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Alton's pint-sized powerhouse, Brown isn't done leaping at big goals - STLToday - 6/12/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

Alton's pint-sized powerhouse, Brown isn't done leaping at big goals

 
 

A victory lap was in order — if only in her mind.

LaJarvia Brown spent the better part of four years at Alton High chasing the state triple jump record. When she finally put herself into the record book, it was a feeling unlike any other.

“Overall that's one of the biggest goals I've ever met,” Brown said. “After I jumped that, I wanted to sprint a 400 or do a victory lap. It was exciting. It was really exciting.”

The Post-Dispatch All-Metro girls track and field athlete of the year, Brown won the Class 3A title with a triple jump of 42 feet, 1.75 inches. She broke the state meet record of 41-5 set by Deana Simmons of Decatur MacArthur in 1996. Brown's record jump is tied for the third-longest in the nation this year, and it's the longest triple jump ever by an Illinois high school girl.

“She's a beast,” Alton coach Terry Mitchell said.

It was the third consecutive year Brown won the state title in the triple jump. She is the first athlete, boy or girl, in Alton's history to win three consecutive state titles. Brown is the most talented track athlete to call Alton home.

“She's the best I've had and I've had some good ones,” said Mitchell, who's been with the program since 1974 and coached the girls since 1995.

Brown got the record she came for and so much more. This was the first season Brown concentrated on the 100-meter hurdles. It paid off with a state championship. Brown won the 100s in 13.89 seconds.

“That was a shocker,” Brown said.

One record and two championships are strong hauls for most athletes at the state meet. Brown was one stride and a half-inch from four gold medals.

She finished third in the 300 hurdles in a photo finish. Brown crossed in 43.47 with DeKalb's Savanna Long (43.34) and Lincoln-Way East's Alexis Pierre-Antoine (43.41) less than a step ahead of her.

“That was definitely heartbreaking. I thought I had that one,” Brown said. “I was leading the whole time until the last hurdle. I feel like I ran the race I wanted to run, I was just dead tired coming down the last 50 meters.”

Brown's best long jump that day measured 19-2.5. Hannah Morris of Chicago Heights won at 19-3.

“That was painful. I honestly don't even like the long jump anyway,” Brown said. “I wasn't that upset about it. I showed a lot of improvement, that's the main thing.”

Brown's magnificent state meet will go down as one of the best ever at Alton.

 
 
 

The Redbirds scored 37 points as a team to finish as the runner-up and claim the program's first state trophy. Brown tallied 35 of those points.

“She had a pretty good day and a career,” Mitchell said with a chuckle. “I'm really going to miss her.”

There was a time track and field was a secondary sport for Brown. A 5-foot-3 jumping jack, Brown had basketball on the brain as a kid. But the more she ran track, the more she realized it showcased her talents.

Brown is blessed with an incredible vertical leap. She can nearly grab the rim on the basketball goal and has plans to dunk a tennis ball.

“I'm pretty far up on the net,” she said. “I'm getting close.”

LaJarvia Brown captures Great Southwest Classic heptathlon Gold - Riverbender.com - 6/6/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

LaJarvia Brown captures Great Southwest Classic heptathlon gold medal

 
by Dan Brannan, Content Director
published June 5 2016 8:05 PM
updated June 6 2016 12:01 PM
 
 
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Alton's LaJarvia Brown is shown in the javelin. (Photo courtesy of Alan Versaw)
Alton's LaJarvia Brown is shown in the javelin. (Photo courtesy of Alan Versaw)

 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- Alton’s LaJarvia Brown continues to achieve remarkable milestones and on Saturday at the Great Southwest Classic Track and Field Meet at the University of New Mexico Stadium, she captured first place in the heptathlon with 4,975 points.

Brown’s performance was the tops in the United States for that event.

The Great Southwest Classic provides the top few outstanding track and field athletes from each invited state with a top-notch field of competition among the best athletes in the country.

Brown’s different performances in the heptathlon were the following: 14.23 in the 100 hurdles, 5-4 in the high jump, 32-5 in the shot put, 19-5 in the long jump, 25.05 in the 200 meters, 2:30 in the 800 meters and over 100 feet in the javelin.

“Overall it was a pretty good experience,” Brown said. “I placed third last year but I wasn’t sure that I had a chance to win it until after the first day of events. I led the heptathlon the whole way with an 88-point lead going into the last event on day two which is the 800. I ran fast enough to hold her off by 9 points for the win.”

 

 

If you have a EdGlenToday or Riverbender.com news, human interest or sports idea, e-mail Danbrannan@riverbender.com or call or text 618-623-5930. Follow Dan Brannan on Facebook and Danbrannannews on Twitter.

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Brown elevated Alton's Track Program - AdVantage News - 5/28/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

Brown elevated Alton's track program

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The LaJarvia Brown Impact has worked wonders for the Alton High girls’ track program.

Just check the numbers. Her sway is staggering.

Three years ago, the Redbirds didn’t score a point in the Class 3A IHSA finals at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Brown was just a freshman learning the finer points of track and field.

The next year, the Redbirds logged 14 points and took 19th. Brown scored all of their points, including a first-place finish in the triple jump.

By 2015, they tallied 24.5 points and placed 8th. Brown accounted for 19 of those points and won her second triple jump championship.

Then last weekend at EIU’s O’Brien Stadium, the 5-foot-3, 120-pound senior delivered her most masterful performance. Brown finished first in the triple jump with an all-time best leap of 42 feet, 1.5 inches. She also won the 100-meter high hurdles in 13.89 seconds, was runner-up in the long jump at 19-2.5 and took third in the 300-meter low hurdles at 43.47.

All figured, the Texas A&M-bound phenom accounted for 35 points. The Redbirds got two more points from sophomore Katie Mans in the high jump. Their 37 points elevated them to second place in the large-school finals. Frankfort Lincoln-Way East amassed 83 points to log its fourth successive state championship.

Yet the Redbirds put themselves on the state track map after finishing fourth in the Southwestern Conference Meet and third in the Rock Island Sectional. They arrived, thanks to Brown.

“LaJarvia was outstanding. She was phenomenal,” Alton coach Terry Mitchell said. “I don’t know what else I can say about her.”

Brown’s work speaks for itself in her storied AHS track career. She gathered nine medals in three years at state and departs the prep scene as the best of the best in the triple jump.

In addition, she’s the only athlete in AHS annals to win four individual state titles, including three in one event. Several Redbirds have recorded two IHSA titles, including long jumper Larry Perry in 1974-75.

Four is reserved for LJB. She recorded her third and fourth championships on May 21.

“I don’t think all of this will really hit me until I get older,” Brown said of her influence on AHS and state track. “I just want to go into the (Alton) Hall of Fame someday.”

The Redbirds will reserve a spot for her.

“She’s an amazing person and she really inspires me,” said Mans, a sophomore. “LaJarvia is a role model for me. She’s going to do big things.”

Perhaps the U.S. Olympic committee will call her name someday. Starting this fall, Brown figures to be a key part of the Texas A&M track program. The Aggies belong to the power-packed Southeastern Conference.

However, before college starts, Brown will compete again in high-level summer competition. Last year, she posted a triple jump of 41-9 and long jump of 19-7 in action that stretched from New Mexico to Virginia to Cali, Colombia. The South American excursion was part of the IAAF World Youth Championships.

“I really enjoyed doing that last year,” Brown said of her national and international competition.

She has learned plenty about herself during her remarkable run. Mostly, it’s just doing what she does best — competing to win.

“I found out that I’m comfortable out of my comfort zone,” Brown quipped.

She made it quite comfy for the Redbirds at state and has served as the catalyst for the program’s growth.

“I’m hoping that what we did at state will get more girls to come out for track,” Mitchell said. “I know that having the team finish second at state is outstanding.”

That could be LaJarvia’s Legacy. She aided the Redbirds in lugging home a second-place trophy.

“She has fought hard for everything she has done,” Mitchell said.

It’s that consistent confidence that stirs Brown.

“I don’t doubt myself,” she said. “I really don’t know what to feel now that my high school season and career is over.

“I know I’m going to miss competing (for Alton), but I did what I wanted to do.

“I left my mark at the state meet and I left everything I had on the track.”

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- See more at: http://advantagenews.com/sports/brown-elevated-alton-s-track-program/#sthash.CXdjCcXH.dpuf

Brown sparkles in her final meet - STLToday - 5/20/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

Brown sparkles in her final meet; Cahokia grabs share of team title

  • By Jim Inghram | STLhighschoolsports.com
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CHARLESTON • Alton High senior LaJarvia Brown was fighting back tears late Saturday.

Almost 12 hours earlier, she was on the track early in the morning attacking her warm-ups with a fierce desire. Brown wasn't happy with her long jump or triple jump marks in Friday's preliminaries. So she came out for some extra prep work Saturday at O'Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

It worked.

Brown closed out her stellar career with two state titles at the Illinois Girls Track and Field Championships. She added a second and third-place finish. Along the way, she set school records in three events and most importantly to Brown, gave Alton something it never had before - a second-place finish in the team standings.

"When I get around competition, I don't know, I just knew I wanted to win," said Brown, who is headed for Texas A&M in the fall. "There were several girls that were over 40 (feet in the triple jump) coming in. I was seeded, like fifth. I just wanted to get that record."

