With six state medals to his name, De’Andre Vandevender has made a name for himself in the jumping pits.

But for the first time in his accomplished track-and-field career, the Trenton senior will lace up his spikes for a running event at today’s Class 2 District 8 meet at Bishop LeBlond.

Never quite quick enough to crack the top four until this year, Vandevender’s rigorous workout regimen landed him on the 4x100-meter relay team.

“It’s really nice to be part of a relay. It adds a sense of teamwork,” Vandevender said. “And it’s not too long, either.”

During football season, Vandevender discovered a newfound burst of speed that helped him rush for more than 2,600 yards. He hopes to use his improved sprint to put the Bulldogs’ 400-meter relay team back in the state finals for the third straight year.

During last year’s district meet, Vandevender swept his jumping events — long, triple and high — and cleared a season-best 6-feet, 8 inches at Eagle Stadium. After clearing 6-9 earlier this year at Lawson, he hopes to clear his preseason goal of 6-10.

“Nothing he does surprises me anymore,” said Trenton coach Wes Croy, who also coached him during football, “He’s as physically gifted as any kid as I’ve been around in my 17 years of coaching.”

A few of his competitive peaks have been closely followed by valleys, however.

After claiming the triple jump state as a sophomore, Vandevender failed to qualify for state in the event last season with a fifth-place sectional finish. Admittedly disappointed, the 6-1 senior plans to use his near-miss as motivation to get back to Jefferson City in all three jumping events.

“I felt like I let myself down and my teammates, and I don’t want that to happen again,” Vandevender said.

At the same meet, Hamilton’s girls will begin their state title defense with a dangerous new weapon.

Freshman Lindsay Vollmer could provide the Hornets with 40 points all by herself and is the favorite to sweep in both hurdle events, the long jump and the high jump. Among area athletes, she currently has the best time, distance or height in five events — including the 100- and 200-meter dash events.

Consistent senior Jordan Esry, who earned four medals at last year’s state meet, hopes to match 2007’s productivity, but Hamilton will have to compete without junior Joanna Dawson, who left the team three weeks ago after lingering injuries.

Across town at St. Joseph Christian, Polo’s boys will try to repeat as District 1 Class 7 champs without former state champions Andy Ahart and Chris Hufford.

Sprinter Josh Duncan and distance runner Charlie Boruch provide returning all-state experience for the Panthers, who must get some help from some fresh faces if they hope to content for their fourth straight Class 1 state title.

Other local athletes will compete with the goal of advancing to next week’s sectional meets during district events at Brookfield (District 6) and Worth County (District 8), where the Tigers’ girls squad prepares to defend its three consecutive Class 1 titles.

The Tigers won last year’s state meet by one point over Norborne and will have to replace Alissa Miller’s contributions in the hurdle events.

Teams competing in Class 3 and 4 will run their district meets May 10.