Jernigan measures up in UC’s opening meet

Tristan Jernigan won the discus toss and placed second in the shot put throw to pace the Union City High School boys’ track team in the 17th annual University School of Jackson Invitational on Friday.
The meet — the first of the season for UC as a team — was originally scheduled for Thursday, but postponed until Friday due to rain.
The Tornado boys recorded a Top-5 finish in the event, which drew more than 15 schools.
Jernigan, who shined individually under the UCHS banner in an earlier meet in Murray, threw the discus 135’7” and the shot 44’6” to highlight Union City’s effort at USJ.
A fifth-place showing by Kane Taylor (122’11”) gave the Tornadoes more points in the discus competition.
Ricky Henry posted a time of 50.4 to finish runnerup in the 300 meter low hurdles.
Malachi Kidd placed third in the long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 7 inches.
Two other UC athletes earned points with fifth-place finishes in their respective events.
Marquelle Spears had a leap of 5’8” in the high jump, while Henry was again in the money with a 19.7 time in the 100 meter high hurdles.
Union City failed to earn points in any of the sprint events and was also shut out in all the relay competitions.
There was no report on how the Lady Tornadoes fared in the meet.
Union City is scheduled to participate in the George Hancock Memorial in Dyersburg on Friday.
The annual Rotary Relays are slated for May 3 at the Dave Shatz Track at War Memorial Stadium, while the West Sectional meet is on tap for May 14-17 in Memphis.
A quad meet at USJ on April 25 will serve as a tune-up for the Rotary Relays for Union City’s two track entries.
The TSSAA state track meet — part of the annual Spring Fling to be held at Murfreesboro — will be held May 22-25 to conclude the 2012-13 prepseason.
Last season, Union City sent a handful of performers to the Class A-AA Spring Fling, highlighted by third-place finishes from sophomore Jasmine Dysart in the shut put and a similiar finish by Deandrez Williams in the 400 meter dash. Jackie Hudson and Xavier Gilliam also qualified.

Published in The Messenger 4.15.13