Brown started her day with a second-place finish in the long jump (19 feet, 2.5 inches). She was a half-inch behind winner Hannah Morris of Chicago Heights Bloom Township.

In the triple jump, Brown was at her best. She set the state record with a 42-01.75. It shattered the old mark of 41-05 set in 1996 by Deanna Simmons of Decatur MacAthur.

It was the third consecutive year Brown has won the event at the state meet.

In the hurdle events, Brown won the 100 (13.89) and was third in the 300 (43.47), although she held the lead for the first 270 meters. Both times were Alton records.

"(The start), that was my main focus," Brown said. "My starts have gotten a lot better as the season has gone on. I knew I had won it at the eighth hurdle. I just had six more steps to go."

Brown scored 35 points. Sophomore Katie Mans jumped 5-6 in the high jump to earn a seventh-place finish and give the Redbirds a pair of points. The 37 points was unprecedented in the long history of Alton athletics.

Frankfort Lincoln-Way East won the Class 3A state for the fourth successive time with 83 points.

"I'm not going to cry," Brown said as a few tears welled in her eyes. "I don't cry. I don't cry."

She then smiled as the second-place trophy was handed to the handful of Alton faithful on the field.

"I'm going to miss her," Alton coach Terry Mitchell said. "She's special. She grown up in front of us and accomplished some great things."

 
 
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Also in 3A, East St. Louis was eighth with 21 points. The Flyers picked up a second-place finish in the 1,600 relay (3:53.29) with freshmen Jariah Turner and Shonjahnea Griggs and seniors LaJeanai Keltee and Rokelle Stanley. East Side picked up another eight points when sophomore Evangeline Harris tossed the shot put 45-07.25.

O'Fallon had 11 points, its best effort was a second-place finish in the 800 relay by its team of all juniors Kersten Douglas, Tamya Houston, Taliah Reese and Mya Watson-Blake. The Panthers also picked up a seventh-place finish in the 1,600 relay. The team was made up of juniors Mackenzie Ryan, Tailah Reese, Watson-Blake and senior Caitlyn Clinton.

Cahokia needed a big effort from junior Mariya Hudson in the 200 and she obliged taking first place and scooping up 10 points in the next to last event. It gave the defending champion Comanches 53 points - 10 more than Maple Park Kaneland in the 2A.

But Kaneland had a team in the 1,600 relay, the final event of the day, and Cahokia did not.

Kaneland, which had the third-best prelims time in the event, did the improbable and won the the final event to tie Cahokia for the team title.

Before Hudson's big victory in the 200, the Comanches were off their game a bit. Hudson had dominant runs in the 100 and 400 in the prelims, but finished third in the 100 (12.19) and fourth in the 400 (56.83).

A miss in the long jump also hurt the cause. Hudson was suffering from some leg pains, but put it out of her mind to win the 200.

She's unsure if she will run this summer, but noted she will be more than motivated to reclaim the state title in the 100 and 400 - events she won as a sophomore.

"When I saw my coaches, they were like, 'go out there and have fun,'" Hudson said. "I knew that meant go out there and win. I know he wanted me to win, so I did what I had to do."

Even at less than their best, the Comanches are still state co-champions.

"We moved up in the 4 by 1 and 4 by 2 relays," senior Paris Jacobs said. "But we could have done better in the 4 by 4. Overall, we did our best, so were happy."

Triad finished 30th in Class 2A all 11 of its points were courtesy of senior Allison Richter who placed four in the discus and seventh in the shot put.

Highland picked up a fourth place finish in the 3,200 relay with the quartet of senior Allison Zobrist, freshman Kate Marti, junior Sarah Beth Wiegman and sophomore Rece Portell. Freeburg was ninth in the same race to earn its only point. The team was made up of sophomore Kayla Whitworth and juniors Hannah Bouas, Ashley Gilmore and Kristen Collier.

In Class 1A, Casey Berberich finished fourth in the long jump to scored six points for Lebanon. It was the only points manufactured by area 1A teams.


 

Brown guides Redbirds to 2nd at state - AdVantage News - 5/21/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

TRACK AND FIELD: Brown guides Redbirds to second at state

by  

CHARLESTON – LaJarvia Brown put the Alton Redbirds on the happy trail to a track trophy Saturday during the IHSA girls’ finals at Eastern Illinois University.

Brown wins two titles, bags big trophy for Alton - The Telegraph - 5/21/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

PREP GIRLS TRACK: Brown wins two titles, bags big trophy for Alton

, , 

By Greg Shashack - gshashack@civitasmedia.com

 

LaJarvia Brown, shown clearing a hurdle on her way to a victory in the Alton Invite on April 21, closed her career in dynamic fashion Saturday with two state titles and 35 points that gave the Redbirds a runner-up finish in the Class 3A state meet in Charleston. 
Scott Kane / For The Telegraph

CHARLESTON – LaJarvia Brown smiled at the mention of holding a state trophy awarded to the top three teams at the Class 3A state girls track meet.

“If we get a trophy, I’m going to cry,” Brown said after producing the last of her 35 points that single-handedly earned the Alton Redbirds a second-place state finish. “And I don’t cry. Well I do cry, but not in public.”

The big trophy the Redbirds brought back to Alton from Eastern Illinois on Saturday simply reads “State Second Place Girls Track & Field Class 3A.”

Brown’s performance was certainly worthy of engraving.

The 5-foot-3 senior signed with Texas A&M ended her prep career with a remarkable display. She set school records in three events while winning state championships in the triple jump and 100-meter high hurdles, placing second in the long jump and third in 300 intermediate hurdles.

“That’s quite a day,” Alton coach Terry Mitchell said.

The Redbirds were never a threat to Lincoln-Way East, which piled up 83 points to defend its Class 3A state championship. It is the fourth successive title for the Griffins since Edwardsville won state in 2012.

Alton began the season with a goal of winning a state trophy and Brown delivered enough scoring to secure runner-up hardware. The Redbirds, who also scored two points off sophomore Katie Man’s seventh-place finish in the high jump, scored 37 points to beat Hinsdale Central and Oswego East, who tied for third with 30 points.

“I really don’t know how to feel because my high school season is over,” Brown said after giving up the lead in the final 50 yards of the 300 hurdles to place third in her final event. “I’m going to miss competing for Alton and being with coach Mitchell and all the coaches and all the girls.

“But I did basically what I wanted to. I wanted to go 4-for-4, but 35 isn’t bad either. I’ll take that.”

Brown’s day began with a runner-up finish in the long jump at 19 feet, 2.5 inches. Chicago Heights Bloom sophomore Hannah Morris won with a jump of 19-3.

Brown then went big in her signature event, setting an all-time state record with a leap of 42-1.75 to claim her third consecutive state championship in the triple jump. She broke the 20-year-old mark of 41-5 set by Decatur MacArthur’s Deana Simmons in 1996.

“I think it’s just when I get around competition, I know I want to win,” Brown said. “There were several girls that were over 40 coming in, I was seeded like fifth. I wanted to get that record.”

Brown then went to the track to turn in school records in both hurdles races. She led from start to finish to win the 100 hurdles in 13.89 seconds. Brown then closed with a run of 43.47 to place third in the 300 hurdles.

The day left her with no regret and little energy.

“I gave it everything I had,” Brown said. “I am dead tired.”

The medal was the second for Mans, who was one of seven high jumpers to go 5-6 behind two that cleared 5-7. The Redbirds also had senior Chayvon Buckingham in the finals. She finished 12th in the shot put at 38-9.75.

Alton among leading local contingent at Girls State Track Meet - Belleville News-Democrat - 5/19/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

Cahokia, O’Fallon, Alton lead local contingent into Girls State Track Meet

Mariya Hudson and Raynesha Lewis will set the pace as Cahokia goes after a third-straight Class 2A state crown

Relay teams are key for O’Fallon’s hopes of a top 10 finish in loaded Class 3A field

Alton senior Lajarvia Brown is among the top five in four events

 

BY DEAN CRIDDLE

dcriddle@bnd.com

 
CAHOKIA 

Fresh off a solid performance and another sectional title which included advancing 15 entries into the Class 2A State Track Meet preliminaries, Cahokia girls track coach Roscoe Dowell was feeling pretty good as he left Mascoutah High School last Friday.

Then Dowell saw what the Comanches chief competition did in its sectional meet.

“I thought we had a good meet and got just about everyone through that we thought we would. We got 15 entries through and I was feeling good. Then I saw what Maple Park (Kaneland) and Springfield Southeast were able to do,’’ Dowell said. “Dunlap got 20 entries through with some very good relay teams and a few high quality individuals.

“I’m sure they were feeling really good.’’

Led by two of the top individuals in the state in senior Raynesha Lewis and junior Mariya Hudson, the Comanches begin their quest to three-peat on Friday beginning at 9 a.m. when Class 2A preliminaries are held at O’Brien Stadium in Charleston.

Action in the ‘16 state finals begins on Thursday at 11 a.m. with the Class 1A preliminaries. Class 3A preliminaries are set for noon on Friday. Finals are set to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday at O’Brien Stadium which is located on the campus of Eastern Illinois University.

