The 2016 MSHSAA State Track and Field Champions are underway. Here’s a recap of Class 2’s action from Friday in Jefferson City.
Johnson pulls off epic comeback to help College Heights Christian win 4×800
The transformation is more akin to The Flash than The Hulk, but you definitely don’t want to make College Heights Christian junior Jonathan Johnson mad on the track.
The anchor on College Heights Christian’s 4×800 relay used his anger to his benefit, overcoming a close call down the stretch to give the Cougars a victory (8:12.26) in the day’s opening track event.
“I’ve been thinking about this race the past couple of weeks,” Johnson said. “I knew it was going to be close. It’s just one of those in-the-moment things, you have a lot depending on you.
“I wanted to do it for our team and for our senior (Paul Sherrod) because I know he really wanted this.”
The finish came down to a neck-and-neck sprint by Cleveland N.J.R.O.T.C sophomore Joshua Garner and Johnson, who trailed by two seconds when he started his leg.
PHOTOS: CLASS 2 STATE TRACK DAY 1
Coming down the stretch, Garner had a slight step on Johnson from the outside with about 75 meters to go, before making an aggressive move inside to the first lane, blocking Johnson’s path. The move forced Johnson to take a brief pause, shift to the second lane, and beat Garner to the finish line, topping him by .30 seconds.
“The last 200 meters we were just battling,” said Johnson, who ran a blitzing 1:55.965 leg. “Once he cut me off, that kind of got me a little mad so I just gave it all that I had.”
Afterwards, Johnson was visibly exhausted. He vomited and had to be helped by relay teammates Paul Sherrod, Bennett Satterlee and Scott Lewis over to the medalist tent.
Later, he struggled to remain on his feet during the medalist presentation ceremony and at one point collapsed behind the podium. Too physically drained to walk back to his tent, Johnson was sprawled out near the tent for roughly 10-15 minutes, resting under the shade, before finally giving his thoughts on the race.
“This is the first time I’ve ever felt this way,” Johnson said. “I was throwing up. This is the first time I’ve thrown up after a race before.”
Evidently, Johnson had a little more left in the tank. He finished his day by advancing in three prelim events, finishing 7th in the 200 (22.99), 3rd in the 400 (49.81) and serving as the starter on CHC’s first-place 4×400 relay (3:29.41).
Stock repeats as 2-mile champ in Class 2
Last year in Jefferson City, Joe Stock was admittedly a nervous wreck. In his return trip, Stock acted – and performed – like a calm, collected veteran.
The Crane senior claimed a second straight gold medal in the Class 2 3200. Stock’s 9:52.91 finish shaved 9 seconds off his previous PR.
“(The pressure) didn’t feel quite as bad this year,” Stock said. “Last year, I was so nervous. I couldn’t talk to anyone, I was freaking out in my head. Being able to run at that level last year, it gave (me) that small boost of confidence like, ‘I did this last year, I did great. Everyone else around, they’re the best of the best and they help push you to succeed to where you want to be.’”
Stock said his goals were to win the event and break the 10-minute barrier. Stock eventually pulled away from Bishop LeBlond’s Jack Hausman, who placed second, to win by 3.5 seconds.
RESULTS: CLASS 2 STATE TRACK DAY 1
“I decided to stay with the pack and see how fast they were running because the second-place guy, he got jacked. He was going pretty good,” Stock said. “I was like, ‘All right, I’ll stick with him the first mile then I’ll push it after that and hopefully I’ll get under 10 (minutes).’ I did. I’m with happy with how I did today.”
Thanks to some local faces racing alongside him in Friday’s event, Stock said he felt at ease. Morrisville senior Keaton Wheeler (4th, 10:02.13) and Sparta senior Tristan Eaton (5th, 10:06.63) were all-state finishers as well.
“We were warming up over to the side, just talking, and it helped ease that nervousness everyone had,” Stock said. “Being about to run with them the whole way (to state), you have competition. I know some districts, they don’t have a lot of competition so when you get to state, they’re like, “Oh dang, these guys are way faster than what I’ve been running against. Having that steady competition (locally) helps a lot.”
Kisling wins triple jump, looks to go out with a bang
Lath Kisling hopes to leave a lasting legacy with the Sarcoxie Track and Field program.The senior took his first step toward that goal Friday, amid his final weekend of state track.
Kisling – who swept the Class 2 triple jump, high jump and long jump events last season – began his quest for a duplicate performance by winning Friday’s triple jump (44’8’5”).
His 2016 mark in the state triple jump doesn’t match last year’s effort of 45’0”, but Kisling is taking a team-first approach in an effort to put the Bears in contention among the Class 2 team standings.
“I would like to (PR) in every event, but I just want to go for points for my school,” Kisling said. “That’s my biggest goal: get as many points as I can for my school.”
With high jump, long jump and a finals appearance in the 200 ahead Saturday, Kisling’s hungry to earn more points for the Bears. Sarcoxie enters Saturday sitting in sixth-place (10 points) in the Class 2 team standings after Kisling’s second straight gold-medal performance in the triple jump.
“If I PR, that’s great, I just want to get all four gold (medals),” Kisling said. “That’s my biggest goal. The school I go to isn’t very big, so I just want to show all the younger kids that you can do it. If you love it enough, you can do it. You just have to work hard.”
Class 2 boys notables
The Skyline boys will compete in seven finals events on Saturday in their quest for a repeat state championship.
Skyline junior Shawn Bryan (42’4”) was fifth in the triple jump. Madison Davis (400, 200), Tyler Swearingin (100), Dylan Mountain (110 hurdles) and Skyline’s 4×100 relay team won their respective prelim heats.
Pierce City’s Brayden Miller was all-state in the discus (6th, 140’04”).
SWCL members Crane (8:30.77) and Clever (8:31.51) were all-state in the 4×800 relay, finishing 7th and 8th, respectively.
Class 2 girls notables
Ash Grove will compete in all four girls’ relay finals tomorrow. The Pirates advance from Friday’s prelim heats in the 4×100 (6th place, 52.16), 4×200 (1st place, 1:48.51) and 4×400 (3rd, 4:13.97).
Cole Camp freshman Tayler Gudde won the 1600 (5:19.11).
Crane freshman Madison Hicks finished 4th in the long jump, posting a mark of 17’3.25”. Hicks was just two inches shy of state champion Josie Fortney of East Buchanan, who went 17’5.25”.