By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
NIXA — Both Nixa track teams made the home crowd happy on Saturday by claiming team titles in both the boys and girls competition. The boys won outright with 164 points, which was well ahead of runner-up Kickapoo with 101.
The girls tied with Republic for the team title with each team scoring 141 points. Ozark was third with 113 points.
BOYS RECAP
Nixa’s boys won the team championship, with Jackson Cantwell sweeping the shot put (74-9 3/4) and discus (179-1).
Cantwell was pleased Nixa moved the shot put ring to the track infield in an effort to showcase the Eagles’ national standout.
The crowd clapped in anticipation prior to Cantwell’s final few throws.
“It was incredible,” Cantwell said. “It was one of the best ideas coach (Lance) Brumley, coach (Kenzie) Medley and coach (Kelly) Fields have ever had. A couple weeks ago they talked about potentially moving us to the infield. I didn’t know what to think at first. Our ring turned out really well. I think it was a great success.”
Nixa also received firsts from its 4 x 100 relay (42.25) and Afton Hopkins in the pole vault (14-6).
Noah Soriano couldn’t have asked for both his move from Joplin to Neosho and his comeback from a broken right leg to have gone any better.
Soriano was a Class 5 District 6 two-time champion Saturday, as he won the 100 with a time of 10.96 and ran the anchor leg on the Wildcats’ winning 4 x 200 relay.
Soriano teamed with Izaiah Hill, Isaiah Keezer and Phoenix Ratigan to set a school record of 1:27.86 in the 4 x 200 relay.
“That was the best handoffs we’ve had all season, and it was also the first time the four of us have run together,” Soriano said.
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The foursome broke Neosho’s former school record by more than a full second.
“We beat it by a pretty big spread,” Soriano said. “It shows how hard we’ve been working. We love to give it our all. I’m really proud of us.”
Soriano, a junior, transferred from Joplin to Neosho at the start of this school year.
“It was like a fresh start. I needed it and wanted it,” Soriano said. “I’m very happy I moved to Neosho. I’m loving it. I’m thankful for my teammates and I love them. The work ethic is phenomenal. I love the competition at practices. Everyone pushes me to be a better athlete.
“I’m very thankful,” he added. “Having all the support I do, it makes you mentally stronger and you automatically become physically stronger, too.”
Soriano’s right leg continues to get stronger, as well. His sophomore season at Joplin ended in April a year ago when he broke the leg while pole-vaulting.
“I was vaulting 15-4. It was a really cold day and I landed feet first. It just snapped,” Soriano said. “It’s been a pretty long recovery. But it’s been a great recovery.
“(The right leg) is still weaker than my left one. But it does the job,” he added. “The endurance is improving. I haven’t done a lot of weights (training) with it, more so speed training, fast-twitch muscle (exercises) and ankle mobility. With football coming up, I’ll be able to prioritize (weights). By next year, I’ll be running way better than this year. That’s the goal.”
Neosho showed off its speed, with Hill winning the 200 (22.05) and 400 (49.15). Also, Hill, Keezer, Rhatigan and William Ebbinghaus placed first in the 4 x 400 relay (3:23.65).
Webb City’s Evan Stevens was dominant in the long distance events. He won the 1,600 (4:24.63) and 3,200 (9:29) and ran the anchor leg on the Cardinals’ winning 4 x 800 relay (8:03).
Went City’s Tucker Liberatore was also dominant while winning the javelin (164-6) by more than 12 feet.
Branson’s Chris Vineyard took first in the 110 hurdles (14.99), despite a rough start.
“I hit the second and third hurdles,” Vineyard said. “I clipped (the hurdles) with my ankle, but (still had a) 14.99. Usually, I’m a strong finisher and a strong starter, but not today. Hopefully, sectionals will be a different story. Maybe I can get a 14.6 or 14.5 or hopefully a 14.4.”
Branson’s Tristen Bough turned in a time of 1:55.90 to win the 800.
Joplin’s Aiden Scourten won the triple jump (44-2 3/4).
Republic’s Zion Allen took first in both the high jump (6-4 3/4) and long jump (22-1 3/4).
Carthage’s Daryl Martin breezed to a victory in the 300 hurdles (40.79).
GIRLS RECAP
On the girls’ side, Joplin’s Brylee Strickland and Nixa’s Taylor Hopper finished 1-2 in each of the sprints.
Stickland won the 100 (12.29) while Hopper was second (12.61). Next, Strickland won the 400 (58.85) while Hopper was second (1:00.43). Lastly, Hopper won the 200 (25.29) while Strickland was second (25.45).
“I was just trying to beat (Strickland),” Hopper said. “She’s great, she’s fast. I was thinking, ‘Run for your freakin’ life.’”
Hopper helped Nixa finish in a tie for the team championship with Republic.
Nixa also received firsts from Olivia Reed in the long jump (18-5 3/4) and Eva Williams in the pole vault (11-6 1/4).
Joplin’s 4 x 100 relay was first in 48.98.
Republic’s Gracie Troester won by less than seven-tenths of a second in the 1,600 in 5:04.29. Troester also won the 3,200 (11:13).
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Republic also received firsts Jenna Belcher in the triple jump (37-4), Avery Rossow in the discus (115-3), Alaina Norman in the javelin (125-0) and shot put (38-7 3/4) and from its 4 x 200 relay (1:45.66) and 4 x 400 relay (4:02).
Ozark’s Bria Wright swept the 100 hurdles (15.03) and 300 hurdles (46.73).
Webb City’s Brooke Hedger took first in the 800 (2:20), while the Lady Cardinals’ Chase Stiller won the high jump (5-3) and their 4 x 800 relay was first (8:03).
