The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Destinee Hooker claims third Texas Relays high jump crown on Friday
04.07.2006 | Texas Athletics
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Destinee Hooker should still be in high school, but she's already building quite a resume as a college athlete.
After a third-place finish in the high jump in the NCAA indoor championships, the Texas freshman won her second outdoor title Friday at the Texas Relays at a height of 6 feet, 1-1/2 inches.
Oh, and she also plans to play volleyball and basketball for the Texas Longhorns.
"I want to be an All-American in all three" sports, she said.
Big words for an 18-year-old who enrolled in school Jan. 19 so she would be able to compete alongside her sister, Texas junior Marshevet Hooker, the reigning NCAA champion in the indoor 60 meters, long jump and 100 outdoor.
"I'm her cheerleader and she's my cheerleader," Destinee said. "I wanted to be here with her. I don't know if she's going to go pro or not."
Her confidence has grown since she started racking up the victories.
"My first two months have been amazing. I could still be in high school trying to reach 5-10."
Even her coach is amazed.
"She's phenomenal," Texas women's coach Bev Kearney said. "She should be preparing for a high school graduation, not a national championship."
Hooker was barely in college a week when she automatically qualified for the indoor national championships by winning the Leonard Hilton Memorial Meet in Houston with a jump of 6-3/4.
She was undefeated in the indoor season until the championship meet last month. Even there, she notched the same height (6-1 1/4) as champion Sheena Gordon of North Carolina, but finished third because she had more misses.
Success has followed her outdoors.
Though her form is far from perfect, her long legs and lanky 6-foot-3 build keep reaching new heights.
Friday, she needed three jumps to clear 6-1/2, then got over 6-1 1/2, a personal record, on her first try. That gave her the edge on SMU junior Gaelle Niare, who needed to two jumps to clear it and finished second. Both missed three jumps at 6-2 3/4.
Hooker might have been able to go higher if she hadn't spent the last two weeks concentrating on spring volleyball practice.
And just like a confused freshman, she didn't even know she won until a meet official told her.
"I thought I got second," she said. "(The win) was a bit of a surprise to me. I was just looking forward to the competition."
Hooker could be the next great Texas high jumper, following former national champions Erin Aldrich (a 2004 Olympian) and Angie Bradburn, and two-time All-American Shelly Fehrman.
"I definitely see her holding the collegiate record in a short period of time," Kearney said. "I think we could see her in the 2008 Olympics as well."
The college high jump record is 6-6 held by UCLA's Amy Acuff (1995) and SMU's Kajsa Bergqvist (1999).
As for that goal of being a three-sport All-American, Hooker is on her way. Her third-place finish at the indoor championships earned her All-America status in track.
"I would take Destinee at her word," Kearney said.
Hooker said basketball can wait until her junior year. Her first volleyball season will be next fall. She expects her high jump training to give her a boost at the net as a blocker and hitter.
"I should be able to get over the net and hit right in people's face," she said.
In other field events Friday, Miami's Brenda Faluade won the women's long jump with a mark of 21-1 1/4, the best college jump of the season.
In the men's long jump, Texas A&M's Fabrice Lapierre won with a mark of 26-1. Lapierre finished second at the NCAA indoor championships.
Becky Breisch of Nebraska won the women's discus with a throw of 199-2, a meet record. She also won the Texas Relays title in 2003 and 2004. In the men's discus, North Carolina's Vikas Gowda defended his Texas Relays title with a throw of 202-7.
Texas Relays Results
All race distances in meters
MEN
Discus (Section A)
1, Vikas Gowda, North Carolina, 202-07; 2, Adam Kuehl, Arizona, 196-01; 3, Derek Anderson, Northeastern, 194-05; 4, Sheldon Battle, Kansas, 191-08; 5, Brian Robison, Texas, 188-05; 6, Garrett Johnson, Florida St., 186-04; 7, Wes Stockbarger, Florida, 181-11; 8, Chase Madison, Iowa St., 179-02; 9, Teremine White, Southeastern Louisiana, 176-03; 10, Derek Randall, Texas, 176-00; 11, Drew Ulrick, Washington St., 174-01; 12, Tony Ugoh, Arkansas, 164-07.
