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STATE TRACK: College Heights relay, TJ’s Atteberry earn medals

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Joplin schools brought home a pair of medals from the boys Class 1 MSHSAA Track and Field Championships on Saturday.

College Heights Christian had the best finish, coming in the 4×800-meter relay — taking second in 8:34.

It was the first trip back to the podium in the two-mile race since the Cougars won back-to-back Class 2 titles in 2016 and 2017.

Rolen Sanderson competes for College Heights on Saturday in Jefferson City. Photo by Cody Thorn.

College Heights started with sophomore Derrick McMillan and had them in second place. By the time freshman Rolen Sanderson finished his two laps, he passed the baton to sophomore Corban Thomas with the Cougars in first place.

Thomas maintained the lead for College Heights before freshman Caleb Quade ran the final two laps but was passed by Calvary Lutheran’s Grant Going, who took his team to the top of the podium with a nearly nine-second margin.

The Cougars missed a chance at a second medal when the 4×400-meter relay team finished ninth, one spot out of an all-state medal in the final race of the day.

Quade and Sanderson were on that team as well, while freshmen Colsen Dickens and Ethan Ukena made up the other two runners.

The team finished in 3:38.90, just a smidge behind Mound City’s 3:38.61 that took the final spot. The time was a season best for College Heights, dropping two seconds.

“It was so competitive,” Quade said. “Every race we’d been to, there had been like two teams better than us. This race, there were seven in our heat (better).”

 Wellington-Napoleon jumped from the first heat – generally slower times – into the top eight and finished sixth. That bumped the Cougars, who were the second heat, out of the all-state realm.  

Dickens and Ukena were on the 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams that were 11th and 14th, respectively. That team also featured Dominic Gingerich and Matt Williams, both freshmen.

Thomas Jefferson Independent sophomore Kip Atteberry took fourth place in his debut at state. He finished the 1,600-meter race in 4:48.56, resetting his mark as the school record holder he broke earlier this year.

This was the third time he broke the record and used the motivation from a heat sheet to improve his seed spot of fifth place.

“I knew I wanted to come out and go higher,” he said. “And there is this overwhelming feeling coming into state and you feel it in your chest. I got nervous as I got to the line. I wasn’t feeling good, but I wanted to run the race I was supposed to.”

He gradually moved from eighth to sixth over the first two laps and settled into fourth over the final two. His 1:09.23 split on the final 400 was second behind his opening split of 1:08.64.

Thomas Jefferson’s Kip Atteberry competes during the Class 1 state track meet on Saturday. Photo by Cody Thorn.

STATE CHAMPS: College Heights girls capture Class 1 crown

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Joplin was on front-page headlines in newspapers in mid-Missouri — and across the state — on Saturday.

May 22 marked the 10-year anniversary of the tornado that shook the town and made memories, good and bad, for people for a lifetime.

On a day where many shined the light on good things that have happened since then, it was perhaps fitting that a Joplin team came out on top at the MSHSAA Class 1 Track and Field Championships at Jefferson City High School.

For the group of seven College Heights Christian girls track and field athletes at state, many were in a range from toddlers to second-graders when the tornado happened.

“It was very traumatic for our community,” College Heights Christian senior Allie Fiscus said. “We had friends impacted and it really brought us together and I think our team resembles that togetherness. It feels pretty good (to win), I feel we are only known for the tornado. It is good to put a new face on the town and let people know we have grown and we’ve been able to come together and show what the best of us can do.”

The team title for College Heights is the first in program history and only the second trophy total under the guidance of coach Daniel Lewis.

College Heights finished with 62 points, a 19-point cushion over Princeton. The Cougars took first in four of their eight races, winning the 100 and 400 dashes and the 400 and 800 relays.

All four of those broke school records while claiming state titles.

This team title is the second this school year for the school after winning the Class 1 cross country title in November – also the first in program history.

Grace Bishop and Jayli Johnson were on both the cross country and track and field teams.

“It is a crazy feeling coming from cross country to this and both times I didn’t think it was possible,” said Bishop, who was a runner-up in the 3,200-meter run in the first race of the day-long competition at Adkins Stadium. “The hard work really paid off and we have been really blessed. It’s a really great way to go out as a senior.”

Some newcomers to the team helped College Heights reach the podium for the first time since a fourth-place finish in 2004.

Sophomore Addie Lawrence won two individual titles and ran the anchor leg on the two relay championships. She won the 100 in 12.50 seconds and later in the day added first in the 400, posting a sub-1-minute time in 57.50.

The 100 dash was her first chance to run at state after COVID-19 wiped out her freshman season.

“I was really nervous being my first meet but I had fun talking to the girls (in the 100) and then getting out there and competing with them,” Lawrence said. “It was a good race and I’m really proud of everyone that did it.”

