Class 3 athletes won six gold medals on Saturday. Here’s a recap on their day, plus a list of other local Class 5 all-state performers.
Cornman Class 3’s best in his “other” sport
Cale Cornman acknowledges that he doesn’t have the most textbook of techniques.
His strategy is basic, but effective.
“I don’t have good form, I think,” Cornman said. “I’m just here because coach wants me to be here. I throw as hard as I can. Sometimes it goes far, sometimes it doesn’t. You never know.
“My form.., you kick, you turn and then you just grunt. You throw it as hard as you can and then it goes wherever it wants to.”
PHOTOS: CLASS 3 STATE TRACK, DAY 2
RESULTS: CLASS 3 STATE TRACK, DAY 2
The Mountain View-Birch Tree/Liberty multi-sport standout topped the Class 3 shot put field, tossing 53’04” on his final attempt. He bested second-place Hunter Simmons of Clinton by three-quarters of an inch.
“This isn’t my main sport, but I want to be an athlete in whatever I can be,” Cornman said. “I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Last fall, Cornman was a dominant two-way lineman for the Eagles football team. This spring, he was Liberty baseball’s top pitcher and hitter.
How does he manage to find time between baseball to throw the shot put and discus?
“It’s rough,” said Cornman, who was fifth in Friday’s Class 3 discus event. “There really isn’t any (extra time). You have to pitch one day, then throw shot put the next. Sometimes it’s rough. You just have to manage yourself.
“I want to do as much as I can for my coach (Darin Acklin). He does everything for me. If he wants me to throw, I’ll throw.”
Cornman admitted that he’s occasionally wondered how much better he could if he spent more time training for the discus and shot put. But those thoughts have been brief.
“I’ve thought about that, but then I think about how long I’d spent just throwing from a circle,” Cornman said. “I’d rather be hitting somebody or throwing a ball.”
Catholic sophomore wins local-dominated 1600
Ozarks distance runners led the 1600 event. In the end, Catholic sophomore Stephen Kielhofner stood above all.
Kielfhofner concluded a banner season of distance running by clocking a 4:17 time to win the Class 3 mile.
The Ozarks filled out the next three spots, with two-time event champion Daylan Quinn of Mountain View-Birch Tree/Liberty second (4:21), Lamar senior Nichols Ray third (4:24) and Strafford’s Shane Burns fourth (4:25). The result kicked off an eventual sweep of the Class 3 distance events by local athletes.
“Daylan Quinn and Nichols Ray, those two guys are amazing seniors and great guys to run with, alongside my teammates,” Kielhofner said.
While Quinn and Ray would later go on to compete in the 800 and 3200 events, the 1600 was Kielhofner’s only action of the day.
He took advantage of that, pressing out from Quinn during the third lap to build a sizeable lead.
“I knew if I wanted to be Daylan Quinn, I’d have to kick starting on the third lap,” Kielhofner said. “Luckily, I had the guts to do that this race. If I had do it any later, I’m sure (Quinn) would have won.”
Kielhofner helped the Irish win the 4×800 relay on Friday. He was also an individual state cross country champ in Class 2, which was key in the Irish claiming in the team title.
Quinn tallies 5th career first-place finish
Daylan Quinn’s specialty has shifted from the mile to the half-mile in recent years, but one thing remains the same: the Mountain View-Birch Tree/Liberty runner continues to deliver gold medals and all-state performances.
In his second of three distance events on the day, Quinn claimed a victory in the 800, crossing the finish line in 1:54.84 to win by nearly two seconds.
For his career, Quinn finishes with five state gold medals and 11 overall all-state performances.
“I’m pretty happy with it,” Quinn said. “In the beginning, I thought I was going to be a 1600 guy. I actually got a coach (Eric Chavez) in Springfield to kind of train me for the 800 and that kind of took off.”
Quinn, who will compete collegiately at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, was the defending Class 3 champ in the 800. Friday’s late-event postponement shifted all three boys distance events to Saturday.
Quinn finished second in the 1600 and 7th in the 3200. In the Class 3 field, he was the only competitor to post a drop (.512) in his second lap.
“The endurance I have, I feel like it helps me through the 800,” Quinn said. “Because most of (the competitors), over time, have turned it into like a sprinters-moved-up-to-800 race, I’ve noticed.”
Ray caps Ozarks’ distance sweep
Nicholas Ray’s victory in the 3200 gave the Ozarks a clean sweep of the Class 3 boys’ distance events. The Lamar senior registered 9:51.64 to win by 15 seconds.
The victory earned Ray his first individual gold medal in high school track competition. He was on Lamar’s first-place 4×800 relay team last year.
Ray said his faith has helped him progress through his senior season.
“The last semester of school, all these decisions like college, stressful school work and all these races, I’ve just been praying,” Ray said. “My motto’s been to trust in God. That’s all I’ve been doing and I know he’s with me every step of the way. He’s guiding me, so I had to do all I could and just glorify Him.”
Earlier in the day, Ray finished third in the 1600 (4:24) and third in the 800 (1:57). He was also the anchor leg on Lamar’s third-place 4×800 relay team on Friday.
For his career, Ray was all-state in 10 state events in which he competed. He helped Lamar win a team title in Class 2 in 2014, taking second in the 4×800 relay, second in the 1600 and fourth in the 800.
Ray traded in his running shoes for basketball sneakers in the winter while at Lamar, filling a role as point guard for the Tigers basketball team.
“For me, it’s good to get a break from cross country and running all summer,” Ray said. “I get a break (in winter). It’s different than just going right back into track. We run a lot in basketball, too, so I think it helps with foot-speed.”