The Comanches head into the state finals this year a much deeper team then they were a year ago when despite being decimated by injuries, used the brilliance of Hudson and Lewis to win a second straight state title.

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This year with Hudson, the defending state champion in the 100, 200 and 400 meters and Lewis, the reigning champion in the long jump, the favorites in their events, Cahokia also has freshman LaQwasia Stepney in the long jump and 100 meter hurdles along with speed galore in the 400 and 800 meter relays. And there is more.

“I like our chances if we come in and compete like we have all year,’’ Dowell said. “Raynesha (Lewis) probably won’t high jump because we don;t want to take any chances with her sore foot. But other than that, we‘re ready to go. We just can’t have any slip ups this year. There are too many good teams here.’’

While Cahokia is clearly the top local attraction in Class 2A, several other athletes and individuals also will be in the medal hunt.

Triad senior and Western Illinois University recruit Allison Richter had the second best throw in the state in the discus last week at 126 feet 5 inches and the third best throw in the shot put at 42 feet 5 1/4 inches.

Triad’s Gabby Arbus and Stephanie Jacobs of Freeburg are tied with several others for the ninth best pole vault in the state at 10 feet 7 inches. Highland has the sixth best time in the 3,200 meter relay at 9 minutes 47 seconds while Mascoutah’s time of 49.4 seconds is the sixth best in the 400 meter relay.

Brown, O’Fallon lead the way in Class 3A

One of the state’s best in the long jump and triple jump for the last three years, Alton senior Lajarvia Brown heads into the state finals looking to cement her place as one of the best in metro east history and also put the Redbirds on the girls tack and field map.

A two-time state champion in the triple jump and twice a medal winner in the long jump, Brown is also one of the favorites in the 100 meter hurdles where she has the second best time at 14.3 seconds and fifth best time in the 300 meter hurdles (45.5).

Should Brown, a Texas A @ M University recruit, fare well in her events and Katie Manns place high in the high jump, a top five — or better performance — in the team competition isn’t out of the question for the Redbirds.

O’Fallon is also hoping for a possible top 10 performance. The dominant Class 3A team in the area for much of the season, coach Neil James’ squad has legitimate chances for state titles in both the 400 and 800 meter relays where they posted top three times at the Rock Island Sectional last week.

If the Panthers can get points from their individuals, then James feels there is a chance at a top 10 finish.

“Obviously our best chances are in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays as we have top three times in both,’’ James said. “Each of the individuals has a chance to make finals as does our 4x400 relay. All of our athletes are primed and ready for the state meet. They are excited and ready to show what they can do.

“ I think if we can get some of those individuals through to Saturday then I feel we have a shot at top 10. Our girls have done a great job this season and I expect good things from them this weekend.’’

East St. Louis could also be in the top 10 with a good weekend. The Flyerettes have two individuals — Evangeline Harris in the shot put and Jazzmine Poole in the discus — who will contend for state titles, plus a relay team or two which could make the finals.

Belleville West also has a couple of medal hopefuls in its 400 meter relay team which has a top five time of 48.2 seconds and junior Kameron Frazier in the 400 meters.

Burmester looks to double.. again

Red Bud senior Keri Burmester looks to earns medals in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters for the second straight year as she leads the way for local Class 1A athletes.

Burmester posted the seventh best time in the state in the 1,600 meters last week at 5 minutes 27 seconds and her time of 11:42 in the 3,200 meters is currently the ninth best.

The Madison Trojans have three good chances of earning medals. Delphanae Griffin has the ninth best triple jump at 35 feet 3 1/2 inches, while Janiya Collins is currently sixth in the 100 meters at 12.71 seconds. The Trojans also have the seventh best time in the 400 meter relay at 50.79 seconds.

Lebanon junior Casey Berberich has the fourth best long jump (17 feet 1/2 inch) while the Greyhounds have the second best time in the 3,200 meter relay at 10:05.

Okawville is third at 10:10.3 .

Dean Criddle: 618-239-2661, @CriddleDean


Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/sports/high-school/article78341932.html#storylink=cpy

 

LaJarvia Brown wins 4 events at IHSA Sectional - AdVantage News - 5/13/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

GIRLS' TRACK AND FIELD: Alton’s Brown wins four events at Rock Island Sectional

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CLASS 3A ROCK ISLAND SECTIONAL — LaJarvia Brown of Alton won four events to lead the parade of local individuals advancing to next weekend’s large-school IHSA girls' track finals at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

Brown, a senior and the two-time defending state triple jump champion, finished first in that event at the sectional with a leap of 38 feet, 10.25 inches. She also won the long jump by going 19-3. And Brown capped her big day by winning the 100-meter high hurdles in 14.34 seconds and the 300-meter low hurdles in 45.52.

“It’s the first time in the history of the girls’ track program that we’ve had an individual win four sectional events,” Alton coach Terry Mitchell said. “It was a really good day for LaJarvia and a good day for us.”

Her win in the 300-meters proved impressive because Brown outran East St. Louis Rokelle Stanley, who beat her in the Southwestern Conference Meet. Stanley’s sectional time was 46.37.

Sophomore teammate Katie Mans won the high jump with a leap of 5-5 in the rain. Alton’s Chayvon Buckingham, runner-up in the shot at 39-9 and Jewel Wagner, third in the shot 38-9, also qualified for state.

All figured, the Redbirds’ scored 64 points to finish third behind champion East St. Louis (90 points) and runner-up O’Fallon (87 points).

“That’s also the best team finish we have had at a sectional,” Mitchell said. “So I think we are in good shape for state next week.”

Edwardsville took seventh with 41 points and Granite City placed 12th with 21 points in the 14-team competition.

The Tigers’ 4x800-meter relay team snared first in 9:33.69 and marked the only event that Edwardsville qualified for state.

Granite City senior Andrea Hyde nabbed second place in the 100-meters in 12:52 and was a member of the 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relay teams that earned state berths. The 4x1 group ran a 49.41 and finished sixth. The 4x2 unit turned in a time of 1:44.19 and wound up second to O’Fallon, the winner in 1:42.69.

- See more at: http://advantagenews.com/sports/girls-track-and-field-alton%E2%80%99s-brown-wins-four-events-at-rock/#sthash.xR7s5JAl.dpuf

LaJarvia Brown wins 3 SWC Titles - The Telegraph - 5/4/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

PREP GIRLS TRACK: Alton’s Brown wins three SWC titles

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By Greg Shashack - gshashack@civitasmedia.com

 

Alton senior LaJarvia Brown, shown on her way to a hurdles victory in the Alton Invite on April 21 at Alton High, won three events and was second in another Wednesday at the Southwestern Conference girls track meet in Edwardsville. 
Scott Kane / For The Telegraph

EDWARDSVILLE – The O’Fallon Panthers again ran away from the field Wednesday at the Southwestern Conference girls track meet.

The Panthers secured their fourth successive SWC championship while posting 166 points at the Winston Brown Track and Field Complex. East St. Louis (133 points) was runner-up, with Edwardsville (119) and Alton (105) capping the top half in the eight-team league.

Alton senior LaJarvia Brown won three events and was runner-up in a fourth. The Texas A&M recruit, a two-time defending Class 3A state champion in the triple jump, won the triple at 39 feet, 4 inches, the long juimp at 18-11.5 and the 100-meter hurdles in 14.34 seconds. Brown was second in the 300 hurdles in 45.27. East Side’s Rokelle Stanley won the race in 44.98.

Redbirds sophomore Katie Mans defended her SWC title in the high jump, winning with a leap of 5-4. Alton got school records from second-place finishes from Alexis James in the discus at 122-8 and Ty’Riss Holloway in the pole vault at 9-0. Jewel Wagner, a Murray State recruit, was second in the shot put at 40-3.5.

One other top-three finish for the Redbirds came from Raina Valyo, who was third in the long jump at 15-8

Edwardsville’s distance runners had a big meet. The Tigers went 1-2 in the 3,200 with senior Colleen Corkery winning in 12:05.31 and senior Rachel Schoenecker second in 12:18.65. The Tigers went 2-3 in the 1,600, with freshman Payton Flowers runner-up in 5:33.16 and freshman Maddie Miller third in 5:39.26.

Edwardsville also picked up a first-place finish from its 4×800 relay, which came in at 9:47.85. The Tigers’ Gabriella Romano won the pole vault at 9-0.

The Tigers received third-place efforts from Jessie Chappel in the shot put at 39-6.5, Savannah Maloney in the discus at 114-6, and Melissa Spencer the 800 at 2:27.49. Edwardsville also took third in the 4×400 relay in 4:06.45

Belleville West (68), Belleville East (45), Granite City (41) and Collinsville (15) completed the SWC field.

Report prep results by email at telegraphsports@hotmail.com

Two Meets 7 wins for LaJarvia Brown - The Telegraph - 4/30/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

Two meets, seven wins for Alton’s Brown

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By Greg Shashack - gshashack@civitasmedia.com

 

Alton freshman Cri-shonna Hickman gets over the bar during the high jump competition at the Alton Invitational on April 21 at Alton High. Hickman came back Friday to win her first major-meet title by clearing 5 feet, 4 inches at the Collinsville Invite. 
Scott Kane / For The Telegraph

One day after winning four events at the Madison County girls track meet at Edwardsville, Alton senior LaJarvia Brown lightened her workload a bit Friday at the Collinsville Invitational.

