The Neosho High School boys track and field team made history on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats captured the team championship at the 2023 Central Ozark Conference Track Meet at Ozark High School.
It’s Neosho’s first conference title in boys track as a member of the COC.
Neosho’s boys track program last won a conference title in 2005 as a member of the Southwest Conference.
With that, it’s safe to say Wednesday night was a memorable one for the Wildcats.
“This year our team motto has been ‘Victory Takes Payment in Advance’ and we have fully embraced that motto,” Neosho coach Randy Mustain said. “I am extremely proud of the boys and the way they competed as a team and the way they supported each other throughout the competition.”
The conference meet ended in thrilling fashion for the Wildcats.
Neosho was in second place in the team standings behind Webb City ahead of the 4×400-meter relay, the night’s final event.
Coming up big, Neosho’s 4×400 relay team of Isaiah Keezer, Will Ebbinghaus, Isaiah Green and Izaiah Hill won the race with a time of 3:26.
The 10 points for the event victory pushed Neosho past Webb City (129.33 to 123) for the top spot in the final team standings, giving the Wildcats the championship plaque.
Mustain noted the Wildcats were not favored to win the meet.
“Going into the meet we were projected to finish second behind Nixa by four points,” Mustain said. “We challenged our kids in some areas that we were showing weakness and they rose to the occasion.”
In a stellar showing, Neosho won seven events and took second in two others.
Overall, the Wildcats recorded 20 top-eight performances.
“We were confident in our big points contributors and they did their jobs in delivering those points in the jumps, sprints and relays,” Mustain said. “Our kids in the distance group and throws have been working extremely hard improving every week knowing they will continue to play a big role in our championship season success.”
Senior sprinter Tyrese Hill won a pair of individual events, the 100-meter dash (10.87 seconds) and the 200 (22.37).
Also winning individual events for the Wildcats were junior Izaiah Hill (400), senior Jared Siler (long jump) and fellow senior Green (triple jump).
Neosho won two relays.
In addition to the 4×400, the Wildcats took first in the 4×200 relay in 1:30, with Tyrese Hill, Izaiah Hill, Keezer and Tyrone Harris competing.
The 4×100 relay team of Brock Franklin, Tyrese Hill, Siler and Harris finished second in 43.46 seconds.
The 4×800 relay featuring Carson Newell, Gabe Mabrey, Ebbinghaus and Brock Pyle finished fifth.
Green finished second in the long jump and was eighth in the 400, while Jared Siler was third in both the triple jump and high jump.
Also for the Wildcats, Izaiah Hill placed fourth in the 200, Konnor Siler was fourth in the 100, Newell finished fourth in the 800, Keezer took fifth in the 400, Carter Baslee finished sixth in the discus and eighth in the shot put and Collyn Kivett was sixth in the javelin.
Neosho will be among the teams competing at the Class 5 District 6 meet on May 13 at Carthage High School.
Mustain noted his team’s work is far from over, as there are plenty of goals still to reach.
“We’re looking forward to a very exciting finish to our season, as we now gear up to attack a 42-year-old drought between district championships,” he said.
RELATED STORY: TRACK & FIELD: Neosho boys win COC Meet, Webb City takes 2nd – SoMo Sports (somo-sports.com)
