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SPORTS
Local youngsters compete at Hershey Track and Field District Two Meet
Joseph Terango, 11, center, watches as his softball sails through the air Thursday, May 28, 2009, during the Hershey Youth Track and Field program District 2 meet at Cabell Midland High School.
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ONA -- Daniel Jarrell got his first exposure to track Thursday night in the Hershey Track and Field District Two Meet at Cabell Midland's Chris Parsons track. He liked it.
"It was worth it. I'll stick with it," Jarrell said after finishing the 100 and 200.
Jarrell, who'll be a sixth-grader at the new Milton Middle School in the fall, won the 200 and earned a trip to the State Finals on June 20 at Cabell Midland. Winners there go on to the national meet in July in Hershey, Pa.
In the 100, Jarrell won his heat, but had to settle for second as Keandre Bryant won the second heat and had the fastest time overall.
Jarrell's main sports are football and basketball. So when spring comes, Jarrell can turn to track to stay active.
"I think I can do it in middle school," he said. "I'll get more serious. I've kind of learned on the fly."
Jarrell said he did most of his training at home.
After winning the 200, Jarrell grabbed his left side as pain hit.
"I didn't want my whole body to explode," he said. "I had a cramp. It went away."
Prior to the trails, Jarrell had to battle jitters.
"I was a little nervous," he said. "The key was to focus on what I was doing. I'm surprised a little bit. I thought I was going too fast."
Jorden Thornton, who goes to Milton Middle, won the girls 1600 in 5:41, a personal best. She finished one minute ahead of the runner-up.
"It's easier if someone's with you," she said. "You get into a groove. And the music (played during the race) was great."
Thornton won the 1600 and 3200 in the Cabell County meet this season.
In boys distance racing, Jacob Burcham won the 1600 in 5:04. He was the favorite in the 800 which was held later in the evening. He's one of the top young distance runners in the area and headed for Cabell Midland in the fall.
The meet began in heavy rain, but finished up under sun, blue sky and cool temperatures.