Brown sat out the long jump and 300-meter hurdles. But the Texas A&M recruit and two-time Class 3A state champion in the triple jump won three events to lead the Redbirds to a runner-up finish in the 10-team meet at Collinsville.

Brown won the triple jump at 39 feet, 10 inches, and took to the track to win the 100 hurdles in 14.46 seconds and the 200 meters in 25.45. Brown plans to compete in four events – the triple and long jumps and both hurdles races – at state later in May.

O’Fallon won the team title with 154 points. Alton was second at 104.5 points, with Edwardsville (103.5), Hazelwood East (64), Chatham Glenwood (63.5), Belleville West (59.5), Triad (59), Belleville East (53), Collinsville (33) and Columbia (6) completing the field.

Alton also got a first-place finish from freshman Cri-shonna Hickman, who cleared 5-4 to win the high jump. Hickman was second in long jump at 15-11.

Edwardsville had one first-place effort, with the Tigers 4×800 relay winning in 9:37.95.

Brown won Madison County titles Thursday in the 100 hurdles at 14.4 and 300 hurdles at 38.68, the long jump at 17-3.5 and triple jump at 39-11. The 100 hurdles time was a meet record, breaking the mark held by Edwardsville’s Kristen Dowell of 14.75 set in 2012. Alton also got a first-place effort from Katie Mans in the high jump at 5-4.

Edwardsville claimed its 16th successive MadCo girls championship with 177 points. Alton was runner-up at 120.

Alton's Brown wins four events at MadCo Track Meet - AdVantage News - 4/28/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

TRACK AND FIELD: Alton’s Brown wins four events at MadCo Meet

by  

EDWARDSVILLE — Four events, four wins. LaJarvia Brown of Alton hummed in four-part harmony Thursday during the Madison County Meet at the Winston Brown Track and Field Complex.

Brown won the 100-meter low hurdles in a county-record 14.40 seconds. The Texas A&M-bound senior also finished first in the 300-meter low hurdles at 38.68, the long jump at 17 feet, 3.5 inches and the triple jump at 39-11.

“I did what I wanted to do,” Brown said. “My goal was to win in all four events. And the 100-meter hurdles were my best event today. That’s the fastest time I’ve run in them. I came out of the blocks hard.”

Edwardsville’s girls withstood Brown’s four wins and outscored Alton, 177-120, for the team title, the Tigers’ 16th consecutive MadCo one. Granite City (79 points), Triad (76), Highland (51) and Collinsville (46) rounded out the girls’ team scoring in the large-school competition

“That’s Sweet 16,” quipped Edwardsville coach MiKaya Thompkins. “Our depth paid off. Our goal was to spread around the points and we were solid. We performed well.”

She knew Brown would get her points, so the Tigers had to keep scoring. Brown broke Kristen Dowell’s meet mark in the high hurdles. Dowell’s previous record of 14.75 was set in 2012.

“LaJarvia is a talented athlete and girls like her are rare,” Thompkins said.

The Tigers made it a county sweep again by amassing 161 points for the boys’ title, their eighth in succession. Collinsville placed second with 111 points and Alton took third with 92 points. Granite City (77 points), Triad (75) and Highland (35) completed the point totals.

“You never know what people are going to do, but our kids performed well,” Tigers’ coach Chad Lakatos said. “A.J. Epenesa has been consistent and Travis Anderson continues to bring that edge to our team.”

Epenesa won the discus with a county-record toss of 191-5, or 10 feet, 6 inches better than his record throw in 2015. He also finished first in the shot at 56-4. Anderson prevailed in the 110-meter high hurdles with a record-time of 13.94. Rodney McMullen of Edwardsville had the county best clocking of 14.16 in 1984.

“It was a good day for me,” Epenesa said. “I tried a different style in the shot so that I’m spinning when I throw it now. We brought it out today and I like it because it gives me more momentum in the ring. I can get some more oomph.”

Edwardsville assistant coach Matt Martin said, “It’s an aggressive move to change A.J.’s style this late in the season, but he likes it and I’m not a doubter. It’s high risk, but high reward.”

Levon Hendricks of Edwardsville won the triple jump (43-4) and Devonte Fincher snared first in the 200-meters (22.4). The Tigers also finished first in 4x800-meter relay (8:46.59) and the 4x100-meter relay (42.40).

Alton’s 4x200-meter relay group of Tony Dobbins, Harrison Henderson, Simeon Brown and Keenan Stegall won its race in 1:30.55. The Redbirds snagged second in the 4x100-meter relay (43.28) and third in the 4x400-meter relay (3:27.89).

Arie Macias was runner-up in the 800-meters (2:02.39). Zack Llewellyn grabbed third in both the shot (51-11.5) and the discus (145-6).

“We’re thrilled about that win in 4x2,” AHS coach Jeffrey White said. “It was a great race for us and our relays are continuing to improve. We had some season-best times.”

Brothers Will and Andrew O’Keefe guided Granite City. Will, a junior, won the 3,200-meters (9:47.59). Andrew, a freshman, prevailed in the 1,600-meters (4:36.51). And Will anchored the Warriors’ 4x400-meter relay (3:26.71).

“I was supposed to run a little faster,” Will said of his 3,200-meter victory, “but when I got out there alone, I felt it was a little boring.

“I’m not exactly where I want to be, though my training has been perfect.”

The Edwardsville girls pushed toward perfection with their high-scoring ways. They won six events, including Jaydi Swanson in the 400-meters (1:01.54), Lorie Cashdollar in the 800-meters (2:18.69), Payton Flowers in the 1,600-meters (5:34.09), Julianna Determan in the 3,200-meters (12:13.21), the 4x400-meter relay (4:05.3) and 4x800-meter relay (9:53.76).

“We had a lot of solid finishes,” Thompkins said.

Katie Mans of Alton finished first in the high jump (5-4) to complement Brown’s four wins. Teammates Jewel Wagner (39-2) and Chayvon Buckingham (38-1.5) took second and third, respectively, in the shot.

“It always feels good to win, especially at the county meet,” Mans said. “I feel good about what I’m doing coming into the home stretch of the season. The big thing I’m working on is getting my lower body over the bar.”

Alton head coach Terry Mitchell senses the Redbirds are getting primed for the Southwestern Conference Meet on May 4 at Edwardsville. “We did about what we figured we'd do today, but Edwardsville was too deep for us," he noted.

Andrea Hyde spurred the Granite City girls. The 5-foot senior won the 100-meters (12.47), the 200-meters (26.12) and ran on the victorious 4x100-meter relay (48.49) and 4x200-meter relay (1:43.07) teams. Niya Wilson, TyKiaza Jones and Robyn Pointer joined her on those relays. Pointer also was runner-up in the 200-meters (26.32).

“It’s the best day I’ve had in track,” Hyde said. “This was the final time I was running in the county meet, so I wanted to go out with a boom. Winning the 100-meters really got me going today.”

Tom Miller, the Warriors’ head coach, is seeing plenty of progress from his sprint corps.

“Overall, this was the best meet of the season for them,” he said. “Freddie Layne, our sprint coach, really is doing a good job and that has made a big difference with our sprinters.”

Miller added, “Andrea had a very good day and she keeps improving. She does all of the little things it takes to succeed.”

Triad’s Allison Richter doubled her fun with wins in the discus (128-11) and the shot (42-2.5). She was runner-up to Brown in the long jump (16-7.5).

- See more at: http://advantagenews.com/sports/track-and-field-alton%E2%80%99s-brown-wins-four-events-at-madco-meet/#sthash.0cvr1umh.dpuf

Mans sets high jump record - The Telegraph - 4/21/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

PREP GIRLS TRACK: Alton’s Mans sets high jump record

, , 

By Greg Shashack - gshashack@civitasmedia.com

 

Alton’s Katie Mans clears the bar in the high jump Thursday at the Alton Invitational girls track meet at Piasa Motor Fuels Field at Alton High in Godfrey. Mans, a sophomore matched her school record with a leap of 5 feet, 6 inches and then cleared 5-7 to win the event and set a school and meet record. 
Scott Kane / For The Telegraph

GODFREY – A brief shot of rain washed away the marks for Katie Mans’ approach in the high jump on Thursday at the Alton Invitational girls track meet.

So after she ran her leg in the 4×200 relay, the Alton Redbirds sophomore returned to the high jump and opted to just wing it.

And Mans soared.

She converted at 5 feet, 4 inches to match the standard she has been stuck on for most the season. Then Mans cleared 5-6 to tie the school record she set as a sophomore before coming back with a leap of 5-7 to set a school and meet record.

“I have not been able to get over 5-4 this season, so getting over 5-6 was a big deal,” Mans said. “And then getting over 5-7 and a new PR was just amazing.”

No marks, no problem.

“I had to guess on 5-4, 5-6 and 5-7,” Mans said, “but I guess it did something for me. Maybe I’ll have to do that from now on.”

