Sheppard soars to gold medal finish

By Tim Emmons
temmons@casscountynow.com

Atlanta triple jumper TeShuna Sheppard competed in the 53rd annual Dallas Jesuit-Sheaner Relays last weekend, and left with a well-deserved gold medal.
Athletes invited to the relays are All-American state finalists or medal winners from the previous year spanning all classifications.
Sheppard has won two state medals in three years and is looking to add a gold medal to complete her state medal trifecta.
At the Jesuit-Sheaner Relays Sheppard jumped 39 feet, 7 1/2 inches to win her flight and secure a gold medal.
The Flight 1 winner from Plano West only had a leap of 35 feet, 2 1/2 inches, the Flight 2 winner from Mesquite Horn only marked 37 feet, 10 inches and the Flight 3 runner-up to Sheppard from Rockwall Heath hit 37 feet, 11 1/4 inches.
Her amazing performance put her second on the all-time triple jump list behind Mansfield Lake Ridge anomaly Jasmine Moore who set a mark of 40 feet, 5 inches in 2016.
Sheppard mentioned that she wasn’t satisfied with a silver medal after last year’s state meet, and after taking first in each meet she has entered this year that gold medal spot may be filled in before she graduates.