PREP TRACK: LaRue County's Tai Phillips has high expectations in the high jump (05/04)

By JOSH CLAYWELL jclaywell@thenewsenterprise.com HODGENVILLE — After missing the cut for the Kentucky High School Athletic Association State Track & Field Championships by two inches in the high jump last year, Tai Phillips is determined to not let the chance pass her by again. A LaRue County High School junior, Phillips finished in a three-way tie for third behind teammate Haley Carrico and Elizabethtown junior Jasmine Deaderick last season. “It was disappointing,” said Phillips, who also runs a leg in the 400 and 800-meter relays along with teammates Ashley Clairmont, Shana Zajdel and Tanesha Woods. “I don’t think I really want to erase it. I want to know I didn’t make it last year. I think that’s going to make me work harder this year.” LaRue County co-coach Lydia Kerr, who owns East Hardin’s school record (five feet in 1985) and has a personal-best mark of six feet while she was at Western Kentucky University, feels Phillips has what it takes to qualify for State this year. “I think she does. Hard work and determination are the two things that are going to get her there,” Kerr said. “I think she’s a pretty determined young lady now. She wants to be the best, and she can do it. She has the ability, I’ve told her that all along.” Entering Saturday’s events, Phillips was two inches off the Class 2-A, Region 2 best of five feet set by Butler County’s Felicia Lange. In the seven-team area, Phillips is two inches behind North Hardin’s Chianta Holmes for the top height in the high jump. In two years, Phillips has come a long way. As a freshman, Phillips could barely clear four feet. “We’ve gone from 4-foot to 4-2 and then just like last year and this year, she’s made leaps and bounds,” Kerr said. “I think a lot of it has to do with maturity; she’s grown up a lot since then. She’s determined and working hard. She’s looking at things a lot differently this year and she’s had a more positive attitude than in the past. In the past I’d tell her ‘Don’t look at the bar, don’t look at the bar.’ When it gets higher, she gets a little more nervous. I don’t think she thinks about that anymore. She just goes out there and she’s given me 100 percent.” Phillips set a personal-best mark of 4-10 at the Woodford County Invitational two weeks ago. Her goal now is set a new school record at LaRue County. “My freshman year I was only jumping like 4-2, but now I’m jumping 4-10,” Phillips said. “I want to clear 5-2. If I don’t get this year, then I guess I’ll try next year.” But even if she doesn’t reach that goal, Phillips will still be proud of her accomplishments. “I’m really happy with how far I’ve come,” Phillips said. “My coaches (Jeremy Blair and Kerr) have helped me a lot. Coach Kerr taught me everything about the high jump. She told me that I’m doing good and stuff … I don’t know how to put it into words. She’s told me to never give and she’s never told me that I’m doing badly. “I’d like to be the best in the class,” Phillips added. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work.” With Kerr guiding her, Phillips can look for bigger things as her high school career winds down. “I think she’s got the potential. I think we’re going to see good things from her at State this year. I know she’s got it in her,” Kerr said. “She’s been very consistent over the past few meets and I think she knows that. It’s going to give her a little more determination to get where she wants to be.” Josh Claywell can be reached at 505-1752