O’Fallon scored 155.5 points to claim the team championship. East St. Louis (137.5), Cahokia (124), Edwardsville (110), Alton (105), Triad (67), Granite City (27), Hazelwood Central (22), Carrollton (9) and Madison (9) completed the field in the first major meet held on the new track at Piasa Motor Fuels Field.

For Mans, surpassing the 5-4 that had become an annoyance represented the clearing of a mental hurdle.

“I was very frustrated with myself, mad that I was doing better as a freshman than I am as a sophomore,” Mans said. “So today definitely scratched that out of my brain.”

Mans won a Class AA state championship in the high jump as an eighth grader at Alton Middle School with a jump of 5-3. She made an immediate impact at Alton High, winning a Southwestern Conference before going 5-5 to win a Class 3A sectional title. As a freshman at state, Mans tied for eighth place at 5-4.

She will be seeking an upgrade as a sophomore.

“I was really disappointed in my finish at state last year,” Mans said, “so I really want to come back and make a name for myself, as LaJarvia has done.”

Alton senior Lajarvia Brown, a two-time state champion in the triple jump, won three events at the Alton Invite. Her victories in the long jump and triple jump produced meet records.

Brown went 19-1.5 in the long jump and 40-7 in the triple. Brown won the 100-meter hurdles in 14.2 seconds. Her bid for a fourth win in the 300 hurdles ended when she took a fall going over a hurdle and finished sixth.

Alton got 14 points in the shot put with Chayvon Buckingham third with a toss of 40-2 and Jewel Wagner fourth at 39-4.

Edwardsville won the 4×400 freshman-sophomore relay and the 800 sprint medley.

Alton Girls 6th at Tiger Relays - AdVantage News - 4/13/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

GIRLS' TRACK AND FIELD: E'ville fifth, Alton sixth at Tiger Relays

by  

EDWARDSVILLE — The Tiger Relays are a good barometer for how the Southwestern Conference girls' track and field teams are dialed in on the season.

The weather is warming up and the field is chock full of high caliber competition, especially out of the SWC.

The O'Fallon Panthers escaped with bragging rights, scoring 103.5 points to win the team title. O'Fallon was followed by East St. Louis (99.25), Hazelwood Central (72.5), Cahokia (72.5), Edwardsville (71), Alton (62), Quincy (58), Centralia (44), Belleville East (36.25), Collinsville (18), Belleville West (12), Madison (6) and Althoff (5).

“I thought we competed real well,” Alton head coach Terry Mitchell said. “Like I told the girls, this is the first preview for sectionals. Everybody you see here out of conference is going to be at the sectional meet. We find out where we're at today and what we need to do to get closer.”

EHS head coach MiKala Thompkins was pleased with where the Tigers were on Wednesday at the Winston Brown Track and Field Complex, too.

“With our competition and where we are right now, times are fast, distances are far and heights are high,” Thompkins said. “We've got great competition that's pushing us to be even better. I think we're going to see a lot of qualifications for state at sectionals just because of the constant competition we're competing against. To have this at every single meet only makes us work even harder and I'm definitely pleased today.”

To say Alton star trackster LaJarvia Brown likes the Tiger Relays might be an understatement. Brown won three individual events Wednesday and was part of the 400-meter relay team that finished fourth.

A year ago Brown set the all-time IHSA record in the triple jump with a distance of 41 feet, 6.25 inches. On Wednesday she turned in the best time in the state this season in the 300-meter hurdles, clocked at 43.76 seconds. Brown also won the triple jump (40-2) and the long jump (19-3).

“I didn't jump what I wanted to in the triple jump, but I still like the meet because I usually do really good here every year,” Brown said. “I'm glad to break some records here and leave my name in the record book.”

Her performance in the hurdles impressed Mitchell, considering her technique was off during the event.

“She had been best in the state already at 45 seconds,” Mitchell said. “And she went over the first six hurdles (today) with the wrong leg, but she competed. She ran and that's what we told her, you've got to run against the old man clock and when you run against the old man clock it's hard to win, but she competed and she'll keep getting better.”

Brown said the weather getting warmer helps. She could tell the difference during her first leap in the long jump.

“It's definitely starting to kick in,” she said. “I realized that when I went 19-3 in my first jump in the long jump. Coach Mitchell said it's the point of the season where I want to get my best jump first and be done and that's kind of what I did in the long jump.”

Knowing it's her final year has her buckling down and taking an all-business mentality — at least for the most part.

“It's strictly business,” Brown said. “But I'm having fun at the same time. We all have a goal in mind, but I'm just trying to have fun while I'm doing it.”

While the experience showed for the senior Brown, Edwardsville freshman distance runner Payton Flowers was competing in the first 3,200-meter run of her career with equally successful results.

Flowers turned in a time of 12:03.25 to win the 3,200, showing a burst of speed at the end to push past O'Fallon's Hannah Nabb on the final bend to nab the victory.

“I knew I could have a kick, but I didn't know I'd be able to have it in the two mile,” a wide-eyed Flowers said. “This is my first time running the two mile and I'm actually pretty impressed with myself. I'm just as shocked as probably everybody else. I just felt like me team really relied on me and I knew if I tried really hard I could go and get her.”

Thompkins was stoked to see Flowers' win. Confidence can be tough for a freshman, but a big win can prove that they belong at this level.

“One thing we see with freshmen is their inexperience and it was really cool to see her get out there and surprise herself,” Thompkins said. “We know what she's capable of, but for an athlete to see and feel their potential it was exciting. That was just what we needed for her to gain that confidence.”

The Tigers also won the 4,000-meter distance medley in 12:56.06, setting a new school record. The relay team consisted of Danielle Bohannon, Victoria Vegher, Lorie Cashdollar and Maddie Miller.

EHS also set a new school record in the 800-meter sprint medley relay, breaking a mark that had stood for 10 years. The time of 1:48.89 was good for second. The quartet consisted of: Olivia Watson, Rachel Kubicek, Tatiana Perry and Cashdollar.

Alton's Alexis James set a personal record in the discus Wednesday with a heave of 117-7, which was good for a sixth place finish.

Mitchell is now ready to turn his attention to the Alton Invitational on Thursday, April 21 at the new AHS track. It will shift away from all of the relay events to more open events, something Mitchell thinks will benefit the Redbirds. It will be the first major varsity event conducted on the new track.

“The teams to really look at in our house are going to be Hazelwood Central, East St. Louis, Edwardsville, Cahokia and us,” Mitchell said. “It should be a good five, or six team race for our meet and it could be interesting because a lot of teams are going to offset what other teams do well. I think next Thursday is going to be a heck of a track meet.”

- See more at: http://advantagenews.com/sports/girls-track-and-field-e-ville-fifth-alton-sixth-at-tiger-rel/#sthash.8tuQItPf.dpuf

Alton Girls Track hopefully building toward state - The Telegraph - 4/11/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

PREP GIRLS TRACK: Alton planning state trophy hunt

, , 

By Greg Shashack - gshashack@civitasmedia.com

 

Alton’s LaJarvia Brown kicks up sand while competing in the long jump at the Southwestern Illinois Relays on March 26 at the Winston Brown Track Complex in Edwardsville. Brown is the two-time defending Class 3A state champion in the triple jump. 
Scott Kane / For The Telegraph

GODFREY – An eighth-place finish at the 2015 Class 3A girls track state meet has the Alton Redbirds aiming for a state upgrade in 2016.

With all of those point producers back, a top-five target would seem reasonable. But the Redbirds are dreaming bigger.

“I’m looking at top three, maybe,” said Alton senior LaJarvia Brown, who placed in three events to score 19 of the team’s 24.5 state points as a junior.

Fourth or fifth place earns nothing tangible. But third or better from the weekend at Eastern Illinois’ O’Brien Stadium in Charleston comes with state hardware that Brown and her teammates seek for the trophy case at AHS.

“I want it,” Brown said. “I want it so bad. I think it’s possible.”

Longtime Alton coach Terry Mitchell is on board with top-three talk.

“That’s what we’d love to do,” Mitchell said. “If we do that, it would be the first ever. In order to do that, we’ve got to keep improving and have people step up. I think we have the capability to do it.”

The presence of the 5-foot-3 Brown makes its possible, if not probable. The Texas A&M recruit, a two-time state champion in the triple jump, plans on competing in four events at state.

Along with defending her title in the triple jump, Brown expects to compete in the long jump, 100-meter hurdles and 300 hurdles at state. Brown went 18 feet, 3 inches in the long jump last season to place sixth at state. She has already gone 19-4 this season.

Brown was fifth in the 300 hurdles last season with a time of 44.31 seconds. She is looking to add the 100 hurdles as a senior, though high jump appears to be an option after Brown cleared 5-4 in Friday’s Jersey Relays.

Brown has done work on Redbirds relays in the past, but prefers to go in four open events next month.

“That way, I can just depend on myself,” Brown said with a smile. “If I do bad, then I can just be mad at myself. I don’t want to put the blame on anybody else or point fingers or anything like that.”

Joining Brown as state qualifiers back for the Redbirds are senior Jewel Wagner and sophomore Katie Mans. Wagner placed sixth in the shot put as a junior with a heave of 40-9.75. Mans tied for eighth in the high jump at 5-4.

