6.5″ on Thursday at the TSSAA state track meet at MTSU
Setting personal bests in 2 events lifted Coffee County’s Karson Young to the medal stand twice on Thursday at the TSSAA Spring Fling State Track Meet at MTSU. Young beat her personal record 4 times in placing 5th in the long jump in the morning session. Young, who predicted a jump of 17’ 6” before the event, soared to a 17’6.5” jump in her second attempt of the preliminary round. That jump was good enough to advance her to the finals. Entering the day with a personal best of 16’ 10” in the long jump, Young had jumps of 17’ 3”, 17’5” and 17’1.75” to go with her medal winning jump of 17’6”.
Immediately after receiving her medal for the long jump, Young was back to the sand to compete in the triple jump. Young failed to meet her qualifying jump from the sectional of 34’ 10” which is her personal record. Young had jumps of 33’ 7.25’, 33’ 8.75” and 34’ 1.75’ to finish in 13th place.
In the evening session, Young ran a time 15.93 in the 100M hurdles to win her heat and take home an 8th place medal. Young beat her previous personal record of 16:12 in her clean run. Young, a junior, was making her 2nd appearance at the Spring Fling after missing last year due to illness. “We have always known that Karson has had a great deal of talent and today she rose to the occasion” said Coach Stan Jarrell after the race. “I feel like Coach Bonham was here helping her along today” added Jarrell. Former assistant coach Phil Bonham specialized in training Raider thinclads in the hurdles prior to his passing this past February.
We talked to Karson after the race and this is what she had to say:
Sarah Pearson clears 4’10” in the high jump on Thursday at the TSSAA state track meet at MTSU
Sarah Pearson opened her day in the noon heat at the high jump pit. Pearson who qualified at 4’10” in last week’s sectional, scratched out at 5” to finish in 11th place. Pearson cleared 4’8” in her first jump and 4’10” in her 2nd attempt. “I am happy with (4’ 10”) but I always strive for 5 feet” said Pearson following the high jump as she came up short of the medal stand.
In the 100M hurdles, Pearson was paired up with Young as the 2 Coffee County teammates started one lane apart. Pearson clipped a couple of hurdles early in the race to finish with a time of 17.05 which was good enough for 14th place.
Pearson ended her day with the 300M hurdle race as her time of 49.5 seconds was nearly a full second above the sophomore’s previous personal record. “I knew going in that I was not near the top(among qualifying times). I was really pushing for a PR(personal record) and I’m kind of upset about it” said a dejected Pearson. Her time in the 300M was good enough for a 13th place finish in the event. “I am happy I got to come and compete today and I am glad I got to come even though I did not medal” added Pearson
