Published: May 11, 2008 12:26 am            

Pacers 7th at state track meet

ARDMORE — Samantha Eby came so close to the gold medal in the girls shot put at the Class 6A state track championships Saturday.

Putnam City’s Jackie Stevens threw 41 feet, four-and-a-half inches on her final throw to deny the Enid senior the championship.

Eby settled for second with a throw of 39-4 to help the Pacers finish seventh in the team competition with 26 1/2 points.

“That’s still pretty good,’’ said Enid coach Joe Miranov of Eby. “She was going against some pretty good competition.’’

Freshman Rani Melvin, who won two medals Friday, added two more Saturday in the distance events.

She was fourth in the 1,600 meters with a time of five minutes and 29 seconds and was fifth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:21.37.

Both times were her second fastest of the season.

“It was so hot and so windy,’’ Miranov said. “For a freshman to come through like that and win four medals is a great accomplishment. She’s worked very hard for this.’’

Teammate Whitney Warfield was seventh in the 800 with a time of 2:22.93, a personal best. She just missed sixth place.

Senior Tia Morris, who was sixth in the qualifying, finished fourth in the 100-meter intermediate hurdles with a time of 15.89 She had a season-low 15.19 in the prelims.

“She was injured a lot last year,’’ Miranov said, “but coming out of basketball, she focused in on the hurdles and put up some good performances for us. I know she was very pleased to be on the podium.’’

Cody Camacho failed in his bid to break Donnie Childs’ 22-year school record in the 800 meters (1:55.6).

Camacho settled for fifth with a season-best run of 1:58.2.

“My goal for him was to get a state medal,’’ Miranov said. “A lot of people don’t get that opportunity. It’s a very good accomplishment for him. There were only a few tenths of a second separating third and fifth. He ran a great race and deserved to be up there on the podium.’’

Morris, Eby and Heather Capozzella are the only graduating seniors for the Pacers this spring.

“I’m really excited about next year,’’ Miranov said.

The Pacers had been ranked No. 8 before the meet.

“We finished one place higher than that,’’ Miranov said. “We’re pleased with that. We had a great state meet.’’

Midwest City took the girls championship with 117 points. Union won the boys with 97 points.

Midwest City was second in the boys meet with 80 points. Edmond Santa Fe was second in the girls meet with 82 points.