Reed-Custer's Mandac takes 4th in hurdles

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CHARLESTON -- The Reed-Custer High School girls track and field team was hoping for a better showing at Saturday's Class A state finals at O'Brien Stadium.

But even though the Comets weren't entirely pleased with their performance, it still produced a pair of medals, including an elusive one in a relay.

Senior JeriLyn Mandac earned all-state honors for the second straight year when she placed fourth in the 300 low hurdles in 47.01.

A year ago, Mandac finished in seventh place in the 100 high hurdles. She became the first Comet runner to place in both an individual and relay event.

In addition, Reed-Custer's 4x200 relay finished ninth, earning its first medal in a relay since the 4x100 relay won the state title in 1991.

The relay squad of sophomore Jacklyn Strouse, senior Ellyn Vanderhyden, junior Stefanie James and Mandac posted a time of 1:48.91.

"I hurt myself by pulling my quad during the 4x2 yesterday, so that probably hurt my performance a lot and I just had a rocky day," Mandac said. "But I'm appreciative that I made it back down here and got a medal.

"Our relay broke the school record yesterday and made the finals so those were big accomplishments. I just wish I would have performed like I was seeded and that our relay would have done a lot better than it did."

Another area athlete also placed in the 300 low hurdles, Seneca junior Candice Carajohn, who was eighth in 48.16.

She not only earned her first state medal but also became the Lady Irish's first medalist in a track event since 1998.

Carajohn also advanced to the finals of the triple jump but she settled for 11th place after turning in a 35-3¾ effort.

"I can't believe I made the finals in the 300 hurdles and to get a medal is even more amazing, so I'm so excited," Carajohn said. "I think our last medal was won 10 years ago and it's just amazing to stand near that podium.

"Because of how well I did, I think I'll be more prepared and ready to compete next year. To be able to do this well in my first trip here is just so amazing. I thank God and I thank everyone else for helping me to get here."

Dwight sophomore Kolby Hoffman saw her hopes of adding to last year's second-place medal in the long jump dashed when she was disqualified in the event.