Javelin (Section B)
1, Cody Fillinich, Northwestern St., 219-08; 2, Anthony Fairbanks, New Mexico, 210-09; 3, Calhoun Hamilton, Southeastern Louisiana, 210-00; 4, Corey Kuehner, Pittsburgh, 209-06; 5, Joseph Brown, TCU, 207-05; 6, John Wallendom, McNeese St., 204-07; 7, Jamie Robinson, Texas Tech, 199-02; 8, Matt Keeran, New Mexico, 195-11; 9, Pat Perrien, LSU, 193-11; 10, Kayne Dakoski, Florida, 193-02; 11, Dennis Rice, USC, 191-11; 12, Adam Burgh, California, 191-00; 13, Josh Scheer, Kansas St., 190-01; 14, Chad Radgowski, LSU, 189-11; John Goldsmith, Wichita St., No distance; Zac Henderson, Texas A&M, No distance; Jose Troncoso, Texas A&M, FOUL; Jonathan Harris, Jackson St., FOUL.
1,500 (Section A)
1, Vincent Rono, South Alabama, 3:42.69; 2, Sam Bair, Pittsburgh, 3:43.50; 3, Dominic Tanui, Texas-El Paso, 3:44.49; 4, Pablo Solares, Rice, 3:44.84; 5, Shadrack Songok, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 3:46.24; 6, Tonny Okello, South Alabama, 3:46.60; 7, Tim Konoval, Pittsburgh, 3:46.92; 8, Kip Kangogo, TCU, 3:47.11; 9, Sesar Figueroa, Houston, 3:47.44; 10, James Wanjiku, Oral Roberts, 3:48.95; 11, Jacob Cedertun, Texas-Arlington, 3:49.18; 12, Harry Larubi, South Alabama, 3:49.83; 13, Kenny Cormier, Arkansas, 3:52.67; 14, Stephen Larubi, South Alabama, 3:54.49; 15, Mthobisi Baloyi, Texas-San Antonio, 3:58.94; 16, Eric Gross, Arkansas, 4:03.69.
1,600 medley relay (College)
1, South Plains (Jacobi Mitchell, Jamaal Butler, Harold Jackson, Reuben Twijukye), 3:18.46; 2, Abilene Christian, 3:21.32; 3, Barton County, 3:21.74; 4, Oklahoma Baptist, 3:22.33; 5, Cloud County, 3:25.57; 6, Kansas City Community College, 3:25.59.
1,600 medley relay (University)
1, Texas-El Paso, 3:16.63; 2, Texas Tech, 3:17; 3, TCU, 3:17.68; 4, Baylor, 3:18.05; 5, Oral Roberts, 3:20.12; 6, Florida St., 3:20.45; 7, Jackson St., 3:21.27; 8, LSU, 3:21.91; 9, Houston, 3:22.35; 10, Hampton, 3:25.53; 11, Southern Mississippi, 3:26.95; 12, Northwestern St., 3:27.13; 13, Florida A&M, 3:35.43; Arkansas, Did not finish; Mississippi St., Did not finish.
3,000 steeplechase (Section A)
1, Nicodemus Naimadu, Abilene Christian, 8:35.87; 2, Patrick Mutai, Texas-El Paso, 8:54.38; 3, Mark Floreani, Texas, 8:58.60; 4, Travis McKay, Mississippi St., 9:00.35; 5, Matthew McLeod, Texas A&M, 9:02.08; 6, Jeff Cutrer, Texas, 9:02.95; 7, Ryan Wilson, Texas, 9:03.29; 8, Erik Sloan, Kansas, 9:08.37; 9, Charles Hampton, Rice, 9:09.63; 10, Benson Cheserek, Texas-San Antonio, 9:12.81; 11, David Axel, Rice, 9:16.59; 12, Kinsey Dinnel, Louisiana Tech, 9:27.95; 13, Roland LeBlanc, LSU, 9:42.61; 14, Jacob Simmons, LSU, 9:52.45.
