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By Josh Hall
JEFFERSON CITY – Camdenton track and field coach John McNabb didn’t want to tell his girls 4×400-meter relay team it needed a first-place finish to win a state title.
But the group of Natalie Basham, Clare Holmes, Grace Wormek and Kylie Meier had already been doing the math in their heads. They knew what was at stake when they walked to the starting line.
Trailing two runners with 200 meters to go, Meier edged the competition at the very end to lift the Lady Lakers to a first-place finish in the race and solidify their Class 4 state championship on Saturday at Licklinder Track Complex in Jefferson City.
“I’m just so proud of everyone here,” said Meier, who also defended her title in the 300-meter hurdles earlier in the day. “We do individual events, but we’re always cheering each other on as a team. We’re always super supportive of each other, and that’s what helps us get where we are.”
McNabb, now in his 29th year coaching track, had not had a team score more than 18 points at the state level, prior to Saturday.
Camdenton finished with 57 points, while MICDS came in second with 56 in the event, which incurred a six-hour delay due to inclement weather
“Unbelievable,” Holmes said. “Just absolutely unbelievable. It’s just unreal, especially as a freshman, I wouldn’t be here without these girls.”
McKnabb knew it was believable. The veteran coach knew he had a special group from Day 1.
“I knew that was possible when we started the season,” McNabb said. “I had high hopes that we’d be out here accepting a trophy of some kind, back then. But I don’t know I ever dreamed about where we are.”
The Lady Lakers also received an individual gold from Basham in the 100-meter hurdles. Meier came in third in that event, while Alexia Miller of Carl Junction finished second in the event.
The Lady Lakers 4×200-meter relay team of Katheryne Blackman, Wormek, Meir and Basham earned a third-place finish, while Wormek helped pace the team with a bronze medal in the 200.
“It’s a dream come true, for sure,” Basham said. “We’ve been waiting for this day and it finally came. We work so hard in practice. It’s a phenomenal experience and feeling.”
In the end, it came down to the final race of the evening.
Camdenton finished the 4×400-meter relay in 3:59.64. Parkway Central was second at 3:59.79 and Webster Groves was third at 4:00.39.
The Lady Lakers will look to be a force again next year. Holmes is a freshman, Basham is a sophomore, while Wormek and Meier are both juniors.
“I would say last year, we knew we were all really good,” Wormek said. “But this year we really kicked it in gear. We pushed ourselves and each other to the best of our abilities. We are just so overjoyed with everyone on the team. We’re excited to come back again next year and do it again.”
Bonham takes second in shot put
Kasey Bonham was seeded eighth entering the finals of the shot put.
The West Plains junior was confident she could finish better than that.
Bohham exceeded her seed by finishing second with a throw of 40-7.50.
“It just gave me more focus and I had more hope going into this event,” Bonham said. “I wasn’t placed as high. Coming in I was seeded eighth, but I knew what I could do. This feels good.”
Bonham said she got off to a rough start to the season, but put it all together when it mattered most.
“I peaked at districts and started getting where I needed to be to come to state,” she said. “I was scared I wouldn’t ever get back to where I was, but my technique just got better and I eventually got to where I wanted.”
Weber and Roy both earn silvers
Sporting a message that says ‘Search and Destroy’ on her hand, Tabitha Weber wanted to save her best performance for last.
The senior from Marshfield got her wish with a second-place finish in the 1,600-meter run in 5:03.56.
“To go out with a silver in the mile is just a dream come true and a blessing,” Weber said. “I definitely wanted to make sure I go out with a bang in (personal records). For the mile, I was able to get that PR.”
Weber finished just behind Washington junior Mikayla Reed, who won the race in 5:02.52. Bolivar sophomore Kelie Henderson was fourth at 5:10.33.
“In my mind I was thinking of people I need to stick with, which is Kelie Henderson and Mikayla Reed,” said Weber, who finished fourth in the event as a junior. “I know if I stick with them I’m going to go under my PRs and I’m going to come out really happy with where my results are.”
Webb City junior Camilla Roy edge said her second-place finish in the 800 meter will just fuel the fire for next year.
After leading for most of the race, Roy was edged in the final meters by Platte County’s Rebekah Geddes. Geddes won the race in 2:17.66, while Roy finished right behind at 2:17.82.
“Overall, I think it was okay,” Roy said. “I just wish it would have been a little better. Obviously I need to work on my finishes. I’m just not strong enough yet. I’m excited for next year.”
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