Track & Field: Waggoner shatters regional record at qualifier

The Douglas High girls' track team did what it needed to do over the weekend in order to keep its hopes of winning the regional team championships alive.

Douglas qualifed entries into every event except for the 1,600 and the 4x100 at the regional trials in Minden over the weekend.

Overall, the Lady Tigers have 24 entries into Saturday's Northern 4A Regional Championships, not including the 3,200 and 4x800, which did not have qualifying events last weekend.

"It went well," Douglas coach Jim Abbott said. "We got just about everyone through that we were hoping to get through. The girls' side is looking good and we had some strong performances on the boys' side.

"Even some of the people that didn't make it through set personal records for themselves, so this has been a good day."

The highlight of the day was senior Jessica Waggoner's throw of 153 feet, 9 inches in the discus. The distance shattered the previous regional meet record of 143-02.5, sset by Hug's Brenda Gerbatz in 1982.

It also surpassed the qualifying mark for the Junior National Championships, which will be in Eugene, Ore., on June 27. It is believed to be one of the top 10 throws in the country this season.

It was the only regional record set on Saturday.

Douglas also qualified 10 athletes into the jumping events.

Senior Liz Nickles was the top overall qualfier in the girls' triple jump with a distance of 34 feet, 11 inches. She qualified in the long jump as well with Natasha Brown and Jessica Gorton.

Kyra Barth was the No. 2 qualifier in the high jump and will be joined in the event next week by teammates Gorton, Shannon Sturgess and Holly Downer.

Amanda Brazeau qualified in the pole vault to round out the jumping events for Douglas.

Barth qualified in the 100 and 300 hurdles and Brazeau snuck in to the No. 8 spot in the 100 hurdles.

Katie Dry (100, 200, 400), Cara Dunkelman (800), Tia Lyons (800) and Minneah Holdridge (discus, shot put) were among the other highlight qualifers for the Tigers during the trials.

On the boys' side, Jordan Cruz qualified in both the 100 and the 200 for Douglas, Nick Maestretti and Dan O'Farrell qualified in the pole vault.

The Tiger 4x200 relay team was the No. 7 qualifier in its event with a time of 1:32.96.