Senior Chayvon Buckingham gives Alton another entry in the shot put with state qualifying potential. But while the Redbirds’ talent translates into point production at state, the depth is not likely to allow them to contend for a Southwestern Conference championship despite what Brown calls “some really good freshmen.”

Alton was the SWC’s top finisher at state last season after placing fifth at the conference meet. The Redbirds did win their first major outdoor meet of the season at the Michael Rodgers Invitational at McCluer South-Berkley High in Missouri.

But against primarily Illinois opposition a week later at the Southwestern Illinois Relays, the Redbirds placed third. The week after that brought a fourth-place finish at the Belleville West Invite before a runner-up finish Friday behind the host Panthers at the Jersey Relays.

“Our girls are stepping up,” Mitchell said after the Southwestern Illinois event at Edwardsville on March 26. “We needed a meet like this to let them see what it’s like in Illinois. Last week against Missouri told us a lot about the Missouri schools. But this tells us the real story. We’ve got work to do.”

Girls Track has strong outing at Lady Maroon Invitational - Riverbender.com - 4/1/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

LaJarvia Brown, Alton's girls have strong outing at Lady Maroon Invitational

 
by Dan Brannan, Content Director
published April 3 2016 12:15 PM
updated April 3 2016 12:24 PM
 
3
 

 

LaJarvia Brown soars through the air en route to a meet record in the long jump on Friday at the Lady Maroon Invitational at Belleville West. Brown went 19-4.5 in the long jump for the record. (Photo by Dan Brannan)
LaJarvia Brown soars through the air en route to a meet record in the long jump on Friday at the Lady Maroon Invitational at Belleville West. Brown went 19-4.5 in the long jump for the record. (Photo by Dan Brannan)

 

 

Alton's Alexis James was third in the discus with a toss of 116-9 on Friday at the Lady Maroon Invitational. (Photo by Dan Brannan).
Alton's Alexis James was third in the discus with a toss of 116-9 on Friday at the Lady Maroon Invitational. (Photo by Dan Brannan).

 

ALTON - Alton’s girls track team continued to roll Friday in the Lady Maroon Invitational at Belleville West led by four individual first places by LaJarvia Brown.

Brown won the long jump in a meet record of 19-4.5, set a triple jump record with a leap of 40-10.5 and won the 100 high hurdles in 15.07, battling 20 mph winds and the 300 low hurdles in 47.0 again running against 15-20 mph winds.

 

 

Katie Mans clears the bar at 5-0 on Friday against Belleville West. (Photo by Dan Brannan)
Katie Mans clears the bar at 5-0 on Friday against Belleville West. (Photo by Dan Brannan)
High jumper Katie Mans was second, clearing 5-0, again struggling with the other girls against the 20 mph winds. All the other jumpers except the O’Fallon jumper bowed out at 4-8 and 4-10.

 

 

Chayvon Buckingham was fourth in the discus for Alton on Friday. (Photo by Dan Brannan)
Chayvon Buckingham was fourth in the discus for Alton on Friday. (Photo by Dan Brannan)
The Redbirds’ Jewell Wagner was third in shot put with a toss of 39-3 andChayvon Buckingham was fourth in 37-9, continuing to show improvement. Alexis James was third in the discus with a toss of 116-9.

 

Alton’s Cri'shonna Hickman was eighth in 400-meter dash with a solid time of 1:02. Ty-Riss Holloway was sixth in the pole vault, clearing 8-6.

Alton head girls’ track coach Terry Mitchell said he thought his girls did an outstanding job with the talent involved in the meet.

In the relays, the Redbirds were fifth in the 4 x 200 with a time of 1:49, seventh in the 4 x 100, despite a bad exchange, and third in the 4 x 400 freshman-sophomore relay.

O’Fallon was first in the team standings with 116 points, followed by Hazelwood Central with 99 points.

Alton hosts a girls’ fresh-soph invitational on Monday.

 

 

 

 

If you have a EdGlenToday or Riverbender.com news, human interest or sports idea, e-mail Danbrannan@riverbender.com or call or text 618-623-5930. Follow Dan Brannan on Facebook and Danbrannannews on Twitter.

Girls Track looks strong in Triangular vs. Collinsville and Edwardsville - Riverbender.com - 3/28/2016

Updated on 06/10/2022

Alton track and field girls look strong in tri-meet against Edwardsville, Collinsville

 
by Dan Brannan, Content Director
published March 29 2016 4:40 PM
updated March 29 2016 10:39 PM
 
 
 

 

Katie Mans clears 5-4 in the high jump on Monday. (Photo by Dan Brannan)
Katie Mans clears 5-4 in the high jump on Monday. (Photo by Dan Brannan)

 

 

Alton's LaJarvia Brown blazed a 12.0 time in the 100 meters on Monday. Shown with her is freshman Jeanea Epps. (Photo by Dan Brannan)
Alton's LaJarvia Brown blazed a 12.0 time in the 100 meters on Monday. Shown with her is freshman Jeanea Epps. (Photo by Dan Brannan)

 

 

Jewell Wagner
Jewell
Wagner
ALTON - Alton slipped past arch rivalEdwardsville 104-95 in a triangular battle with Collinsville on Monday night on the new Alton High School’s Piasa Motor Fuels Track. Collinsville finished with 22 points.

 

Alton sophomore Katie Mans had her best meet of the season in the high jump, clearing 5-4. On her 5-4 attempt, she cleared it by a few inches and her coach Terry Mitchell said he believes she will get over 5-6 soon. He said Mans’ potential is unlimited in the high jump. He also said she was able to get in the 5-7 to 5-8 range and would be at the tops in state once again this year by the end of the season.

The Redbirds’ LaJarvia Brown was held out of the long and triple jumps in the meet for some rest, but she blazed a time of 12.0 in the 100 meters, which would likely rank her in the top 10 in state, Mitchell said. Freshman Jeanea Epps rolled in through the tape in the 100 meters in 12.48.

“Both LaJarvia and Jeanea were under the state qualifying time in the race,” Coach Mitchell said. “The state qualifying time is 12.64 and Epps was at 12.48 and Brown at 12.0.”

Brown also ran a leg on the 4 x 100 relay and won the 100 high hurdles in a time of 14.6 and won the 300 low hurdles in 47.3, floating to a victory.

Alton’s Jewell Wagner had a big day in the shot put with a toss of 39-7; teammate Chayvon Buckingham tossed the shot 36-7 for third place and continued her consistent performances in the shot put and discus. Alexis James had strong performances in the shot put (35-3) and discus (89-9).

Crishonna Hickman ran a 1:03.43 in the 400 meters, coming back from an injury.

Alton’s girls take part in the Maroon Invitational on Friday and will compete in a Jackie Joyner Invitational Meet in East St. Louis on Saturday.

Mitchell said he sees a great future for Alton’s girls track team with such strong younger members coming up.

“I told the younger girls now the juniors and seniors are the big dogs and one day you girls will be there,” he said. “I told them they are doing great against some of the best girls in the state.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have a EdGlenToday or Riverbender.com news, human interest or sports idea, e-mail Danbrannan@riverbender.com or call or text 618-623-5930. Follow Dan Brannan on Facebook and Danbrannannews on Twitter.

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AdVantage News Feature on LaJarvia Brown - 9/25/2015

Updated on 06/10/2022

"Remain humble, keep going"

by  

Life is good for Alton High’s LaJarvia Brown these days. The two-time IHSA Class 3A girls’ triple jump champion and dynamic basketball player is striving for more of the same success in 2015-16.

No wonder. It’s her senior year and the 5-foot-3, 120-pounder wants to finish with a flourish on the big stage. She’s already done that in Charleston, Las Cruces, N.M., Norfolk, Va., and Cali, Colombia, so there are new worlds to conquer.

Or perhaps just reign wherever she goes. She has leaped 41 feet, 9 inches in the triple jump and gone 19-7 in the long jump. And she could better those marks this year.

Stay tuned. The girl with a big heart and legs of power figures to keep jumping for joy.

“It has all gone so fast,” Brown said of her prep career, notably the past spring and summer. “I just want to remain humble and keep going.”

Brown is already going strong this fall. Although she isn’t playing volleyball or running cross country, Brown is doing weight training and getting ready for the upcoming basketball season.

“I’m used to playing three sports since middle school, but track season lasted so long this year, I needed a break,” Brown said.

There will be no breaks after basketball season. Spring will follow and Brown intends to become the first AHS trackster to win three consecutive state individual titles. Several guys have done it twice, but never three successive times.

“I feel like I do well under pressure and I hate to lose,” Brown said.

You can’t go wrong with that attitude.

Some of the pressure now might be deciding where she wants to go to college next year. Brown, planning to major in physical therapy, has many of the big-name schools chasing her.

She won’t divulge the list or say what part of the country bests suits her style. However, if you think SEC, Big 12, Pac-10 and Big Ten, you can envision some of those major programs. Academics are primary on her list, too. Brown takes an honors class schedule at AHS, thus she’s a solid student.

“I’m going to take some official visits soon, but I’m going to keep it a secret until November,” Brown said.

You can expect her to go all over the country to fulfill her dream.

