FIVE STILL ALIVE
Badgers attempt to qualify for state meet
By JEREMY HEATH Staff Writer

Above left to right: Senior high jumper Jennifer Howard, junior 300 hurdler Kooper Liverman, senior discus thrower Alma Sandoval and sophomore triple jumper Tyler Phelan will compete at the Region IV-4A Meet at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio today and Saturday.

LHS track coaches Jimmy Randolph and Trent Lancaster have seen enough regional track meets to know anything can happen when state-meet berths are at stake.

Sometimes underdogs shine in the spotlight, surprising the field with career-best performances. Some favorites crumble under the pressure, creating openings for such underdogs to steal a trip to the state capital.

"I have told them just that," Randolph said of the three athletes he's sending to San Antonio to compete in the Region IV-4A Meet today and Saturday. "Just compete as hard as you can and make sure you're in the front end of your event when it nears the end, and you never know what might happen.

"I've told them to just relax and try to enjoy this opportunity to advance."

Randolph, the head boys' coach at LHS, is sending senior high jumper Clay Tyner, junior hurdler Kooper Liverman and sophomore triple jumper Tyler Phelan. Lancaster, the girls' head coach, will take senior high jumper Jennifer Howard and senior discus thrower Alma Sandoval.

PHOTOS BY CALVIN TYNER

Tyner, a first-team All-District 25-4A and Academic All-State basketball player, was stuck at 6 feet, two inches much of the season before breaking through with a jump of 6-4 at the district meet and winning a silver medal. Randolph thinks a jump of 6-6 will at least give him an opportunity to advance.

"Clay has had a great year for us," Randolph said. "He has set a standard and tries his best every week to meet that standard or better it. I expect him to set his jaw and try to the best of his ability to find a way into one of those top two spots. He is very competitive."

Phelan was one of the biggest surprises at the district meet, capturing a gold medal in the triple jump with a leap of 43-81/2. Phelan was one of Randolph's top relay runners throughout the season, and his speed and explosiveness lend themselves to success in the triple jump.

"Tyler is very talented," his coach said. "He has lots of track and field talent, and I think he's only scratched the surface of that talent. He is learning to handle the pressure (of competing in big events as a sophomore). I've told him to compete with himself and not get lost in the field. If he can maintain his focus, and do what he is capable of doing, he will finish well at the regional."

Liverman was another surprise at the district meet. Though the junior had run well at a handful of smaller meets, he wasn't considered one of the favorites to advance out of district.

But Liverman ran a personal-best time of 40.67 at district to earn this weekend's opportunity, and his willingness to be coached could make him a factor in San Antonio.

"We have set a mark for Kooper to run under 40 seconds," Randolph said. "To do this, he needs to run the half-flight (the first four hurdles) in under 19 seconds. We have worked real hard this week in doing that. We've told him he needs to be the first one to the first hurdle. If he does that, I like his chances."

Sandoval, who played basketball for the Lady Badgers, cut loose with a throw of 114-11 at the district meet to finish second behind Burnet thrower Felicia Kennedy's toss of 121-6.

For the first time in her career, Howard, an All-District 25-4A selection in basketball, made it to track season without suffering an ankle injury.

However, she still has had to overcome some health issues (lung problems). Her jump of 5-2 at the district meet is two inches lower than her season-best and four inches lower than what she has jumped in practice.

"Jennifer has had some illness and injuries this year which have kept her from attaining her best, but she has jumped well enough in practice to advance to Austin. I think it will take 5-6 to do it," Lancaster said. "Alma, too, has thrown long enough in practice to advance. I think her throw will need to exceed 125 feet to move her on."

Senior high jumper Clay Tyner will look to improve on his season-best jump of six feet, four inches in an attempt to advance to the state meet. The top two finishers in each event move on to the state meet, May 9-10 in Austin.