Bender doubles again at State
2A Track meet

By By Jared Florreich / staff writer
May 13, 2003
The accomplishments of Kotreece Bender, a senior at Newton High School, are nothing short of amazing.
On Saturday, the Newton High track team finished second in the State 2A track and field meet with Bender finishing first in the shot put and discus.. It marked the second straight year Bender has doubled in both events as the State 2A girls champion.
Ed McGowen, head Newton track and field coach said it took some prodding to get Bender competing in track and field, but once she did, the time and effort she put in has lead to her accomplishments.
Success is evidenced by the fact that over a four-year span and 24 track meets, she has never lost a discus competition. She has also finished first 22 times in the shot put.
This year, in the six meets she has competed in, Bender finished first six times in the discus and five times in the shot put.
She set Newton school records in the discus and shot put, with marks of 111-feet and 37-feet respectively.
Bender is a diverse athlete, starring not only in track and field, but also softball and basketball.
According to McGowen, Bender fielded scholarship offers from Jackson State, Alcorn State, and West Alabama, but committed to East Central Community College to play basketball in the fall.
Bender will compete in the Mississippi All-Star Basketball Game July 17 in Clinton.