Sanders Claims 2 Medals at State

Richwoods Junior thrower Jewel Sanders accomplished what seemed unthinkable at the beginning of the season - winning medals in both throwing events at the IHSA State Championship. Expectations had been high all season in the discus for the returning All-Stater from 2004 who owned an 8th place medal from last year's State meet. However, her shotput history, while commendable had not been at the same level of her discus work. 2005 represented a breakout year for Jewel in the shotput.
In the discus Jewel entered the State meet as the 2nd seed. Sanders appeared tight due to high expectations in the opening round of the event on Friday. She finished the day 6th in her flight with a best of 128' 3". Jewel approached the Saturday finals determined not to merely be satisfied to be there. Her best throw of 137' 11" moved her into 3rd place.
The shotput proved to be the reverse of the discus for Jewel. With few expectations in the event, Sanders appeared relaxed. At the end of the day by virtue of her 39' 5½" throw she suddenly found herself in 7th place and vying for a medal. When she returned Saturday for Finals she was unable to improve as some of the field advanced past her.
Sanders' medal performances in two individual event is the third time that such has been achieved in Richwoods Women's Track history. A double medal performance at State previously having been accomplished only by Ann Henry in 1980 when she finished 6th in the 800 and 8th in the 1600, and by Tracy Smith in 1993 who took medals with 3rd in the 400 and 5th in the 200.