6,000 relay
1, Arkansas (Colin Costello, Seth Summerside, Marc Rodrigues, Josphat Boit), 15:32.41; 2, Texas, 15:33.26;3, South Alabama, 16:16.40; 4, McNeese St., 16:31.55; 5, Samford, 17:07.25.
WOMEN
1,600 medley relay
1, Baylor (Perkins Angel, Carla Grace, Kandace Tucker, Lauren Hagans), 3:46.29; 2, LSU, 3:46.79; 3, California, 3:48.13; 4, Miami, 3:48.63; 5, Texas-El Paso, 3:50.49; 6, South Alabama, 3:53.17; 7, Texas, 3:53.47; 8, Texas Tech, 3:54.07; 9, Abilene Christian, 3:54.10; 10, Kansas St., 3:55.24; 11, Oklahoma, 3:56.96; 12, Oral Roberts, 3:58.38; 13, Southern Mississippi, 3:58.58; 14, Arkansas, 3:58.92; 15, Houston, 4:00.51; 16, Kansas, 4:00.90.
3,000 steeplechase (Section A)
1, Trina Cox, Abilene Christian, 10:10.93; 2, Sarah Becker, Wichita St., 10:38.01; 3, Sarah Yoder, Rice., 10:43.78; 4, Mica Land, Wichita St., 10:46.80; 5, Sarah Ravenelle, Texas A&M, 10:48.22; 6, Caroline Peyton, Arkansas, 10:54.87; 7, Meggan Hodge, Mississippi St., 11:13.66; 8, Laura Kerr, Arkansas, 11:16.09; 9, Sana Kouba, Oral Roberts, 11:24.11; 10, Joy Griffith, Mississippi St., 11:49.03; 11, Stephanie Lovely, Oklahoma St., 11:50.96; Sonia Clark, McNeese St., Did not finish.
BOYS
Long Jump (Section B)
1, Adron Tennell, Irving, 24-03 1/4; 2, Denario Alexander, Marlin, 23-10 1/4; 3, Jesse Poku, Richardson, 23-00 1/4; 4, Detron Lewis, A&M Consolidated, 22-11; 5, Mitch Hobson, North Crowley, 22-07 1/4; 6, Arron Robinson, North Crowley, 22-02 3/4; 7, Thomas Lang, Brazos, 22-01; 8, Kendall Wright, Pittsburg, 22-00; 9, Joe Strawder, Strake Jesuit, 21-11 3/4; 10, Antonio Triplett, Edmond Memorial, 21-06 3/4; 11, Donald Ross, Elgin, 21-05 1/4; 12, Robert Aikens, Taylor, 21-01 3/4; Jamarkus Tolbert, Humble, No distance; Wilson Ileso, Mansfield, FOUL; Vince Abron, Pearland, FOUL; Keenan Robinson, Plano East, FOUL.
Shot Put (Section B)
1, Mike Sanchez, Sharyland, 56-04 1/4; 2, Brandon Drenon, Pearland, 54-08; 3, Michael Wilcoxon, Aledo, 54-01 1/4; 4, Sam Acho, St. Mark's, 53-08 1/2; 5, Scott Miller, Los Fresnos, 53-02 3/4; 6, Quan Tong, Arlington Seguin, 52-08; 7, Justin Jordan, Spring Hill, 52-06 1/4; 8, Michael Carter, Red Oak, 52-02 1/4; 9, Adrian Taylor, Mansfield, 51-09 1/2; 10, Donnie Gray, Greenville, 51-08 3/4; 11, Jamal Petty, Hearne, 51-05 1/2; 12, Nick Cook, Cleveland, 51-00 1/4; 13, Adrian Guzman, Klein, 50-06 1/4; 14, Kennedy Ezimako, Stony Point, 49-11 1/2; 15, JK Jauregui, Dallas Highland Park, 49-10 1/4; Andrew Crookham, Georgetown, No distance; Brandon Slay, Georgetown, No distance; Kelly Griffin, Irving MacArthur, No distance; Derrick Stonebraker, Aransas Pass, FOUL; Martin Agoes, Mansfield Timberview, FOUL; Alex Adams, Grace Prep, FOUL; Eubin Gomez, Edinburg, FOUL.
