The Cassville boys and girls track and field teams took a total of 13 athletes to the Class 3 State Championship Friday and Saturday, and six returned with All-State honors.
Bradan Dickinson led the field with a third-place finish in shot put, throwing for 16.44 meters (53-11.25) to set a new school record. The winner threw for 17.02 (55-10.25).
Cassville’s other individual medalist was Riley Morris, who took seventh in discus with a throw of 33.91 meters (111-3), also setting a new school record. The winner in that event threw for 37.23 meters (122-02).
Rounding out the medalists was the 4×800 relay team of Marianne McCrackin, Tori Mitchell, Annie Moore and Jolie Evans. The group ran the race in 10:14.61, good for eighth place, 31 seconds behind the winner.
Clay Weldy, Cassville boys track coach, said Dickinson, who placed fifth last year, had been working up to the best throw of his career.
“I’m so proud of him,” Weldy said. “The last three meets — district, sectional and state — he threw a personal record every time. He set it in Nixa mid-season, then he beat it three times, and his last throw at state was the best of his life.”
Weldy said the 4×800 relay team and Caleb Leach in the 1600-meter run both performed well, though they fell outside of medaling.
“They ran well and good times, and they are all juniors, so hopefully we are back here next year,” Weldy said. “It was a good chance for them to come before their senior year and see what we need to work toward for next year.”
The team hopes that experience will pay off in 2023.
“Bradan and Peter [Littlefield] we the only two returners, so three new guys got to go,” Weldy said. “It’s a long weekend, but it’s a fun weekend because you get to see so many kids in three classes, and fast kids, and that serves as motivation.”
Full boys results include:
3rd place
Bradan Dickinson, shot put, 16.44m (school record)
12th place
Charles Elliott, Jacob Martinez, Caleb Leach and Peter Littlefield, 4×800 relay, 8:35.07
14th place
Caleb Leach, 1600m, 4:44.60
Full girls results include:
7th place
Riley Morris, discus, 33.91m (111-03) (school record)
8th place
Marianne McCrackin, Tori Mitchell, Annie Moore and Jolie Evans, 4×800 relay, 10:14.61
10th place
Sharayah Seymour, Jolie Evans, Annie Moore and Jadyn Williams, 4×400 relay, 4:20.68
12th place
Annie Moore, pole vault, 2.52m (8-03.25)
15th place
Landry Parnell, javelin, 28.42m (93-02)
Erin Flehmer, Cassville girls track coach, could not be reach for comment by presstime.