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| Eastwood makes four trips to podium at state |
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| Sports - Jayhawk-Linn | |||
| Written by David Wolman | |||
| Friday, 03 July 2009 10:05 | |||
 Morgan Eastwood has become a common fixture on the medal stand at the Class 3A state track and field meet. She’s had six medals placed around her neck her first two seasons competing for the Jayhawk-Linn girls’ track team — earning the maximum four in 2008.Eastwood, who just completed her junior season, kept adding to her collection this spring. Again, she earned a maximum of four medals. She placed third in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles and teamed with Chelsea Beckman, Cassie Rockers and Taylor Dawson to break the school record in the 4x100 relay in a time of 50.31 seconds at the regional meet to finish second at state. The 4x400 relay of Eastwood, Dawson, Rockers and Meriel Long also garnered silver at state. Eastwood’s efforts increased her medal total to 10, and she still has more season remaining. For her efforts, she has been selected as the Tri-County Spotlight Girls’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Having teamed with Dawson, Rockers and Brogan Hoover, a 2008 graduate, to win the state title in the 4x400 relay last season, Eastwood has already been able to bask in the glory of winning a championship. All of the honors Eastwood has reaped in by her talents as a runner doesn’t come as a surprise. As a child, she competed against other boys and girls at her aunt’s house in Blue Mound. Most of the time, she won. “I’ve always wanted to race everybody,” she said. “I like beating other people.” There was once a time, however, when Eastwood thought about competing in the shot put. But her middle school coach believed she would be better suited competing in the hurdles. Taking a look back, it proved to be a wise decision. “I’m glad coach (Laurie) Beckman convinced me to do so,” Eastwood said. “I liked it and have stuck with it.” Consistent is perhaps the best way to describe Eastwood’s performance. In the 100 hurdles, she’s ran between 14 and 17 seconds and between 43 and 47 seconds in the 300 hurdles. “She has been consistent in her times because she runs with the same basic form every time she runs, especially in the high hurdles,” Jayhawk-Linn girls’ coach Charlie Beckman said. Beckman always believed Eastwood had a natural talent for running. “We thought she would be an outstanding hurdler/sprinter when she was in junior high,” he said. “We were right.” Even with all the medals she garnered this season, Eastwood wasn’t completed satisfied. Many of the girls who compete for the track team were also on the Jayhawk-Linn girls’ basketball team, including Eastwood, which qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 1993. The season extended into the first week of March, leaving only two weeks for the girls to prepare for the track season. “I could’ve done better,” she said. “If I would’ve practiced harder, I would’ve done better.” Winning a state championship in the 4x400 relay has let Eastwood been able to place a check mark by her list of accomplishments. She has come so close to earning a state title in the hurdles, a goal which she will set out to achieve her senior season.
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