Pole Vault (Section B)
1, Joseph Farley, Aledo, 15-00; 2, Brett Bennett, Houston Christian, 15-00; 3, J.C. McKinney, Rockwall, 15-00; 4, Blaine Bassler, West, 14-06; 5, Dillard Glass, Gonzales, 14-06; 5, Austin Matthews, Magnolia, 14-06; 7, Stewart Sparks, Jenks, Okla., 14-06; 8, Blake Yosten, Hereford, 14-06; 8, Chris Garza, Los Fresnos, 14-06; 8, Blaine Finley, St. John's, 14-06; 11, Jeffrey Rodriguez, Fossil Ridge, 14-06; 12, Zac Givens, Brewer, 14-00; 12, Chance Hagan, Yoakum, 14-00; 14, Josh Schwartz, Brazos, 14-00; 15, Jordan Wehr, Austin Bowie, 14-00; 16, Clark Taylor, Grapevine, 14-00; 16, Kyle Ketchersid, Mansfield, 14-00; 18, Kyle Rose, Jesuit, La., 14-00; 19, Geren Sims, Huntsville, 14-00; 20, Collin Zych, Plano East, 13-06; 20, Justin Linder, Angleton, 13-06; 20, Ryan Otero, Birdville, 13-06; 23, Marshall Wills, Dimmitt, 13-06; 24, Derick Kendall, Irving Nimitz, 13-06.
Long Jump (Section A)
1, Terence Specks, Bastrop, 24-00 1/4; 2, Gary Jones, Schroeder, N.Y., 22-11; 3, Keith Toston, Angleton, 22-10 3/4; 4, Waylon Randolph, Humble, 22-08 3/4; 5, Keith Ladson, Killeen, 22-08 1/4; 6, Franklin Mitchem, Klein Collins, 22-01 1/2; 7, Justin Bowie, John Tyler, 22-00 1/2; 8, Chuck Freeman, All Saints, 21-11; 9, Deon Grant, Lee County, Ga. 21-00; Andrew Gumbs, Killeen, FOUL; Greg Montgomery, Burkburnett, FOUL.
3,200
1, Matt Daniels, Arlington, 9:17.70; 2, Kevin Schwab, Mustang, 9:20.68; 3, Armando Saldivar, Fort Worth North Side, 9:26.61; 4, Taylor Ray, Coppell, 9:27.33; 5, Brandon Birdsong, Lubbock Monterey, 9:33.77; 6, Drew Bean, Little Cypress Mauriceville, 9:33.89; 7, James Lagos, Flower Mound, 9:37.62; 8, Brett Guidry, Jesuit, La., 9:40; 9, Andrew Stover, Cypress Creek, 9:40.81; 10, Alex Rowin, Tulsa Union, 9:42.51; 11, Habben Berhane, Lake Highlands, 9:43.87; 12, Aaron Brannen, Bridge City, 9:45.53; 13, Brian Lind, Plano, 9:48; 14, Omar Doria, Edinburg North, 9:48.27; 15, Kyle Goldsmith, Cinco Ranch, 10:05.39; Lorin Wilson, Boerne, Did not finish.
1,600 medley relay
1, A&M Consolidated (Terence Watson, Detron Lewis, Leroy Thompson, Duncan Phillips), 3:26.36; 2, Round Rock McNeil, 3:29.13; 3, Klein Forest 3:30.56; 4, League City Clear Creek, 3:30.96; 5, Flower Mound, 3:31.43; 6, Dallas Pinkston, 3:31.99; 7, Humble, 3:32; 8, South Grand Prairie, 3:33.33; 9, Dallas Highland Park, 3:36.10; 10, Central, 3:36.86; 11, Cinco Ranch, 3:37.12; 12, Dallas Skyline, 3:37.97; 13, San Antonio Churchill, 3:38.10; 14, Houston Madison, 3:38.41; 15, DeSoto, 3:42.26; 16, Lancaster, 3:43.76; 17, Taylor, 3:48.80; 18, Burkburnett, 4:00.21.