Being in cross country and track had its advantages during preseason basketball practices.
“It’s always funny, the first week of basketball, I’m in the best shape,” said Ray, who’s headed to Pittsburg (Kan.) State. “I’m just running and everyone else is dying from football. I get a kick out of that.”
Lamar finished second in the Class 3 team standings.
El Dorado Springs’ Molz grabs gold again
A year after emerging as one of the state’s elite sprinters, Lance Molz proved one more time that – despite a nagging injury – he’s one of the fastest in the Show-Me State.
The El Dorado Springs senior went 10.63 in the 100 dash to beat Lamar junior Luke Hardman by .02 seconds. Molz’ time was the fastest at state across all five Classes this year and a needed confidence-booster, he said.
“I’ve been going through some injuries this year and sat out some races,” Molz said. “I’ve been kind of doubting myself this year; I only ran in like 4 or 5 meets.
“I was just hoping that I could finish at least Top 2 or Top 3.”
Molz received medical attention after winning the 100. Later, he said he’s battled hip and ankle problems this spring.
Molz concluded his day with a fifth-place effort (22.59) in the 200. Last year, he won the 200 and placed first in the 100. As a sophomore, Molz was all-state in both events.
“It’s a faster (race) now for sure,” Molz said. “The track conditions are obviously a lot better this year. I really wish I could compete with guys I’ve raced in the past while I’m in my prime now, so to say, in high school.”
Molz is headed to Southwest Baptist University in Boliva, where he’ll compete in track.
Reeds Spring has first state gold with 4×100 relay
Finally, Reeds Spring has a state-winning track and field event for the record books.
The Wolves’ 4×100 relay team of Keenan Haynes, Colter Whitten, Korey Robinette and anchor Ransom Allphin crossed the line at 42.57, edging John Burroughs by .42 seconds to earn gold.
It’s the first time a Reeds Spring entrant has ever won a state event.
“We’re all competitive guys and we want to win as bad as anyone out here,” Haynes said. “It’s big for putting Reeds Spring on the map.”
The relay unit – as well as all of Reeds Spring’s track and field athletes – have dealt with adversity this season as the school has been making changes to its football field and track.
“If you look back on the season and all the adversity we’ve faced – we didn’t have a track for the majority of the season; people getting injured and everything, I think it shows a lot of character,” Haynes said.
Reeds Spring finished third in the Class 3 team standings.
The foursome figure to have a good chance to defend their 4×100 relay gold medals next year. Haynes, Whitten, Robinette and Allphin are all juniors.
SATURDAY'S ALL-STATE PERFORMERS
In order of event Saturday
Jordan Owens (MV-BT/Liberty) – Second Place in High Jump
Tawnie Wilson (Mount Vernon) Third Place in High Jump
Jordyn Bartlett (Osage) – Eighth Place in High Jump
Trenton Best (Houston) – Sixth Place in Class 3 110 Hurdles
Dustin Jarobe (Mountain Grove) – Seventh Place in 110 Hurdles
Korey Robinette (Reeds Spring) – Third Place in 100 Dash
Lance Molz (El Dorado Springs) – First Place in 100 Dash
Luke Hardman (Lamar) – Second Place in 100 Dash
Reeds Spring Boys – Place in 4×200 Relay
Lamar Girls – Place in 4×200 Relay
Lamar Boys – Fourth Place in 4×100 Relay
Reeds Spring Boys – Firsth Place in 4×100 Relay
Lamar Girls – Seventh Place in 4×100 Relay
Isaace Mauldin (Fair Grove) – Sixth Place in 400 Dash
Tyler Rensch (Mountain Grove) – Seventh Place in 400 Dash
Allison Smith (MV-BT/Liberty) – Seventh Place in 400 Dash
Luke Hardman (Lamar) – Second Place in 300 Hurdles
Ransom Allphin (Reeds Spring) – Third Place in 300 Hurdles
Kaelyn Sturgell (Lamar) – Fourth Place in 300 Hurdles
Morgan Montgomery (Aurora) – Eighth Place in 300 Hurdles
Reeds Spring Girls – Fifth in 4×800 Relay
East Newton Girls – Seventh in 4×800 Relay
Stephen Kielhofner (Catholic) – First in 1600
Daylan Quinn (MV-BT/Liberty) – Second in 1600
Nicholas Ray (Lamar) – Third in 1600
Shane Burns (Strafford) Fourth in 1600
Daylan Quinn (MV-BT/Liberty) – First in 800
Nicholas Ray (Lamar) – Third in 800
Lachlan Moore (Catholic) – Fifth in 800
Korey Robinette (Reeds Spring) – Second in 200 Dash
Luke Hardman (Lamar) – Fifth in 200 Dash
Bailey Ray (Ava) – Fourth in 3200
Nicholas Ray (Lamar) – First in 3200
Jesse Compton (Lamar) – Fifth in 3200
Caleb Stillings (Ava) – Sixth in 3200
Daylan Quinn (MV-BT/Liberty) – Seventh in 3200
Coti Beem (Lamar) – Sixth in Pole Vault
Garrett Miller (Reeds Spring) – 1st in Javelin
Jason Edwards (Osage) – Second in Javelin
Thomas Ayers (Lamar) – Third in Javelin
Austin Starkey (Buffalo) – Fourth in Javelin
Cooper Lucas (Lamar) – Eighth in Javelin
Kyle Kapella (Hollister) – Eighth in High Jump
Cale Cornman (Liberty) – First in Shot Put
Hayden Wingo (Fair Grove) – Third in Shot Put
Reeds Spring Boys – Third in 4×400 Relay
Mountain Grove Boys – Fifth in 4×400 Relay
