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DATE: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 SECTION: SPORTS COLUMN: ATHLETE OF THE WEEK IMPROVED RUNNER ON TRACK FOR STATE Jenna Lowder has burst to the front of the pack in high school track -- and she is hoping her success takes her to the state meet in Sacramento for the second consecutive year. Lowder, a Maria Carrillo junior, is the top sprinter in the Empire through the first half of the season. She is tied with Analy junior Tracy Webster at 12.64 in the 100 meters; she is the fastest in the 200 meters (25.80) and untouchable in the 400 meters in 57.09. ``Not too many from our area make it to the state in the sprints,'' said Maria Carrillo coach Dan Aldridge. Lowder, 16, made it to the state meet as part of Maria Carrillo's 4x400 relay team last year, but a foot injury late in the season kept her from a qualifying attempt in the 400 meters -- by far her strongest event. ``My goal this year is to make it to state in the 400 meters,'' she said. Lowder is third on the Empire's all-time 400-meter list, trailing only Rose Criss (Analy, 1997) and Wendi Simons (Santa Rosa, 1985). She needs to cut two seconds off her personal best to move into first place on the all-time list. If she doesn't do it this year, there's always her senior year. Lowder credits her improvement this year to special weight training with Greg Adams of Winning Edge Sports Training in Rohnert Park. ``I train with him twice a week and focus on upper body strength and speed,'' Lowder said. Aldridge counts Lowder as one of his top athletes. ``She's a great kid and comes from a great family,'' Aldridge said. ``She always wants to do what she can to get better and isn't afraid to try new things.'' Lowder isn't just a runner. She plays sweeper on the Maria Carrillo soccer team and this past season was selected her team' most valuable player. The daughter of Brad and Sally Lowder, Jenna is not only liked and appreciated by her teammates. Last week, Lowder was elected 2006 senior class president.JENNA LOWDER School: Maria Carrillo Year: Junior Sport: Track
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