While outdistancing foes, Hightstown junior sets another school mark
By:Kyle Moylan
Jackie Hudgins wasn’t upset that some people were picking against her in the shot put event in the Mercer County Championships, held this past Saturday at Steinert. In fact, Hudgins is so good natured she’d like to see all those individuals get the best medical attention possible.
“I was a little shocked to see some people weren’t picking me,” Hudgins said. “I wasn’t upset, though. I just figured maybe they got mixed up.”
For the second year in a row, Hudgins is the best shot putter in Mercer County. This time she has the award to prove it.
Before winning the Group III state championship last year, Hudgins had an opff day in the MCT and had to settle for second place. It was for this reason that it was perceived that Notre Dame’s Melanie Campbell could pull out the event.
Campbell did come through with a clutch mark of 40-1.25, her best effort this season. Hudgins also came in four or five feet shorter than she has done at practice. Hudgins is so much better than anyone else in the shot put, however, that her 41-5.25 won by 15 inches.
Hudgins’ winning throw came on her last attempt. She wasn’t sweating out the results, though. Hudgins also had the second best throw in the competition.
“I think she had something to prove after last year,” Hightstown coach Don Hess said. “When she gets it in her mind to do something, she does it.”
Although she was focusing more on the shot out, Hudgins was also entered in the discus. In her first season competing in the discus, Hudgins also won the Mercer title in that event with a throw of 119-8. This was 11 inches more than anyone else. In a sport often decided by fractions of an inch, Hudgins takes a lot of pressure off of the judges.
“I’m in my first year and I still haven’t got my btechnique down, so I’m a little surprised I came in first,” Hudgins said. “I’m happy I did it.”
Hess may be even happier. A long-time girls’ track coach, Hess knows when he sees someone special.
Hudgins’ mark in the discus at the MCT set a new Hightstown High School record. She already has the school mark in the shot.
“She’s up there with the top three girl track performers ever at the school,” Hess said.
Diane Keller has the school mark in the long jump (17-3), high jump (5-7), 400 (59.2) and the triple jump (37-10.25). Linda Sweeney has the record in the 800 (2:21), 1,600 (5:07) and 3,200 (11:18). Sweeney was also a part of the school record of 4:02 in the 4X400.
“No one else has come close to these three girls,” Hess noted. “These records might be here forever. These are times that The Meet of Champions winners may not even do.”
Korine Choice had the old school mark in the discus. Her distance of 116 feet was set back in 1985.
“Choice was in to see me recently and she didn’t think anyone would beat her mark,” Hess said. “I told her this might be the years, but she told me that’s what I’ve been saying for a long time.
“Jackie told me she’s going to break that record again and I believe her. I put her name up on the list of school records, but I didn’t put the measurement in. I didn’t want to have to use white out when she sets the new mark.”
Having won the MCT this year and Group III championship last year, the only big event left for Hudgins is The Meet of Champions.
“I want to get first at The Meet of Champions,” Hudgins said. “I think I can do it.”
It’s doubtful that many people will pick against Hudgins again . Even if they do, that’s okay. Jackie Hudgins will forgive you. As talented as she is in the discus and shot put, she’s even sweeter when the competition is over.
“Jackie Hudgins is such a nice, sweet girl that you don’t even mind getting crushed by her,” Peddie coach Mark Gartner said. “She’s everything that’s good about the sport.”
Oh, by the way, Hudgins is just a junior.