CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Joplin High School boys track and field team is in the midst of a stellar season.
If any proof was needed, it was on display on Saturday at the Class 5 District 6 track meet at Carl Junction’s Bulldog Stadium.
One week after capturing a conference championship, the Eagles added a district title to their memorable season’s list of accomplishments.
“It’s been a great season,” Joplin coach Nick Reid said. “They showed up and competed hard today. We got some points in some areas we weren’t expecting to. They showed up and did well. The beauty of winning the team event is it takes every point, whether that’s first, fourth or eighth. They all count.”
Led by six event wins, Joplin compiled 119.5 points to top the team standings. Ozark was second with 101.75.
At the district meet, the top-four in each event advanced to next week’s sectional meet in Waynesville.
The Eagles advanced 12 entries to the sectional, with 11 events represented.
Joplin’s Donovyn Fowler and Hobb Campbell were double winners.
A senior, Fowler once again won his signature events, the long jump and triple jump. In the triple jump, Fowler recorded a winning leap of 48-9, nearly six feet better than the runner-up. He won the long jump with a mark of 23-8.25.
Fowler, an Oklahoma signee, also advanced in the 200-meter dash by finishing third in 22.9 seconds. Fowler advanced in four events overall, as he ran a leg of the qualifying 4×100-meter relay.
A junior, Campbell won the 800-meter run in 1:57 and crossed the line first in the 1600 in 4:20.
Campbell, who also plays for Joplin’s golf team during the spring, finished fourth in the 3200.
Joplin senior Donovahn Watkins won the shot put with a heave of 57-10.5 and finished second in the discus (145-6). In the same event, Dontrell Holt advanced by finishing third.
Like they have all season, Fowler, Watkins and Campbell came up big for the Eagles.
“Those three have done great all year,” Reid said. “They typically win their events and score a lot of points for us.”
The Eagles won the 4×800-meter relay in 8:09, with Evan Matlock, Ian Horton, Zaben Barnes and Nicholas Horton competing.
Joplin’s 4×100 relay (Fowler, Davin Thomas, Luke Vieselmeyer, Orion Norris) and 4×200 relay (Tayshaun Palmer, Vieselmeyer, Thomas, Norris) both took third to advance.
The JHS boys have won five meets this season—Carthage, Joplin, Webb City, COC and districts.
Coach Reid gave credit to his assistant coaches for their hard work.
“Our assistant coaches do a great job of working with the kids every day,” Reid said. “They get our kids going and get them prepared for these meets.”
The Joplin girls recorded a top-four finish in seven events, including two victories.
“We had quite a few girls get through to sectionals, including some relays and individuals,” Reid said. “Our girls showed up and did a great job.”
Joplin’s 4×200 relay team of Allie Lawrence, Abigayle Lowery, Amaya Montgomery and Brynn Driver took first in 1:47.
Jennalee Dunn advanced in two individual events. A senior, Dunn crossed the line first in the 800 in 2:20. She was the runner-up in the 1600 with a time of 5:09.
Driver was second in the 400 in 1:02 and Maria Loum was the runner-up in the pole vault (9-8.5).
Advancing with fourth-place finishes were Loum (100 hurdles) and Lawrence (200).
TIGERS, WILDCATS ADVANCE
Carthage and Neosho also had sectional qualifiers.
Carthage’s Joey Hettinger was the district champ in the girls high jump after clearing 5-3.25.
Lilly Holmes placed third in both the discus (100-6) and shot put (33-6.75).
Carthage’s girls finished third in the 4×100, with Aven Willis, Sydnee Dudolski, Lexa Youngblood and Hettinger running.
The Tigers were fourth in the 4×400, with Willis, Youngblood, Ashlyn Brust and Maggie Boyd competing. Carthage’s 4×800 relay team of Morelia Reyes-Perez, Ava Bunner, Grace Brown and Boyd took fourth.
For the Carthage boys, Micah Lindsey was the runner-up in the shot put (50-3.5) and took third in the discus (143-9), while Miquel Solano finished fourth in the 800.
The Tigers finished third in the 4×400 relay, with Braxton McBride, Solano, Tyler Burt and Landen Schrader competing. Carthage was fourth in the 4×200 (Schrader, Taye Witherspoon, McBride, Cooper Jadwin).
Neosho’s Tyrese Hill won the 200 in 22.8 seconds and took second in the 100-meter dash (11.06). Kaden Cole was second in the 1600 (4:22) and Isaiah Green was second in the triple jump (42-11.75).
Also for the Wildcats, Eric Bebie finished third in the 110 hurdles, Jared Siler placed fourth in the high jump and Izaiah Hill took fourth in the 400.
Neosho’s boys were fourth in the 4×100, with Brock Franklin, Siler, Evan Haskins and Hill competing.
For the Neosho girls, Madilyn Ebbinghaus was second in the 200 (26.91), Riley Kemna placed third in the 3200 with a time of 11:50 and Beclynn Garrett finished fourth in the javelin with a toss of 112-4.
Class 5 District 6
Boys team standings: Joplin 119.5, Ozark 101.75, Nixa 98.5, Branson 93.75, Neosho 88.75, Republic 88.25, Kickapoo 68.5, Carthage 50, Parkview 26.
Girls team standings: Nixa 165, Branson 94, Kickapoo 88, Ozark 86, Joplin 81, Republic 67, Carthage 54, Parkview 52, Neosho 44.
