Wind Helps Push Sanford, Bethel Past 20-Foot Mark in Long Jump

Michelle Sanford of Woodbridge High and Dana Bethel of Mission Viejo eclipsed the 20-foot mark in the long jump for the first time Friday at the USATF Junior Nationals track and field meet in Denton, Texas.

Sanford, who won a high school state championship as a freshman three weeks ago, leaped a wind-aided 20 feet 3 1/2 inches to finish sixth in the event behind four collegians--Yolanda Thompson of Florida (21-3 1/4), Tameisha King of Notre Dame (21-2) and Indiana teammates Tandra Foster (20-9 3/4) and Rose Richmond (20-7 3/4)--and Cassandra Richards of Winchester (Pa.) Thurston High (20-9). The top 22 marks were wind-aided.

Bethel, who placed fourth in state after finishing second last season, went 20-1 to finish eighth.

Bethel and Sanford finished ahead of several highly touted competitors, including Tiffany Greer of Arizona State, who won the Pac-10 championship and finished fourth in the NCAA, and Ychlindria Spears of Luling, Texas, who owned the nation’s leading high school mark last spring.

In the 10-kilometer racewalk, Elizabeth Paxton of Cypress finished third. Paxton, a junior at Pacifica High, completed the course in 59 minutes 33.89 seconds. Robyn Stevens from Vacaville High finished first (55:21.98) and Canadian Emma Carter was second (59:33.89).

Paxton finished fourth in the 5K racewalk at the same meet last year.