She was part of a 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams that had the same lineup: Johnson, a sophomore, started before handing off to Fiscus and then to sophomore Lauren Ukena before closing with Lawrence. 

The 4×200 race ended with the Cougars winning in 1:47.44, almost four seconds ahead of Cass-Midway.

The tricky part of the relay titles came in the 4×100, where the team members realized the exchange zone diamonds at the Licklider Track were in different spots than they were used to in Southwest Missouri.

“It was pretty tough and a little frustrating,” Johnson said, who took sixth place in the 200-meter dash. “We were getting flustered. We practice handoffs so much and we had to come out and said ‘we gotta figure this out.’”

The team did, running 51.23, a few strides ahead of Albany, which finished in 51.70.

The Cougars ran 4:22.14 in the 4×400 to finish third, and the group running was Johnson, Ukena, Bishop and sophomore Katie Moss. 

Bishop was fourth in the 1,600-meter run but was as high as second in the race. In the 3,200-meter that she took second, she led for five of the eight laps before Marion County’s Delaney Straus surged ahead to win a second straight two-mile title.

Bishop, Johnson and Lawrence are also two-sport spring athletes for College Heights — which meant long days that included practice before school or track practice after a soccer practice.

“We are not even at track (practice) every day but we went to double practices almost every day and that is a testament to our hard work,” Bishop said.

Lewis, the architect of four cross country and one track and field title for the boys, knew this group would be special.

He thought last year could’ve turned into something big but the season never got off the ground. Lewis has long held the belief this was a special group.

“We knew it was coming,” he said. “In middle school they were breaking all of our records and I was coaching them then and I knew we would be here.”

The group set four school records and also secured the school’s first-ever championships in sprints and sprint relays.

 

The College Heights Christian girls won the 4×100 relay. All photos by Cody Thorn.

 

The College Heights girls track team poses with the state championship plaque.

 

 

CHC’s Addie Lawrence takes off during the 4×100 relay. All photos by Cody Thorn.

 

MSHSAA CLASS 1 STATE TRACK MEET
Top 10 girls teams: College Heights Christian 62, Princeton 42, Tarkio 33, Rock Port 32, St. Joseph Christian 30, Midway 28, Marion County 28, Delta 26, Drexel 25, Valle Catholic 24.

TRACK & FIELD: Webb City boys win sectional title; Cardinals, Carl Junction Bulldogs advance to state meet

 

CAMDENTON, Mo. — Webb City’s boys captured a team championship and a large number of local athletes qualified for state at the Class 4 Sectional 3 track meet on Saturday at Camdenton High School. 

The top four in each event advanced to Friday’s Class 4 state meet in Jefferson City. 

In another strong showing, Webb City’s boys qualified 17 entries in 14 events. Webb City’s girls had five entries qualify in four events.

Carl Junction’s girls had six entries advance, while the CJ boys moved on in two events. 

 

WEBB CITY QUALIFIERS

Webb City’s overall depth was on display again on Saturday. Nine different athletes advanced in individual events and the Cardinals qualified in three relays.  

Mekhi Garrard won the long jump with a leap of 23-8.75 and finished second in the triple jump (46-6.75). 

A senior, Garrard was third in the 200 in 22.65 seconds. 

Luke Brumit and Robert Hollis finished second (153-8) and fourth (143-8), respectively, in the javelin. 

Brumit also took second in the high jump (6-3.5).

James Morgan took second in the 110 hurdles (15.22) and was third in the 300 hurdles (40.19). Teammate Caleb Cook was fourth in the 300 hurdles. 

Roman Borboa was the runner-up in two events, the 1600 with a time of 4:29 and the 800 in 2:02. 

Pryce Mason and Grayson Smith tied for third in the pole vault, as both cleared 13-8.5.

Zetthew Meister advanced in the discus by finishing fourth. He recorded a toss of 134-2. 

The team of Isaiah Brisco, William Wolfe, Pryce Mason and Garrard finished second in the 4×200 relay in 1:30. 

The Cardinals were third in the 4×800, with Owen Weller, Joseph Dawson, Samuel Winesburg and Borboa finishing in 8:18. 

Webb City’s 4×400 relay team of Brumit, Mason, Wolfe and Morgan finished fourth in 3:33. 

For the Webb City girls, Emily Beres won the shot put with a heave of 39-3.25. 

Beres and Kaylyn Gilbert finished second and third in the discus. Beres recorded a toss of 104-7, with Gilbert just one inch behind her teammate. 

Haidyn Berry was the runner-up in the javelin with a toss of 115-3.

The Cardinals were fourth in the 4×800 relay, as Alanna Bundy, Abi Street, Lauren Kuechler and Riley Hawkins recorded a time of 10:23. 