That’s basically what she has done the past four months. Brown won her second state triple jump championship at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston and excelled in summer competition at Las Cruces, N.M., and Norfolk, Va. Brown snared long and triple jump championships in the AAU action at Norfolk.

In addition, she went with the USA team to the IAAF World Junior Championships in Colombia. The best of the best, so to speak.

“I enjoyed that trip the most because it was different and definitely boosted my self-esteem,” Brown said. “I got to compete against the top triple jumpers in the world and finished 14th.

“It’s the best thing that ever happened to me. I want to go back.”

She was second-best in South America among USA triple jumpers, stoking her desire to return for next summer’s competition. Brown, 17, would compete in a different age bracket if that happens, but that doesn’t matter. She’s carrying a load of confidence.

First things, first.

“My goal next spring is to get that third state title,” said Brown, owner of the all-time Illinois best 41-6.25 effort in the triple jump.

The all-time state best in the long jump could be within reach. Jackie Joyner-Kersee of East St. Louis Lincoln established it by going 20-9.5 in 1980. Just five female long jumpers in state history have cleared 20 feet.

“We’ll see what happens in the long jump,” Brown said of pursuing Joyner-Kersee’s record. “I’m shooting to go 43 feet in the triple jump.”

Don’t underestimate her. Brown learned the nuances of the 300-meter low hurdles last season and quickly converted that knowledge to place fifth at state. She also finished sixth in the long jump and scored 19 of Alton’s 24.5 points, good for an eighth-place team showing, best in school history.

Now you understand how Brown is living the good life. Frankly, it could only get better.

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Riverbender.com article on LaJarvia Brown's Dual National Championship at AAU Meet - 8/5/2015

Updated on 06/10/2022

Alton's LaJarvia Brown captures second 17-18-year-old national championship in triple jump

 
by Dan Brannan, Content Director
August 5 2015 3:15 PM
 
 
 
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LaJarvia Brown is shown soaring through the air at the Illinois state track and field meet in the spring.
LaJarvia Brown is shown soaring through the air at the Illinois state track and field meet in the spring.

 

NORFOLK, VA. - LaJarvia Brown continued to put her hometown of Alton on the national map at Wednesday’s AAU Junior Olympics Track and Field Meet, capturing her second national title in the triple jump.

Brown finished with a best of 39-11 to take the championship in the 17-18-year-old girls triple jump in the AAU meet at Norfolk Va., on the Norfolk State track. On Monday, she took first in the long jump with a leap of 19-6.25.

“She met the competition she faced and stepped up and did what she had to do,” her Alton High School coach Terry Mitchell said. “She is a champion. She is the best, that is the only way to describe her.”

Mitchell mentioned that famed East St. Louis athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee didn’t completely hit her stride on the national front until she was a member of the UCLA track and field team. He said with Brown being the competitor she is and her talent, she could one day be in the league of a Joyner-Kersee. Joyner-Kersee competed in the heptathlon and also the open long jump as her prime events. Joyner-Kersee also participated in AAU competition.

“LaJarvia is a true competitor in every sense of the word,” Mitchell said. “I told her the other day that one day I think she has a chance to be similar to Jackie Joyner-Kersee. I told her she is versatile and a competitor, just like Jackie. You can’t teach that. It comes from within.”

Mitchell said for Brown to make the Olympic Trials cut next year, she would have to reach 20-5 in the long jump and probably 44 feet in the triple jump.

The coach said even with Alton’s storied track and field past with Andrew Johnson, Lester “Bo” Scott, Gayle Murphy, B.B. Gator, George Hunt, Larry Perry and Oscar Wallace, he doesn’t believe any of them ever earned a title as the nation’s best.

“LaJarvia is still in high school, she will be a senior,” Mitchell said. “She is getting pretty close to Olympic status talent wise. She is a rare individual and the kind of kid that rarely comes along in a coaches’ lifetime.

“LaJarvia is a true competitor in every sense of the word.”

 

LaJarvia Brown chats with her coach Terry Mitchell at the state meet.
LaJarvia Brown chats with her coach Terry Mitchell at the state meet.

 

If you have a EdGlenToday or Riverbender.com news, human interest or sports idea, e-mail Danbrannan@riverbender.com or call or text 618-623-5930. Follow Dan Brannan on Facebook and Danbrannannews on Twitter.

LaJarvia Brown Dual National Champ!!! - AdVantage News 8/5/2015

Updated on 06/10/2022

Alton’s Brown wins second national championship

by  

LaJarvia Brown is celebrating her second national track championship this week.

The two-time Class 3A IHSA girls’ triple jump champion won that event during the AAU Junior Olympics on Wednesday in Norfolk, Va. She leaped 39 feet, 11.5 inches to finish first in a group of 64 competing in the 17-18 age division.

On Monday, the Alton High senior soared a personal-best 19-6 to win the long jump. She will compete Friday in the 4x100-meter relay. The AAU nationals at Dick Price Stadium conclude Saturday.

“I don’t think LaJarvia was necessarily happy with her jump today,” AHS coach Terry Mitchell said Wednesday. “But she beat all comers and that’s what counts.”

Jada Baylark of Little Rock, Ark., finished second in the triple jump with a leap of 39-0.5. Keila Robertson of Gaithersburg, Md., took third at 38-1.25. And Lailah Elliott of Alton was eighth with a jump of 37-4.5

Brown soared 41-9 in the triple jump at last month’s International Association of Athletic Federations World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia, and finished 14th overall, including second among U.S. competitors. In May, it was Brown going 41-2 in the triple jump at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston to win her second consecutive state title.

Brown had leaped 41-6.25 in a regular-season spring meet at the Edwardsville Tiger Relays to set the all-time state mark. Deana Simmons of Decatur MacArthur held the previous Illinois best triple jump distance of 41-5 in 1996.

“What a spring and summer she has had. It has been tremendous,” Mitchell said. “Now, she has won two nationals championships in three days and we will see what she can do on the 4x100-meter relay team Friday.

“I really have nothing else I can say about what she has done this year. I’m speechless.”

In 2014, Brown won her first IHSA triple jump title by going 40-3.5.

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LaJarvia Brown AAU Junior Olympics Long Jump Champ - Riverbender.com - 8/3/2015

Updated on 06/10/2022

NATIONAL CHAMPION: Alton's LaJarvia Brown earns U.S. long jump title in AAU Meet in Norfolk, Va.

 
by Dan Brannan, Content Director
August 3 2015 11:40 AM
 
 
 
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Alton's LaJarvia Brown showing her love of her country.
Alton's LaJarvia Brown showing her love of her country.
 

 

NORFOLK, VA. - LaJarvia Brown can now say she is a national champion.

Brown, an upcoming Alton High School senior, has had an incredible summer in track and field, competing throughout the world. She topped everything on Monday morning with a 19-6 leap in the long jump to win the AAU Junior Olympics Track and Field Meet at Norfolk State in Norfolk, Va.

Brown’s Alton High School track and field coach Terry Mitchell said his star athlete texted him the news just a few minutes ago that she won the national championship in the 17-18 AAU Junior Olympics.

He said she was exceptionally excited about taking top honors.

“Her jump of 19-6 would have won state in Illinois in the long jump last year,” he said. “Last year, the winning jump was 19-5. LaJarvia has the best jump by 3 feet going into the triple jump in the AAU Meet tomorrow. Her best going in is 41-9.5. She won the long jump at 10 o’clock this morning in Norfolk. I couldn’t believe it, I am so proud of her. She potentially could win the long jump, triple jump and place high in the 300 low hurdles at state next year. I am excited about the upcoming track and field season in the spring for Alton’s girls.”

In addition to the triple jump, Brown will compete on a 4 x 100 relay team on Wednesday.

Olympians such as Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Bershawn Jackson and Sanya Richards Ross have competed at AAU track and field events.

If you have a EdGlenToday or Riverbender.com news, human interest or sports idea, e-mail Danbrannan@riverbender.com or call or text 618-623-5930. Follow Dan Brannan on Facebook and Danbrannannews on Twitter.

LaJarvia Brown wins National Long Jump Title - AdVantage News - 8/3/2015

Updated on 06/10/2022

Alton’s Brown wins national championship

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LaJarvia Brown now has a national championship to add to her growing portfolio of track accomplishments.

The Alton High senior leaped a personal-best 19 feet, 6.25 inches to finish first in her age division (17-18 girls) during the AAU Junior Olympics action Monday in Norfolk, Va. Her previous top long jump was 19-4 during heptathlon competition earlier this summer at the AAU Midwest Regional in Las Cruces, N.M.

“She goes on and on,” marveled Alton High girls’ track coach Terry Mitchell. “She’s really something.”

Sekayi Bracey of Grand Rapids, Mich., finished second with a jump of 19-5.5 and Taylor Deloach of Savannah, Ga., took third by going 19-2. Only three jumpers surpassed 19 feet.

Brown will compete Wednesday in the triple jump and run a leg Friday in the 4x100-meter relay at the nationals. She’s eyeing a national title in the triple jump.

Last month, Brown competed in the triple jump at the International Association of Athletic Federations World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia and finished 14th overall. Her personal-best jump of 41-9 was second among the U.S. competitors.

