Laura Asimakis (Friendswood) 12-1

[rainbowgirl28]

http://news.galvestondailynews.com/stor ... a1e425d359

Friendswood’s Laura Asimakis had a big day for the girls. The junior won the pole vault with a 12-1, just two inches shy of the 12-3 that got her silver medal at state last year.

“She had a very good day,â€Â

[PVJESS08]

Way to go Laura!!!!

Talk to ya soon!

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/ ... 02450.html

Community HS Sports: Top Stories

April 18, 2006, 5:55PM
Lady Mustang doesn't just participate, but excels in many phases of track

By L. SCOTT HAINLINE
Chronicle Correspondent

There's the regular District 23-4A Meet field, and then there's Laura Asimakis.

The Friendswood junior dominated in four of her five 23-4A events last week, winning gold easily, and in the other, she lost to a teammate by one inch.


"That's OK," she quickly added, "because we still got the points."

Ever the team player, Asimakis shines brightly as an individual.

The pole vault may be her best event. It's the only one she's competed in at the state meet. She placed second there last year with a personal- and school-record 12 feet, 3 inches.

Asimakis won the 23-4A pole vault before she even really got started; her closest competition finished two feet lower. She cleared 11 feet after teammate Candace Campbell went out at nine, and another Lady Mustang, Helen Tompkins, finished third (8-6).

The other district victories were just as lopsided. Asimakis PR'd in the 300 hurdles at 45.71 seconds to win by nearly two seconds, and won the 110 hurdles (15.15) by more than a second. Meanwhile, in the shot put, she was the best (32-4) by over a foot.

In the one event where she didn't show dominance, she'll get another shot. Friendswood's Jessie Hays edged Asimakis 17-3 to 17-2 in the long jump, and they'll square off again at the April 28-29 Class 4A Region III Meet in Huntsville.

Of Friendswood's district championship team total of 182 points, Asimakis accounted for 48 while competing, for the most part, by and against herself.

"The district meet is a little different and I try to get fired up about it, but sometimes it's a challenge and you have to push yourself," she said. "This was the first time I've won four gold medals at district, and we won as a team, and that's always nice."

This was the third 300 hurdles district title and second in the pole vault for Asimakis.

"I'm hoping to be able to get to state in the pole vault and maybe another event," she said. "The hurdles could be my best shot, but Westbury has some outstanding girls who will be running, and the competition is always so strong in just about every event at regionals. It's much different from district."

Asimakis wants to compete in college track and field, and she's scheduled to travel to Indianapolis for this summer's USA Track Junior Nationals.

"Laura is a very gifted athlete, but she is also a very hard worker, and she's definitely matured over the past few years," Friendswood coach Steve Haffelder said. "I think she'll be able to excel in college, I'm just not sure where.

"It would be to her advantage if the women went to the decathlon. Right now I don't know if colleges want her to vault, throw the javelin, or do the heptathlon. Whatever she does she will be very competitive."

Haffelder, the boys track coach at Friendswood, works closely with girls coach Celeste Romell.

"Laura had a great district meet and she was a big part of our team victory," Romell said. "We're looking forward to regionals and seeing what everyone can do."

The top two finishers in every region event advance to the May 12-13 UIL State Meet in Austin.

[rainbowgirl28]

http://news.galvestondailynews.com/stor ... c657c81474

Asimakis eyes another medal at state meet

By Joey Richards
The Daily News

Published May 7, 2006

FRIENDSWOOD â€â€