State champion!

By Staff
Published: March 04, 2010

Ashontae Jackson continued to blaze past her competition, winning two state titles at this weekend's AA meet at Liberty University.
Jackson, who won Jefferson District and Region II titles in the 55 meters and the 300 meters, continued that trend at the state meet, earning her first two indoor state titles to go with last year's outdoor track title (400 meters).
"I worked hard," Jackson said Tuesday. "I practiced hard and had a lot of determination."
While she felt confident in her preparation and skill, she said she wasn't overconfident at Saturday's meet. "I was hoping I would win," she said.
Jackson wasn't the only Hornet who fared well Saturday. Coach Renee Almond said her goal for the team heading into the weekend was for them to either meet or exceed the times that got them to the state meet. They did.
Nearly all seven athletes ran or jumped their best when it mattered most.
Jackson's time in the 55 was 7.3 and her 300 time was 41.12.
Tyrone Ellis finished seventh in the 55 meters with a time of 6.66. His preliminary time of 6.63 was a season best.
Lamar Gordon finished seventh in the long jump, leaping a season-best 20' 9 1/2".
Edgar Coker ran a season-best 36.84 in the 300, finishing ninth.
The Hornet relay teams ran their best times of the year as well.
The 4 x 400 relay team of Chris Lewis, Patrick Curtis, Gordon and Tevin Coker placed fifth with a new school record 3:34.10.
Meanwhile, the 4 x 200 relay of Coker, Coker, Curtis and Ellis finished sixth with their best time of the year 1:34.48.
Even though Jackson was the only Hornet girl participating in Saturday's meet, she accumulated enough points on her own (20) to place Orange seventh in the state. Blacksburg finished first with 81 points.
The Hornet boys finished tied for 17th with 11 points, while Christiansburg was the top boys team with 53 points.