A pair of seniors led the way for area athletes in Saturday’ Class 3 state track and field championships in Jefferson City.
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Cassville’s Wilson finishes 2nd in 400
Cassville’s Austin Wilson finished in the middle of the qualifying pack in Friday’s prelims.
He saved his best for last in the 400.
The SBU commit ran 50.17 – .20 seconds better than his Friday qualifying time – to finish in second place.
“I was happy to make it through prelims yesterday and get the chance to run against some great kids in the finals today,” Wilson said. “We did some great things.”
Cardinal Ritter junior Jameson Williams won with a time of 48.68.
The conditions – low 90s and plenty of humidity – didn’t seem to affect Wilson much.
“Everyone runs better in the heat in the 400 because it relaxes your muscles,” Wilson said. “You have a tendency to get really tense in this race. It helps you relax a little more, actually.”
Reeds Spring’s Baker collects second all-state finish
On a boys’ team that’s been known for its sprinters in recent years, Asa Baker showed that the Wolves can throw a bit, too.
His throw of 50’10.5” placed him fourth in the shot put. He also finished in fifth place in Friday’s discus event.
Baker admitted he had some “what if?” feelings during the shot put. He fouled on a throw that went “53 or 54 feet,” he said.
A mark in that range would’ve put him in contention to win. Chillicothe senior Walker Graves won with a throw of 54’08.50”.
“You just have to try to do it again and prove to yourself you’re capable of it,” Baker said.
Baker’s signed to play football at Lindenwood University in St. Charles. He said he’s also considering doing track in the spring.
“It’s sad to know I’m never going to be here again, but it’s been a fun experience,” Baker said. “It’s always fun to come out and compete like I did and perform really well.”
Other notable performances
Track
• Catholic senior Stephen Kielhofner took third in the 1600 (4:27.42). Lamar sophomore Kolin Overstreet finished fourth (4:27.76). Overstreet also placed fourth in the 800.
• Hollister senior Michael Morris ran 22.46 to place fourth in the 200.
• Ava’s 4×400 relay of Joshua Gillies, Michael Lane, Connor Moran and Stephen Copeland finished fourth (1:31.22).
• Reeds Spring’s 4×100 girls relay of Izabelle Erickson, Shelby Strailey, Ashley Nolan and Paige Rantz (50.00) finished fifth.
• Stockton’s all-senior 4×400 relay team of Payten Saulters, Cody Bock, Joseph Dearman and Kendall Roberts finished fifth (3:26.93). Lamar was sixth.
• El Dorado Springs senior Ashley Knoll posted a sixth-place finish in the 3200 (11:52.19).
Field
• Reeds Spring freshman Paige Rantz finished third in the girls’ pole vault (11’03”).
• Mt. Vernon freshman Sadie Heisener placed fourth in the triple jump (35’05.25”), seventh in the pole vault and seventh in the 100 hurdles.
• Mt. Vernon junior Elijah Bolin finished fourth in the boys’ javelin (159’03”).
• Salem’s Baylee Bilyeu took fourth in the girls’ discus (129’03”).
• Salem’s JD Bowling (50’10.25”) placed fifth and Cassville’s Skyler Wolf (47’02”) in the shot put.
