KFDM COOP Posted April 24, 2008 Report Posted April 24, 2008 Smith, Bailey carry local 5A hopes REGIONAL TRACK WEEKEND By Tom Halliburton The Port Arthur News Danielle Smith and Craig Bailey, Jr., feel great and that's an indicator that Port Arthur Memorial has two great regional opportunities this weekend. Two hard-working, blue-collar seniors -- Smith and Bailey -- will carry strong Titans banners to the Class 5A Region III track and field championships in Humble's Turner Stadium. Smith figures to be right among the state's better shot put candidates to reach the 97th annual University Interscholastic League's state meet next month in Austin. The form chart makes her more of an outside shot at going to state in the discus but she possesses every bit the necessary ability to get there. Smith threw the discus a season-best 117-10 last weekend at Pearland's regional qualifier. She placed fourth in the shot and fifth in the discus at Pearland and has looked ready for a strong return to regional after finishing fifth in the shot there a year ago. "Each year I've been progressing," Smith said this week. "I should be ready to advance and I've been working on my technique." Lady Titans head coach Sandra Bradford would rank Smith atop her best chances to reach state. Sandra also hopes that junior Paris Collins delivers a season-best outing in the 300-meter hurdles. Collins is the area leader at 46.5 but the Houston-area competition makes her road to Austin quite challenging in the longer hurdles race. Bailey won the triple jump in 44-10 1/2 last weekend in Pearland by more than a foot. Craig and classmate Harry Brown (in the high jump) represent the best chances for Titans boys coach Darrell Granger at regionals. Raphael Guidry from Atascocita won the 21-5A meet in Turner by going 47-7 1/2. Granger expects the Atascocita offers tough competition again at this level. "Craig and the guy from Atascocita should be right there," Granger said. "If he (Bailey) can duplicate a 46-10 (or farther), he should be in good shape. Harry (Brown) has jumped 6-4 and both of them jumped at Turner so hopefully we can use that to our advantage." subhead: Class 4A at Huntsville The warmest and most humid and sizzling track weather of the spring definitely will greet 22-4A athletes today at Huntsville's pastoral setting in Sam Houston State's Elliot T. Bowers Stadium. That did not bother Vidor's Jared Parker a year ago when he captured the 4A regional gold medal by winning the pole vault in a mere 14-9. Parker had to compete harder last weekend at The Woodlands regional qualifier. Kingwood's Greg Gabrisk and the Vidor junior both cleared 16-0, so Parker answered with a new season-best 16-6 to win the competition. Port Neches-Groves senior Matt Johnson will be among the busiest area athletes at Sam Houston. Johnson did not enter a regional qualifier last weekend in order to rest a thigh injury sustained in the long jump at the 22-4A meet in Dayton. Johnson is competing in the long jump, triple jump and 110-meter hurdles this weekend. Johnson has spent plenty of time trying to rehabilitate his thigh in the YMCA's pool during the past week. The PN-G standout has scratched from the 300-meter hurdles due to the tender thigh. "He hurt it in the long jump and we haven't pushed him that much," PN-G coach Kyle Segura said. "Based on what I've seen, I think he will be ready to go for the weekend."
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