Lee's Summit High School graduate Matt Tegenkamp is a step closer to reaching another goal he set out for himself: an Olympic medal. The 2000 graduate competed in Heat 1 of the 5,000-meter run on Wednesday morning and in an extremely closer race in which the top five competitors had time's that were within a second of each other, Tegenkamp had the best time of anybody, winning the heat in 13 minutes, 37.36 seconds. The win advanced Tegenkamp into the finals on Saturday. Look in Friday's edition of the Journal with details on when Tegenkamp's attempt at an Olympic gold will take place.

After one of the most successful seasons in school history in which it finished 21st as a team at the national meet, the Longview Community College cross country team is hoping to build off that success and make 2008 even better.

It only makes sense that 9-year-old Carlie Queen was such a quick learner in the high jump. After all, when your coach, who just happens to be your dad, is a former college high jumper, there’s a chance it’s in the blood.