05.18.08
‘Gades’ Jackson wins state heptathlon title
‘Gades’ Jackson wins state heptathlon title
The Bakersfield Californian | Saturday, May 17 2008 9:25 PM
Last Updated: Saturday, May 17 2008 9:30 PM
NORWALK — Anikia Jackson became the first Bakersfield College athlete to win a state title in the hepthathlon on Saturday when she scored a BC-record 4,590 points at the California State Community College Track and Field Championships at Cerritos College.
Photo by Casey Christie / The Californian
Anikia Jackson, shown throwing the javelin at a recent meet at Memorial Stadium, became BC’s first heptathlon state champ Saturday at Cerritos College.
Jackson, who trailed first-day leader Aysha Moultrie by 14 points after Friday’s action, took the lead when she had the top javelin mark among the 12-person field, at 110 feet, 4 inches. The javelin is Jackson’s best event and is the next-to-last event in the heptathlon.
Also Saturday, Jackson had the fifth-best long jump (a 17-0, just off her personal best) and was seventh in the 800 meters (2:38.96).
Moultrie, of West Los Angeles College, finished with 4,401 points.
Jackson also placed seventh in the only event she entered in the regular portion of the meet, the 100 hurdles (14.83).
Jackson was second in last year’s state meet heptathlon.
BC had two other athletes competing Saturday. Freshman pole vaulter Holly Moseley tied for seventh (9-6). Sophomore Shalisa Harris was fourth in the long jump (18-13/4) and ninth in the triple jump (34-91/2)
BC placed 15th in the women’s team standings. Cerritos College won and West L.A. was second.
Riverside rolled to the men’s team title with 112 points. Sacramento was second with 67.
“We’re just happy everyone goes home with a medal,” BC coach Pam Kelley said, noting that medals go to top-eight finishers in each event.
– Californian staff report