Three months ago, the 5-foot-3 Brown claimed her second Class 3A IHSA triple jump championship by soaring 41-2 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. She also won the 2014 state title with a jump of 40-3.5.

“This competition at the AAU Nationals will be good for her,” Mitchell said, looking ahead to the triple jump and relay events.

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LaJarvia Brown Competes in Columbia - AdVantage News Article

Updated on 06/10/2022

"There’s nothing even close to it"

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LaJarvia Brown’s Wonderful World Track Tour has kicked into another stage. It’s jumping back to the United States.

The Alton High senior, a two-time Class 3A IHSA girls’ triple jump champion, just finished a whirlwind excursion to South America. Now, Brown is participating in the AAU Junior Olympic Games at Norfolk, Va. The national event, which starts Saturday, runs through Aug. 8.

She’s competing in the triple jump, long jump and as an anchor runner for a 4x100-meter relay team. Brown, a member of the Ultimate Speed Academy of St. Louis, is confident of making her mark in Virginia, just like she did in Illinois, New Mexico and South America.

“I think I can do it,” she said of contending for a triple jump championship. “It has helped me a lot mentally knowing that I’m one of the best triple jumpers in the world.”

Her personal-best jump of 41 feet, 9 inches at Cali, Colombia, during the International Association of Athletic Federations World Youth Track Championship was second-best among U.S. competitors and 14th internationally. Brown jumped 41-6.75 at the AAU Midwest Regional in Las Cruces, N.M., two months ago.

“It has topped everything she has done,” Alton High girls’ track coach Terry Mitchell said of Brown’s work in Cali. A report indicated that she had leaped more than 42 feet, but that was inaccurate. Brown finished three inches shy of qualifying for the finals, even though she jumped the best of her career.

Mitchell added, “LaJarvia saw the best competition in the world there. It was pretty much like the Olympics.

“There’s a bigger world out there.”

Brown labeled it an eye-opening experience.

“It was the first time I was on a plane, the first time I went out of the country,” she said. “It was a great honor and accomplishment to compete and by far, it was the best experience of the things I have done.

“There’s nothing even close to it.”

The pageantry of the major event and the ability to mingle with some of the world’s best athletes impressed Brown and left an indelible impression on her. She also served as an alternate for heptathlon competition, but didn’t get to compete in it.

“Everybody was nice, the people were very friendly and they treated us like celebrities. It was crazy,” she said. “I really can’t single out one thing that was the best part of it. We even had a sight-seeing trip into the mountains. Overall, it was a little overwhelming, but I thought I handled it well.”

Mitchell pointed out, “She will grow from this and I’m hoping she still has a better jump in her. LaJarvia has already improved a lot since she won the state meet in May. I think the AAU Nationals will be a good test for her.”

It’s one step at a time, Brown said. She has always kept that focus in maintaining a steady equilibrium. Once she’s done with the summer, there’s cross country this fall and basketball in the winter.

Come next spring, Brown will attempt to become the first AHS trackster to win three individual state championships. She’s the lone girls’ track athlete to win one IHSA title and just a handful of guys have won two. The last one to do it was Larry Perry in the long jump (1974-75).

“My goal is to make the Olympic Trials some day because I want to be an Olympian,” said the 5-foot-3, 120-pound Brown, a Jackie Joyner-Kersee admirer. Her Colombian trek set her in motion as an athlete to watch when the 2016 Olympics unfold in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 2020 Games are in Tokyo, Japan.

Naturally, she would embrace another trip to South America.

“It was a great experience,” Brown said. “I was there for 11 days and I loved everything about it.”

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LaJarvia Brown Represents USA in World Junior Competition

Updated on 06/10/2022

Alton's LaJarvia Brown creates international, national attention in track and field this summer

 
by Dan Brannan, Content Director
July 20 2015 10:00 PM
 
 
 
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Alton's LaJarvia Brown is now on the international track and field stage..
Alton's LaJarvia Brown is now on the international track and field stage..

 

Alton standout athlete LaJarvia Brown has jumped on to the national and international track and field scene this summer with some remarkable performances.

Brown will be an Alton High School senior and is a three-sport star athlete in track and field, basketball and volleyball. She was the IHSA Class 3A state champion in the triple jump this past spring and is being recruited by many colleges throughout the United States, including the University of Illinois. Not only is she an excellent athlete, but also an exceptional student at AHS.

Brown finished with a leap of 42-5.25 in the I.A.A.F. World Youth Championships recently in Kali, Columbia.

“To make it to South America for Team USA was a great honor and accomplishment,” LaJarvia Brown said. “I’ve been looking forward to this all summer long. I have had a bunch of fun doing the things I have done this summer, but this was by far my best experience. For my first international competition, I feel I handled it well.”

Brown jumped a personal best 42-5.25 inches in the triple jump and missed the finals by only two spots, placing 14th. She missed qualifying for finals by only 3 inches.

“I wanted to make the finals, but when it is all said and done I did the best I could and enjoyed the experience,” she said.  “They selected a team of 49 after the trials for the team in Lisle, Illinois.”

In the Kali, Columbia, event she triple jumped 41-7 ¾ and the person who defeated her jumped 41-10.

Terry Mitchell, who is her track and field coach at Alton High School, said he couldn't be more proud than he is of his multiple-event standout.

“I believe the competition she is facing this summer will help her immensely this upcoming track season as she is currently facing some of the best competition in the world,” Mitchell said. “There were 19 countries represented at the Junior Olympics in Kali, Columbia, and she is competing against the best triple jumpers in the world.  The best jumper was from Cuba and she has jumped 44 feet.  

“I think she will learn a lot this summer and I also hope that this helps her in her decision-making on what future college she would like to attend.”

Brown first competed in the AAU qualifier round for the AAU Nationals in Norfolk, Va., in University City in St. Louis. She qualified in the triple jump, long jump and 4 x 100 relay.

Recently, Brown competed in the Southwest Classic Track and Field Meet in New Mexico and placed third overall in the heptathlon, with a fifth place in the long jump and first place in the triple jump. She leaped 18-11.75 in the long jump and 40-8.75 in the triple jump.

“I am very pleased with the way I competed in the two days of that heptathlon,” she said. “Being able to come back on Day 3 and still have pretty good distances is great. Coming to this meet, I didn’t expect to come in first in the triple jump, but I had it all together mentally. I guess that’s what the other girls didn’t have. It was mainly all high school girls. They have an Elite group for every meet.”

Mitchell said the performances over the summer will do nothing but open the eyes of college scouts to the Alton High School standout athlete. She will compete in the Junior Nationals Aug. 1 through 8 in Norfolk, Va.

“She is hoping to have donations to help pay for her meals, transportation and lodging for the nine days she will be in Virginia,” her coach Mitchell said. “If anyone needs to contact me about donations they can at 618-578-8326 or e-mail me atmitchell@altonschools.org. She needs the donations before July 30, 2015. They can write or check or send it to me in care of LaJarvia Brown to the National Championships.”

If you have a EdGlenToday or Riverbender.com news, human interest or sports idea, e-mail Danbrannan@riverbender.com or call or text 618-623-5930. Follow Dan Brannan on Facebook and Danbrannannews on Twitter.

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LaJarvia Brown jumps a personal best 41' 9" in Triple Jump

Updated on 06/10/2022

Brown leaps personal-best 41-9 in triple jump

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LaJarvia Brown gave it her finest effort Friday in the triple jump during the International Association of Athletic Federations World Youth Track Championships at Cali, Colombia.

Yet her personal-best leap of 41 feet, 9 inches wasn’t quite good enough to advance her to Saturday’s finals in international competition. Brown finished 14th in the elite field.

“She missed qualifying for the finals by 0.6 meters,” said Alton High School girls’ track coach Terry Mitchell. Brown’s distance was 12.74 meters, or about 20 inches short of making it to the finals. Her previous best jump was 41-7.75 at the U.S. Junior Trials in Chicagoland last month.

Georgiana Juliana Anitel of Romania posted the best jump of 13.33 meters, or 43 feet, 6 inches in Cali. Tara Davis was the top U.S. triple jumper, going 13.1 meters. Brown was second among U.S. jumpers.

“We’re very proud of her,” Mitchell said. “In addition to being her personal-best ever jump, it’s the third-best jump in the U.S. this year.”

Mitchell added, “She was very close to qualifying for the finals and just three inches away from reaching 42 feet, which is one of her goals. So you can’t be mad about that.”

The 5-foot-3, 120-pound Brown also served as an alternate for the U.S. in the heptathlon, but didn’t get to participate in it. No fewer than 19 countries are competing in multiple events at Cali.

The ninth annual IAAF event is scheduled to conclude this weekend, Brown figures to return home early next week and continue her summer track competition.

A two-time IHSA champion in the triple jump, Brown now will set her sights on the upcoming World Junior Championships. They run Aug. 1-8 in Norfolk, Va. She will participate in the triple jump, long jump and 4x100-meter relay there.

“It’s great what she has done,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell is coordinating efforts with Brown to get local sponsorships for her trip to Norfolk. For more information, contact Mitchell at 578-8326.

- See more at: http://advantagenews.com/sports/brown-leaps-personal-best-41-9-in-triple-jump/#sthash.KnttSv9O.dpuf

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