By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Kickapoo runners swept the four hurdle events at Tuesday’s Nixa Invitational, as sophomore Jaden Wiley and senior Adrian Davis each raced to double victories.
Wiley posted a 100 meter hurdle time of 15.74 seconds, holding off Carl Junction’s Alexia Miller (16.27) and Poplar Bluff’s Khelie Spence (16.42) in the race.
Wiley struggled a bit in her signature event, the 300 meter hurdles; however, the 2017 Class 5 state champion quickly adjusted mid-race without losing ground.
“I felt pretty good coming over the first hurdle, but then I stuttered on the last couple,” Wiley said. “I had to switch my lead leg, but I got it back and felt better. I want to try to get my form better and, in between the hurdles, sprint faster to get to the next one.”
Wiley finished in a winning of 46.17, over three seconds ahead of second-place teammate Kelcey Brown (49.38) and Nixa’s Lisette Perez (49.42).
Wiley also helped pace the Lady Chiefs to a second-place finish in the 4×200 meter relay.
In the boys 110 meter high hurdles, Davis utilized a quick start and precise technique to pull ahead after the second set of hurdles en route to a 15.81 victory.
“The first couple always set the tone,” Davis said. “You just got to be able to get fast over the first two, and then the rest are just rhythm. All the way down the road, I just need to make sure I can stay clean at all times.”
Poplar Bluff’s Isaiah Johnson (16.00) and Rufus Ward (16.09) finished second and third in the race.
Davis held off Johnson in the 300 meter hurdles, as well, finishing with a time of 40.73 to Johnson’s 41.90. Kickapoo teammate William Lynch took third place in 42.78.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MEET
Owen stakes early claim as SWMO’s fastest athlete
After winning the 100 meter dash in a deep field at last week’s Hillcrest Invitational, Destin Owen proved it was no fluke Tuesday.
The Republic senior raced to an 11.11 second victory in another strong field, despite a sluggish start out of the blocks.
“Honestly, I didn’t have the greatest start,” Owen said. “I saw people beside me, and I’m usually by myself, but I got across the finish line and ended up running a one-one-one. That was the best time so far this year. Makes me want to work even harder to get into those sub-(11’s).”
Carl Junction’s Weston Wendt finished second (11.23), and Poplar Bluff’s Wyatt Murphy was third (11.30).
In the 200 meter dash, the two rivals switched spots, as Wendt won the race in 22.68 seconds to Owen’s second-place time of 23.07.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS OF THE MEET
Sampson edges out rival in high jump duel of area leaders
Tied for the area’s second-best coming into the meet at 5-04, Reeds Spring’s Tara Sampson and Republic’s Avy Powell-qualo had yet another opportunity to settle the early-season score.
Both finished with marks of 5-02 at last week’s Girls Night Out event in Springfield, and each managed to clear the same height Tuesday, leading to a one-on-one challenge at 5-04.
After Sampson cleared the bar on her first attempt, Powell-qualo was unable to successfully navigate the height.
Sampson’s run at 5-06 would have netted her a school record; however, the Lady Wolves’ senior fell short on her third attempt.
“It felt like a good day, today,” Sampson said. “I was hoping to get the school record, but it’s getting there. It’s scary, because that’s a higher height, so I was just trying to clear my head and everything. I felt good in the air, but it’s just fear killing me right now. I just need to work on my kick.”
Roemen overcomes early miscues in high jump victory
It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but Lukas Roemen will certainly take the victory.
The Nixa junior missed at least once during each height he attempted before finally clearing the bar to advance.
After clearing 6-0 on his final jump, Roemen’s second attempt at 6-02 turned out to be the meet winner. Teammate Nolan Volce and Carl Junction’s Brendan Jewell both went out at the same height.
Afterwards, Roemen attributed the early miscues to fatigue from a busy weekend.
“I was struggling pretty much the entire meet with scratches,” Roemen said. “I was just kind of fatigued from the weekend with basketball and stuff. The last one, I was like, ‘Well, this is it, so I might as well make this one count.’ I tried to make it as powerful as possible and tried really hard to work on my form.”
