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By MIKE READLING
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 15, 2001
TAMPA -- Ask Wharton junior Kendra Smith how her season went, and she'll tell you it was "okay."
She ran a little here, jumped a little there. All in all, she wishes she could have "done a little better."
And it's easy to see what Smith is talking about.
It's not like she posted the fastest times or had the longest jumps in the Suncoast in the five events she competed in. She was only the best in three and second in one.
It's not like she qualified for state in all five either. She qualified in only three.
Forget the fact they are events that ran simultaneously, requiring her to go from the triple jump to the starting blocks of a 300-meter hurdles prelim before hurrying to the high jump pit and heading back for triple jump No. 2.
And it's not like Smith owns the Wharton record book. There still are a couple of events -- including the pole vault and shot put, which she doesn't compete in -- without her name next to them.
She does, however, own Wildcats records in the long jump (17 feet, 3 inches), triple jump (38-4 1/2), 100 hurdles (14.7 seconds), 300 hurdles (45.5) and the 400 (1:01.43). She also helped the 4x400 relay team run a school-best 4:16.5.
In doing so, she led the Wildcats to district and regional titles. The turning point for Smith -- and anyone trying to keep up with her -- came at the Bob Hayes Invitational in Jacksonville.
There, she broke the school record in the 300 hurdles and cleared 38 feet in the triple jump. It was her first big meet and her first chance to face the top competition from around the state. She seized the opportunity with both hands.
"I made a lot of (personal records) at that meet. It was a big meet for me," Smith said. "We had never been to a big meet that was out of Hillsborough County, and there were a lot of great girls there.
"It was the first time I'd been in contact with other competition in Florida, and I wanted to try harder to focus and do my best in all of the events. The girls were pushing hard for me to get all of my stuff together."
Getting her stuff together is something Smith has never had to worry about.
Since she followed in her mother's footsteps and took up track, she has managed to juggle her five events with her schoolwork and performance dancing -- her first love.
In fact, Smith thrives on the chaotic meet schedule, scurrying from station to station and putting her team on top of the scoreboard.
"I remember a couple of meets where I would be in the triple jump final and take my last jump, put my shoes on in the blocks for the 300 hurdles and then have somebody false start and say to myself, "You can breath now,"' Smith said.
"That's the way it is at most of the big meets for me. Triple jump, long jump and running across the the field. If it doesn't interfere with the triple jump, I can handle it."
As a senior, Smith said she hopes to improve upon her junior season enough to catch the attention of a college. Until then, though, she's a typical high school student who happens to be able to jump farther and run faster than most people you will ever meet.
"I've pretty much just been chilling, hanging out with my friends and sleeping when I can," Smith said. "It's been really, really fun. It could get stressful at times, but I have great coaches and great teammates.
"We have fun all the time."
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Kendra Smith, Wharton
COACH OF THE YEAR: Eileen Givens, Lakewood
DARA ALTMAN, Gaither, Jr.: State champion in pole vault.
CHRISTA BENTON, Keswick Chr., Sr.: State runner-up in 3,200; third in 1,600.
SHARNEKA BROWN, Lakewood, Sr.: MVP at three regular-season meets.
NADIA COVINGTON, Lakewood, So.: Fifth at state in 400; sixth in long jump.
CARMEN CRESPO, Wharton, Sr.: State runner-up in high jump (5-6), best in area.
NANCY EDWARDS, Ridgewood, Sr.: Pasco co-athlete of the year; fifth at state in triple jump.
DEE DEE HAEFLING, Riverview, Sr.: Fifth at state in 3,200; seventh in 1,600.
RAQUEL LAO, Hernando, Sr.: State champion in discus.
AMBER LITTLETON, Bloomingdale, Sr.: Fourth at state in 1,600.
LINDSEY MOFFENBIER, East Bay, Jr.: Fourth at state in 3,200 (11:21.69); second-best in area.
DEVON RICH, Seminole, Jr.: Fifth at state in 200.
KENDRA SMITH, Wharton, Jr.: Best times/distances in area in three events.
JESSICA VERGA, River Ridge, Sr.: Pasco co-athlete of the year.
KATE WHEELER, Lecanto, Jr.: State runner-up in high jump; sixth in triple jump.
4x100 -- Blake 48.67
4x400 -- Lakewood, 3:56.70
4x800 -- Plant, 9:45.04
AMINAH BILAL, Hillsborough, Sr.: Area's best in 100 (11.5), 200 (24.9).
KYLENE COLASANTI, Lecanto, Jr.: Scored regularly in 300 hurdles, high jump, 4x400.
JEANETTE DANIELS, Leto, Jr.: Area-best in discus (121-1/2).
MALLORY GIORDANO, Plant, So.: Area-best in 800 (2:20.88).
LATECIA HARDY, Clearwater, So.: Sixth at state in 300 hurdles; fifth in pole vault.
JEN HAYES, Ridgewood, So.: Eighth at state in 100 hurdles.
RENEE JONES, Tampa Prep, Fr.: Second at state in 400; fourth in 200.
MELISSA KOTCHMAN, 7th, Indian Rocks Chr.: Sixth at state in 1,600.
LIZZY LEIGH, Ridgewood, Sr.: Eighth at state in 800.
MELISSA MOUKAWSHER, East Lake, Jr.: 16.37 hurdles, 35-9 triple jump, 17-6 long jump.
BLAIR NEWCOMB, Northside Chr., Jr.: State pole vault champion.
JESSICA PENOKIE, Ridgewood, Sr.: Pasco County's top vaulter; 16.29 100 hurdles.
ALANA SINGLETON, Gaither, Sr.: Season-best 115-4 in discus.
DOMINIQUE WARREN, Pinellas Park, So.: School's first regional champion in shot put. 4x100 -- Hillsborough, 49.20
4x400 -- Plant 4:02.46
4x800 -- Indian Rocks Chr. 10:04.90
Academy of the Holy Names -- Sara Petrick; Citrus -- Myesha Hollis; Clearwater Central Catholic: Apryl Wall; East Lake: Jodi Heyens; Gaither: Jenny Habbestad, Stephanie Smith; Gulf: Courtney Burns, Climmie Collins, Michelle Sigona, Anna Szwejkowska; Jefferson -- Nikita Williams; Lakewood -- Hope Wells; Land O'Lakes: Alison Foster, Christina Hansen; Leto -- Jessica Shepherd; Osceola: Kim Conaway; Palm Harbor U.: Lauren McKinley, Nikki Morzenti, Courtney LaCroix; Pasco: Jessica Robinson, LaShawn Vaughns; Plant -- Stacie Wilds, Tabitha Cooney; Ridgewood: Shawna Luikart; River Ridge: Melissa Tuccio; Sickles -- Denisha Crawford, Kasey House; Tampa Baptist -- Marissa Davenport; Tampa Bay Tech -- Keyluna Anderson, Shinita Howell; Wharton -- Kristen Fleming.