Kaylen Rabalais, an 8th grader at Bunkie Magnet High, prepares to release her gold medal-winning effort in the Class 2A state track meet on Friday. The javelin sailed over 134 ft. -- 40.86 meters.{Bunkie Magnet photo}
Kaylen Rabalais wears the medal of state champion in the girls' 2A javelin throw.
Bunkie's Kaylen Rabalais takes 1st place in 2A javelin throw
Probably since the first group of men sat around a fire in a cave, there have been contests to see who can run fastest, jump highest and throw things the farthest. At some point in human history, the womenfolk decided to get into the games.
On Friday, young track and field stars from across the state -- including four from Avoyelles Parish -- competed in the Class 2A state track meet for the chance to be the one who runs fastest, jumps highest or throws things the farthest among Louisiana high school athletes.
One of them was. The other three were all in the top five of their event.
Taking home the gold medal to Bunkie Magnet was 8th grader Kaylen Rabalais who threw the javelin 134 ft., 1 inch (40.86 meters) to claim the title in that event.
Teammate Daysha Cooper finished 4th in the discus with a throw of 93-04 (28.53 meters).
The two Lady Panthers' efforts totaled 14 points in the meet, giving Bunkie a tie for 11th place.
In the boys' games, Avoyelles HIgh's Carlos Bazert Jr. finished in fourth place in the shot put with a throw of almost 46.2 feet (14.08 meters). Fellow-Mustang Travon Prater claimed 5th place in the javelin with a throw of 147.7 feet (45.02 meters).
Avoyelles tandem scored 11 meet points to tie for 26th in the event.
Avoyelles Parish's other track and field school, Marksville High, did not qualify any athletes for the Class 3A championships. The Tigers came frustratingly close in three events at the regional meet.