 

CARL JUNCTION QUALIFIERS

Carl Junction’s girls won the 4×100 relay in 49.19 seconds, with Olivia Vediz, Ally Montez, Salma Lewis and Shiloh Sluder competing.

Montez won the 300 hurdles in 45.54 seconds and placed second in the 100 hurdles in 14.84. 

Fourth place finishers for the CJ girls were Sluder (200), Vediz (triple jump) and Hannah Lee (shot put). 

For the Carl Junction boys, Brendan Jewell won the high jump by clearing 6-8.25 and Collin Emmert finished fourth in the 3200 (9:57). 

 

OTHER AREA QUALIFIERS

McDonald County’s Mariana Salas was fourth in the girls javelin (109-5). 

Nevada’s Claire Pritchett was the runner-up in the shot put, while teammate Brooklyn Kutina-Smith was third in the 400 and Lillian Hart took third in both the long jump and triple jump.  

Nevada’s Bailey Ast, Kirstin Buck, Jade Feller and Madyson Majors qualified in the girls 4×100 by finishing fourth. 

For the Nevada boys, Drew Beachler was fourth in the long jump. 

 

CLASS 4 SECTIONAL 3

(At Camdenton)

Boys team standings: Webb City 109, Willard 106, Camdenton 85, Rolla 81, Bolivar 75, Union 53, Marshfield 34, Monett 25, Sullivan 22, Helias Catholic 19, Carl Junction 17, Logan-Rogersville 15, Pacific 14, Hillcrest 10, McDonald County 8, Nevada 5, Fulton 2.

Girls team standings: Marshfield 93, Rolla 87, Union 78, Nevada 62, Carl Junction 60, Helias Catholic 59, Webb City 53, Father Tolton 35, Sullivan 34, Logan-Rogersville 33, Bolivar 31, Camdenton 24, Fulton 18, McDonald County 17, Monett 17 Pacific 14, Hillcrest 11, Willard 9. 

 

 

TRACK & FIELD: Joplin sending large group to state meet; Eagles break school records at sectional

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Each and every member of the Joplin High School track and field team that competed at Saturday’s Class 5 Sectional 3 meet at Carthage High School’s David Haffner Stadium will also be traveling to Thursday’s state track meet in Jefferson City. 

For the Eagles, it was a day to remember. 

“Everybody that came to the meet will be going to state,” Joplin coach Brandon Taute said. “We had 14 entries on the boys side and 11 of those entries moved on. We feel really good about that. We had a lot of personal bests across the board. I’m really happy with how the boys competed. What we’ve seen all year is what we saw again today. The guys that have carried us all year did it again today.

“All three of our entries on the girls side moved on and broke school records,” Taute added. “That’s pretty awesome for them. We’re just excited for all of them.”

Joplin’s boys finished as the sectional runner-up. The Eagles compiled 90 points, second only to Waynesville’s 97.5. 

The Joplin girls had three sectional entries, and all three advanced to state. All three JHS girls broke school records along the way. 

At the sectional, the top four in each event advanced to state. 

Joplin’s Donovyn Fowler and Trayshawn Thomas compete in the 200-meter run during Saturday’s sectional. Photo by Jason Peake.

The usual suspects led the way for the Joplin boys. 

Donovyn Fowler was the sectional champion in two individual events and he also qualified in a third event. 

A junior, Fowler won the long jump with a leap of 23-9. He also won the triple jump, breaking his own school record with a distance of 49-11.5. 

Fowler moved on in the 200-meter dash by finishing third with a time of 22.82 seconds. 

Trayshawn Thomas moved on in two individual events. A senior, Thomas finished second in the triple jump (44-11.75) and was third in the long jump (22-1.5). 

Joplin’s Hobbs Campbell and Zaben Barnes, and Carthage’s Mariques Strickland compete in the 3200.

Hobbs Campbell and Micah Bruggeman finished second and third, respectively, in the 1600. Campbell recorded a time of 4:20, while Bruggeman had a time of 4:22. 

Bruggeman, a Mizzou recruit, also advanced in the 800 by finishing third in 1:57.

Campbell just missed qualifying in the 3200, as he finished fifth. 

As far as the throws, junior Donovahn Watkins captured gold in the shot put with a toss of 53-6.25. 

Joplin’s boys had two relays qualify for state. 

The Eagles took third in the 4×800 relay, with Bruggeman, Evan Matlock, Ashton Ventura and Campbell finishing in 8:11.

Joplin’s 4×100 relay team of Dominick Simmons, Thomas, Luke Vieselmeyer and Fowler finished fourth in 43.93. 

For the Joplin girls, Jennalee Dunn advanced to state in two events. 

Jennalee Dunn advanced to state in two events.

A junior, Dunn crossed the line first in the 1600 with a time of 5:14, breaking her own school record. 