2,000 steeplechase
1, Brandon Chiuminetta, Dripping Springs, 6:23.60; 2, Bradley Lowry, Arlington Martin, 6:27.70; 3, Westyn Rosiles, Hebron, 6:32.70; 4, Anthony D'Ambrosio, Flower Mound, 6:34.25; 5, Chris Gassaway, Cedar Park, 6:34.30; 6, Jon Wroblewski, Cedar Park, 6:44.05; 7, James Silva, Lockhart, 6:55.57; 8, Lundin Matthews, Magnolia, 8:08.29.
GIRLS
Shot Put (Section B)
1, Amanda Van Dyke, Connally, 42-01 1/4; 2, Nicole Murphy, Coppell, 40-11 3/4; 3, Hillary Moreno, Crowley, 40-00 1/2; 4, Brooke Duever, Austin Westlake, 40-00 1/2; 5, Kapioloni Browne, Harker Heights, 39-05; 6, Katie Sanders, Cinco Ranch, 39-01; 7, Angie Herron, Refugio, 38-07 3/4; 8, Mary Lacy, Houston Stratford, 37-10 3/4; 9, Elizabeth Dean, Flower Mound Marcus, 37-05 3/4; 10, Miako Williams, Killeen, 36-11; 11, Stacia Newton, Kennedale, 36-09 1/4; 12, DeJon Griffin, Copperas Coves, 36-04; 13, Yolanda Berryhill, Lee County, Ga., 36-03 1/4; 14, Brenda Cu, Round Rock, 36-02 1/4; 15, Caitlyn Gaston, San Antonio Holmes, 35-11 3/4; 16, Larita Harrell, Bastrop, 35-02 1/2; 17, Jasmine Miller, Arlington Houston, 35-00; 18, Danielle Upshaw, Oak Ridge, 34-10 1/2; Misty Robison, Splendora, FOUL; Elizabeth Thayer, All Saints, FOUL.
Long Jump (Section B)
1, Shannon Moran, Katy Taylor, 18-08 1/4; 2, Veronica DiLullo, Round Rock McNeil, 18-02; 3, LaQuinta Ross, Greenville, 17-11; 4, Tiffany Peters, Mesquite Poteet, 17-09 1/4; 5, Constance Ezugha, Edmond Santa Fe, 17-06 1/2; 6, Amishea Wilson, Arlington Houston, 17-06; 7, LaDawn Spiller, Killeen, 17-05 1/4; 8, Tara Towns, Dublin, 17-02; 9, Jamaka Halton, San Antonio Taft, 16-10 1/4; 10, Charaschie Lockhart, Dallas Skyline, 16-09 3/4; 11, Laken Jenkins, Splendora, 16-08 3/4; 12, Katie Church, Houston Stratford, 16-08 1/2; 12, Ti'Ara Walpool, Plano East, 16-08 1/2; 14, Symone Moody, Mansfield, 16-08; Tea Smith, Garland, No distance; Whitney Smith, Alexandria, La., No distance; Jalisa Howard, Houston Worthing, FOUL; Lauren Pratt, Pearland, FOUL; Christy Lindelow, Colleyville Heritage, FOUL.
