Berwick's Jones places third in triple jump

Berwick’s Kenan Jones leaped to a third-place finish in the triple jump in Class 3A to lead the Panthers’ competitors at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association/Allstate Sugar Bowl State Track and Field Meet Saturday.
Jones’ leap of 44 feet, 6 inches bettered his personal record set at regional by more than a foot.
Jones said he expected to do what he did at the state meet.
“It’s amazing,” he said of what it meant to get on the podium as a freshman.
He said leading up to the meet, he went through a lot of training and therapy.
Jones has high hopes for next year.
“I plan on coming next year, try to get better (and) PR more,” he said.
Berwick High Track and Field Coach Paul Gilder said he was happy with the performance turned in by Jones.
“He’s got untapped potential,” Gilder said.
Ryan Theyard of Lusher Charter won the event in 44 feet, 10.25 inches.
Also, Nicole Arceneaux finished fourth in the discus with a personal record of 102 feet, 4 inches.
The achievement is even more impressive considering Arceneaux had to borrow a discus because she said hers didn’t meet the qualifying standard.
“I did all right,” she said. “My rubber discus didn’t qualify. I’m used to throwing those. I can usually throw those further because I can find more grip on them. I had to use one of the girl’s metal ones.”
In the javelin, Arceneaux finished sixth with a toss of 107 feet, 2 inches.
“Javelin’s different,” Gilder said. “It’s the first time she’s thrown on a track surface. It was a little different for her. Still threw her second best throw ever. I thought that was real good.”
Gilder said he thought his contingent at state did well.
Berwick’s Ian Valdez competed in the 3,200 meter run for the Panthers, clocking in seventh with a time of 11:01.49.
While Valdez had fallen behind the field for much of the race, he rallied in the latter portion of the event for his finish.
“He ran a good race,” Gilder said.
Valdez’s mark was his second-fastest mark of the year, trailing only his regional time.
The Panthers’ 4x400 meter relay also ran a personal best of 3:30.80, good enough for sixth.
“I was real proud,” Gilder said. “They ran hard, and they held their own.”
In team scoring, the Panthers finished tied for 21st with seven points, while the Lady Panthers finished in 26th place with five points.
Franklin High’s boys finished second in the meet with 68 points, while John Curtis won the event with 82 points.
Franklin swept the relays, winning the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 in 41.88, 1:25.40 and 3:19.64, respectively.
The Hornets’ 4x200 meter relay time not only broke the Class 3A mark of 1:25.85 set by Port Allen in 2009, but it also ranked as No. 9 nationally as of Saturday.
Individually, the Hornets’ Hakim Ruffin won the 100 meter dash in 10.6 and finished second in the 200 meter run in 21.6, while Trevions Rouchon won the 400 meter dash in 48.51 and Kyran Webb finished third in the 110 meter hurdles in 15.49.