The Skyline boys are bringing home a second straight team title, while a Clever junior pulled off an “upset” win in the 800.
All that, and more, from Day 2 of the Class 2 track and field championships in Jefferson City.
Skyline boys go back-to-back
The best boys’ class ever at Skyline High School?
Skyline’s 2016 group certainly has a strong case, after playing a large part in the Tigers winning a second straight Class 2 state track and field championship.
Senior Madison Davis (48.95) was a repeat champion in the 400 and also claimed his first 200 gold medal (22.41), after placing 7th in the latter event a year ago.
PHOTOS: DAY 2 CLASS 2 STATE TRACK
Along with a victory in the 4×100 relay, the Tigers posted 65 total points over the two-day event, besting second-place Cleveland N.J.R.O.T.C. (53 points).
“This really wraps it up and makes it special for all of us,” Davis said. “That way, not just I can celebrate, but we can all celebrate together. It makes it that much better.”
Davis was already one of the state’s best in the 400, but dedicated training helped him drop about .75 seconds from his 2015 state time in the 200.
“I took my block work more seriously and worked on my start,” Davis said. “The back-stretch, with the strides and everything, really helped. It came into play in the 400, too, so I’m glad it all worked out.”
Skyline repeated in the 4×100 (43.56), with 2015 unit members and current seniors Richard Berry, Dylan Mountain and anchor Tyler Swearingin all back. Junior Shawn Bryan replaced 2015 graduate Colton Wouters in the group as the Tigers improved their state finals time by .43 seconds from last season.
“We’re all sprinters. Top seed is what we’re good at,” Swearingin said. “Our hand-offs are great, we have a lot of communication. Hand-offs are a key in the 4×100 because you can drop off a split-second, a half-second. (Our speed) goes all the way back to football, (coach Brandon) Shelby training us with that, too, it brings it all together and helps up post those great times.”
Other all-state finishers for Skyline on Saturday included: Mountain (2nd 300 hurdles and 3rd 110 hurdles); Swearingin (3rd, 100 dash, 4th 200 dash) the 4×400 relay (3rd). On the girls’ side, Brittany Blankenship placed 7th in the 100 hurdles.
The state championship gives the Tigers’ 2016 seniors a more satisfying end to the third and final high school sports season, after the football team lost in the state semifinals and the basketball team had its season end in the quarterfinals.
“We say that we’re the best (class) to ever go through Skyline,” said Davis, who’s headed to Evangel University in Springfield for football and track. “Athletically and educationally, we balance both. Football we had a great run, one game short. Basketball we had a great run, one game short. I’m just glad we got to finish it today.”
Strong finish gives Clever’s Christoffer gold in 800
A hip injury prevented him from making a state appearance last season, but Matthew Christoffer’s hips – and everything else – looked pretty fine in the final 150 meters or so of the 800.
The Clever junior kicked his way to a surprise state gold medal, pulling away for good down the stretch as he clocked a 1:57.88. This from an individual who was seeded middle-of-the-pack heading into the event.
“I was coming in fourth, running my best time that I had ran this year,” Christoffer said. “Yesterday, in the 4×800, I ran 1:59 which kind of lifted my spirits. It kind of gave me hope for winning today and then I just paced myself with the person in front, then beat him in the end.”
The confidence from the 4×800 leg was evident Saturday, as Christoffer’s trademark save-everything-for-last strategy worked. As a sophomore last season, Christoffer suffered a season-ending hip injury in sectionals.
“I pretty much do that in all my races that are over 400 meters,” Christoffer said. “I kind of conserve myself and then use everything I have left, because the race is over after that so you might as well put in everything you’ve got left.”
Christoffer was one of two SWCL athletes to win gold on Saturday. Crane’s Joe Stock, who won repeated as the 3200 champ on Friday, went 4:33.34 to win the 1600.
Class 2 all-state notables
Locally, we had 121 all-state performances at Class 1 & 2 state track this weekend, including 90 on Saturday. Here’s a list of all-state performers in Class 2.
CLASS 2 ALL-STATE BOYS
Madison Davis (Skyline) – 1st in 200
Madison Davis (Skyline) – 1st in 400
Joe Stock (Crane) – 1st in 1600
Skyline – 1st in 4×100
Lath Kisling (Sarcoxie) – 1st in Long Jump
Dylan Mountain (Skyline) – 2nd in 300 Hurdles
Matthew Christoffer (Clever) – 2nd in 400
Tristan Eaton (Sparta) – 2nd in 1600
Lath Kisling (Sarcoxie) – 2nd in High Jump
Hunter Wilkins (Morrisville) – 2nd in 110 Hurdles
Skyline – 3rd in 4×400
Caleb Mooney (Richland) – 3rd in 300 Hurdles
Jonathan Johnson (College Heights) – 3rd in 400
Dylan Mountain (Skyline) – 3rd in 110 Hurdles
Tyler Swearingin (Skyline) – 3rd in 100 dash
Tyler Sewaringin (Skyline) – 4th in 200
Mason Cockrum (Alton) – 4th in 100 Dash
Brandon Watts (Ash Grove) – 5th in 110 Hurdles
Hunter Wilkins (Morrisville) – 6th in 300 Hurdles
Caden Wyatt (Plato) – 7th in 300 Hurdles
Brandyn Hoover (Plato) – 7th in 1600
Jonathan Johnson (College Heights) – 7th in 200
Brandon Watts (Ash Grove) – 8th in 300 Hurdles
Chris Comerford (Sarcoxie) – 8th in 100 Dash
CLASS 2 ALL-STATE GIRLS
Olivia Doto (Crane) – 2nd in Shot Put
Mackenzie Ryan (Clever) – 2nd in 100 Hurdles
Ash Grove – 3rd in 4×200
Ash Grove – 3rd in 4×100
Madison Hicks (Crane) – 3rd in 400
Ash Grove – 3rd in 4×400
Scott Lewis (College Heights) – 4th in 800
Mallory Keith (Ash Grove) – 4th in 400
Sydnee Cashio (Ash Grove) – 4th in Shot Put
Lainy Williams (Cole Camp) – 5th in High Jump
Cole Camp – 5th in 4×800
Jasmine Garrison (Sarcoxie) – Sarcoxie
Ash Grove – 6th in 4×800
Cole Camp – 6th in 4×400
Crane – 7th in 4×400
Brittany Blankenship (Skyline) – 7th in 100 Hurdles
Erin Hall (Ash Grove) – 7th in 3200
Sarcoxie – 8th in 4×800
Madison Hicks (Crane) – 8th in Triple Jump
McKenzie Cook (Licking) – 8th in 300 Hurdles
Lauren Sisco (Alton) – 8th in 3200