High Jump
1, Camilla Dencer, Louisville, Calif., 5-08; 2, Liz Patterson, North Garland, 5-08; 3, Brittni Carter, Fort Bend Marshall, 5-06; 3, Laura Allred, Cy-Fair, 5-06; 5, Amber Roberson, Wagner, 5-06; 6, Kelsey Lloyd, Amarillo, 5-06; 7, Brooke Hewitt, Navarro, 5-06; 8, Valerie Hancock, Copperas Coves, 5-04; 8, Rachel Joiner, Eldorado, 5-04; 8, Jessi Kissel, Kennedale, 5-04; 11, Meaghan Brougher, Flower Mound Marcus, 5-04; 11, Ashley Hagensick, Bishop Lynch, 5-04; 11, Jade Randle, Navarro, 5-04; 14, Amanda Haven, Corpus Christi Calallen, 5-04; 14, Kendra Griffin, Temple, 5-04; 16, Christy Lindelow, Colleyville Heritage, 5-02; 16, Joni Unruh, Amarillo, 5-02; 16, Ellen Hargrove, Georgetown, 5-02; 16, Stephanie Stewart, Edmond Santa Fe, 5-02; 16, Maggie Smith, Bishop Gorman, 5-02; 16, Cynthia McCollum, Justin Northwest, 5-02; 16, Gabrielle Jackson, Mineral Wells, 5-02; 16, Taylor Hill, Rockwall, 5-02.
Long Jump (Section A)
1, Brittni Finch, Centreville, 19-08 1/2; 2, Jamaica Collins, North Crowley, 19-02 1/2; 3, Sonetryia Mayfield, Round Rock, 18-07 1/2; 4, Alesha Walker, Killeen Ellison, 18-03 3/4; 5, Alaysha Ford, Van Vleck, 18-03; 5, Amelia Lewis, Brazos, 18-03; 5, Clarissa Andrews, Rockwall, 18-03; 8, Tara Thomas, Dallas Skyline, 17-11 3/4; Dorrie Thompson, Pearland, No distance; Precious Nwokey, Houston Westbury, No distance; Nikki Lopez, Cameron Yoe, FOUL; Janell Appelhans, Perryton, FOUL; Jessica Gregory, Foster, FOUL; Whitney Gipson, Birdville, FOUL; Carli Wester,Edmond Santa Fe, FOUL.
3,200
1, Samantha Means, McKinney North, 10:47.48; 2, Betzy Jimenez, Hereford, 10:49.26; 3, Kinsey Farren, Bishop Lynch, 10:49.57; 4, Catherine Loden, White Oak, 11:02.52; 5, Katie Shaw, Cleburne, 11:06.44; 6, Carola Conces, Dallas Highland Park, 11:09.85; 7, Leigh Berger, Weimar, 11:13.18; 8, Michelle Guzman, Giddings, 11:23.31; 9, Kristie Krueger, Argyle, 11:28.59; 10, Meredith Blocker, Mineola, 11:28.63; 11, Andrea Torske, Garland, 11:35.56; 12, Britany Williams, St. Mary's Hall, 11:35.82; 13, Katie Weise, Cedar Park, 11:38.62; 14, Heather Bullin, Cedar Park, 11:41.85; 15, Carolyn Bell, McKinney Christian, 11:55.22; 16, Gillian Gatewood, Alpine, 11:58.19; 17, Sallie Anderson, Mansfield, 12:16.81; 18, Selene Lopez, Perryton, 12:18.52; 19, Katie Leary, The Woodlands, 12:25.58.
1,600 medley relay
1, A&M Consolidated (Victoria Walker, Whitney Harris, Kirsten Harris, Heidi Stoica), 3:55.74; 2, Houston Westbury, 3:59.64; 3, Lancaster, 4:04.75; 4, Pearland, 4:05.15; 5, Klein Forest, 4:05.49; 6, Lake Highlands, 4:05.50; 7, Houston Lamar, 4:06.32; 8, Pflugerville, 4:06.69; 9, Arlington Seguin, 4:08.26; 10, Richardson, 4:10.40; 11, Dallas Skyline, 4:11.69; 12, Lufkin, 4:11.86; 13, San Antonio Holmes, 4:12.19; 14, Central, 4:14.65; 15, Fort Bend Marshall, 4:19.37; 16, Aledo, 4:25.88; 17, Austin Reagan, 4:39.95.