Dunn also advanced in the 800, as she finished second in a school record time of 2:22. 

Also for the JHS girls, Alayna Merriman placed third in the javelin with a school record toss of 113-11. 

In a change this year, state track meets will be one-day affairs.

“It’s the same for everybody,” Taute said. “I loved the two-day meet. But everybody is dealing with the same conditions. It’s like anything…whoever responds to those conditions the best is going to win. The last time these kids were there it was a one-day meet too. It’s nothing new to them and I expect them to respond really well.” 

 

Class 5 Sectional 3

(At Carthage)

Boys team standings: Waynesville 97.5, Joplin 90, Nixa 83, Kickapoo 57, Ozark 53.5, Capital City 53, Jefferson City 47, Raymore-Peculiar 44, Carthage 39.5, Branson 39, Lebanon 28.5, Parkview 24, Republic 18, Neosho 18, Springfield Central 17.5, Smith-Cotton 10.5, Glendale 8, Belton 4.

Girls team standings: Jefferson City 101, Nixa 94, Ozark 80.5, Capital City 75, Kickapoo 70, Republic 66, Branson 49, Raymore-Peculiar 46, Lebanon 39, Parkview 35, Joplin 24, Neosho 21, Glendale 15.5, Waynesville 13, Belton 5, Carthage 4.

 

Joplin’s Micah Bruggeman, Carthage’s Miquel Solano and Neosho’s Kaden Cole are among the runners in the 800-meter run at Saturday’s sectional track meet. Photos by Jason Peake.

 

TRACK & FIELD: Athletes from Carthage, Neosho advance to state meet

 

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Athletes from Carthage and Neosho punched their tickets to the state track meet with their respective performances on Saturday at the Class 5 Sectional 3 meet at David Haffner Stadium. 

The top four in each event advanced to compete at Thursday’s Class 5 state track meet in Jefferson City.

Carthage had three entries advance on the boys’ side.

“Our goal is always to get half of our athletes from sectionals to state,” Carthage coach Andy Youngworth said. “We got three out of nine… I was hoping to get a couple more out. We’d like to have more, but I’m really glad we got the 4×800 out to go along with the 800 and javelin.”

Carthage’s Caleb Calvin won the javelin with a heave of 175 feet even.

A senior who has signed with Pittsburg State, Calvin has won his signature event at every meet this season. 

“He’s a good athlete and a good kid,” Youngworth said of Calvin. “He’s had a little bit of a side muscle issue and I don’t think he threw as well as he would have liked to today. He moved here in September and he’s been a great addition to our team. There are a couple of really good throwers he’ll go up against at state, so I’m excited to see how he does.”

Carthage’s Miquel Solano and Neosho’s Kaden Cole compete in the 800 during Saturday’s sectional in Carthage. Photo by Jason Peake.

Sophomore Miguel Solano finished second in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:57. 

Carthage’s 4×800 relay team of Malcolm Robertson, Solano, Ty Lewis and Richard Contreras finished fourth in 8:13. 

The Tigers just missed qualifying in the 4×100, finishing fifth. Carthage was sixth in the 4×400 and seventh in the 4×200.

Youngworth noted both the 4×100 and 4×400 relays recorded personal-best times.

For the Carthage girls, Joey Hettinger just missed qualifying in the high jump after finishing fifth. She cleared 5-1. 

Neosho had three athletes advance in four events.

Neosho junior Kaden Cole was fourth in the boys 1600 in 4:22, while classmate Tristen Linders placed third in the discus with a toss of 140-5.

The Neosho boys finished fifth in the 4×400 relay, less than a second behind fourth place Kickapoo. 

For the Neosho girls, Jayden Browning qualified in two events, as she finished fourth in the triple jump (36-0) and was also fourth in the long jump (17-4.25), tying the school record.

A senior, Browning was the lone NHS girl to advance. 

Riley Kemna finished fifth in the 3200, while the NHS girls were sixth in the 4×400 and Bailey Miller was sixth in the pole vault. 

It was Youngworth’s final home meet as the man in charge of the Carthage track and field program. 

The veteran coach, who will lead McAuley Catholic’s program in the future, noted he was pleased to host a sectional event in Carthage again this year. 

“We hosted sectionals in 2018, districts in 2019, we would have hosted sectionals last year and we hosted again this year,” he said. “We have a great facility here. I’m really happy that we were able to host it here. We’ve got great workers and we’ve got a great group of people that volunteer. I really appreciate all of their support. And this is my last one here. It’s kind of bittersweet.”

Neosho’s Riley Kemna competes in the 3200-meter run on Saturday at the Class 5 sectional at David Haffner Stadium. Photo by Jason Peake.

 

Athletes from Neosho and Carthage compete in the 4×400 relay.