Jamie Wakefield Mead Year: Senior Sport: Track Events: Lj/Tj

Sunshine and sand are just what Jamie Wakefield needed.

The Mead senior is channeling her frustrations from a disappointing basketball season into track.

Last weekend at the Big Red Invitational at Ferris, Wakefield won the long jump (17 feet, 1/4 inch) and triple jump (35-4).

“It’s really nice (to be able to jump),” Wakefield said. “(Basketball) has been a motivation to do the best I can on every jump. I was really disappointed (with basketball).”

The Panthers missed out on a trip to the State AAA girls tournament for the first time in the 1990s. To make up for it, Wakefield wants to make a return trip to the state track meet to help Mead defend its title.

“She’s right where she should be,” Mead coach Annette Pedersen said. “She’s in great shape from basketball and she’s got a great attitude.”

When the coach called on Wakefield to run the 100 at Ferris, she did, finishing tied for second in 12.9 seconds.

“She’ll fill in whereever we need here,” Pedersen said. “I don’t know where that will be. It will probably change from meet to meet.”

What Pedersen does know is that Wakefield will jump at the chance to help the team. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo