Franklin sets new GHS track record
June 19, 2009

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- Not only was Jessica Franklin the only Greenville High School athlete to qualify for the state track and field championships this season, she was also the only member of her team to break a school record.

Franklin broke a school record that had lasted 13 years when she dipped under Crystal Moon’s time of 15.0 seconds for the 100-meter hurdles. Franklin first broke the record with a 14.93 at the Cotton Ford Relays in Greenville on April 3 and then ran a 14.73 in the preliminaries of the Region II-4A meet for her top time. Franklin also ran a 14.76 in the region finals to qualify for state and then finished sixth at the state meet in Austin with a 14.86.

Franklin also went to state in the triple jump, finishing third with a best effort of 39 feet 5 3/4 inches. She also jumped a season-best 40-2 at the Region II-4A meet in Denton.

La’Toya Phelps continues to hold the school record in the girls triple jump at 42-8 1/4. That distance set in 2001 remains as the Class 4A record at the state meet.

Henry Neal still holds six school records on the boys side including the 100-meter dash (10.15), the 200-meter dash (20.46), the 220-yard dash (20.78), the triple jump (50-9), the 440-yard relay (41.20) and the sprint medley relay (3:31.6). The 100-meter dash time remains as a national record among the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Neal’s national record nearly fell at the state track and field championships earlier this month when Prezel Hardy of Killeen Ellison ran a blistering 10.08 in the 5A division. But the wind was recorded at 2.2 meters per second, .2 over the allowable for record purposes. The University Interscholastic League will recognize the 10.08 as a Class 5A state meet record, which knocks Neal out of one of his state records.

Neal’s son, Henry Josey, ran a leg for Angleton on its 4x100-meter relays at the state meet in 2008 and 2009. Angleton won the state title in 2008 and finished fourth in 2009.

Leigh Dickson continues to hold the girls 800-meter school record of 2:12.17 set in 1991. That time remains as a Region II-4A record.

Larry Linenschmidt holds the oldest record in the book, setting the discus record of 167-6 3/4 in 1970.

Greenville High School
Track and field school records
(Hand-held times rounded off to nearest tenth)

GIRLS
Triple jump -- **La’Toya Phelps, 42-8 1/4, 2001.
Long jump -- LaQuinta Ross, 19-8 1/2, 2005.
Shot put -- Meshell Graham, 42-2, 1984.
High jump -- Courtney Jackson, 5-8, 1987.
Discus -- Patsy Jefferson, 138-5, 1987.
Pole vault -- Chelsie Griffiths, 8-0, 2002.
3200-meter run -- Kim Mudie, 12:04.1, 1985.
4x100-meter relay -- (Shanekqua Griggs, LaQuinta Ross, Dominque Epps, Ashley Fuller), 46.79, 2005.
100-meter hurdles -- Jessica Franklin, 14.73, 2009.
100-meter dash -- La’Toya Phelps, 11.44, 2002.
400-meter dash -- Kaletha Gordon, 56.62, 1992.
4x200-meter relay -- (Patrice Watts 25.18, Melissa Anderson 25.68, LaKisha Anderson 24.31, La’Toya Phelps 23.70), 1:39.98, 2001.
800-meter run -- *Leigh Dickson, 2:12.17, 1991.
300-meter hurdles -- Alicia King, 44.59, 2001.
200-meter dash -- La’Toya Phelps, 23.27w, 2002.
1600-meter run -- Kim Mudie, 5:36.91, 1985.
4x400-meter relay -- (Melissa Anderson 57.90, Patrice Watts 57.96, LaKisha Anderson 57.87, Marylyn Gilstrap 56.75), 3:50.5, 2000.
Sprint medley relay -- (Candy Anderson, Sonya Hill, Leigh Dickson, Gerry Outerbridge), 1:49.3, 1989.
4x800-meter relay -- (Marylyn Gilstrap 2:20.5, Melissa Anderson 2:36.52; Chelsie Griffith 2:41.71, LaKisha Anderson 2:40.12), 10:18.231, 2001.
*Regional record
**Class 4A state meet record.

BOYS
Shot put -- Richard Murray, 59-11 3/4, 1974.
Discus -- Larry Linenschmidt, 167-6 3/4, 1970.
Pole vault -- Kelly Garrett, 1975; John White, 1992; Jeremy Preas, 1994, 13-0.
High jump -- Phil Weatherall, 6-8, 1975; Shane Gray, 6-8, 2007.
Triple jump -- Henry Neal, 50-9, 1990.
Long jump -- Ashley Mayberry, 24-3, 1997.
3200-meter run -- Ronnie Allman, 9:41.3, 1987.
4x100-meter relay -- (Marvin Drennon, Brandon Couts, John Futrell, Ashley Mayberry), 40.93, 1996.
440-yard relay -- (Alton Ashford, John Mack, Ricky Simmons, Phil Weatherall), 40.9, 1978; (Lawrence Lee, Paul Williams, Ty Davis, Henry Neal), 41.20, 1990.
800-meter run -- Sid Fleming, 1:55.7, 1982.
120-yard high hurdles -- Ken Sweat, 14.0, 1974.
110-meter high hurdles -- Jordan Pitts, 13.88, 2007.
100-meter dash -- Henry Neal, ***10.15, 1990.
100-yard dash -- Ricky Simmons, 9.3, 1979.
4x200-meter relay -- (Michael Simpson 20.84, Modesto Gilstrap 22.21, Quin Ervin 20.59, Bradley Reed 21.54), 1:25.56, 2003.
400-meter dash -- Brandon Couts, 46.30, 1997.
300-meter hurdles -- Robert Lewis, 37.3, 1981.
200-meter dash -- Henry Neal, 20.46, 1990.
220-yard dash -- Henry Neal, 20.78, 1989.
1600-meter run -- Ryan Watson, 4:30.1, 1989.
4x400-meter relay -- (Jason Gipson 48.78, Deandre Hill 49.68, Gary Johnson 48.12, Marcus Sedberry 48.56), 3:15.27, 2001.
Mile relay -- (Lamar Blakely 49.8, Kenton Kelly 49.0, Rico Lucas 48.8, Larry Jackson 48.8), 3:16.8, 1981.
Shuttle hurdle relay -- (Chad Martin, Eric Pitts, Jason Kilmer, Ty Davis), 36.8, 1989.
Sprint medley relay -- (Lawrence Lee, Henry Neal, Paul Williams, Ryan Watson), 3:31.6, 1989.
***National and state meet record.