District meet on Saturday
Cassville saw 16 of its boys and girls track and field athletes medal at the Big 8 Conference Meet, and the teams are now focused on the stair steps to state.
Nine Wildcats and seven Lady Wildcats earned All-Conference status in Monett on May 2, and the boys set a new school record in the 4×400 relay. As a team, the girls took second place overall, and the boys were fifth.
Clay Weldy, Cassville boys track coach, said as the team narrows its gaze to specific events and state qualification times, continuing the work ethic is on each team member’s mind.
“Well we are not [medaling at state] yet, but our senior group has worked extremely hard this year,” he said. “They put in a lot of work on their own in the offseason and in the weight room to make themselves better going into this season. I’ve been very proud of how this group has performed all season.”
That senior group hopes to qualify multiple distance races and field events, from the individual 1600-meter to the 4×800 relay and high jump.
“We have a very strong distance group this season, so we believe we will get several through in distance events and relays,” Weldy said. “We are hoping we can get some field events, through and maybe our sprint relays. The whole season is about building to this time of year so that we are peaking in May. So just staying with plan we have been working with throughout the season and making the needed tweaks.”
Weldy said one thing working in the boys’ favor is their competitive natures, striving to make each other better.
“They are a competitive group, but they are very supportive of each other,” he said. “They constantly push each other in practice and in meets, but it is always done in a positive manner.”
The Lady Wildcats have high expectations for sectional qualification, as coach Erin Flehmer believes the team can qualify in two relays, the 4×800 and 4×400; four individual races, Jolie Evans in the 800 and 3200, Marianne McCrackin in the 300 hurdles and Jadyn Williams in the 400; and a field event, Annie Moore in pole vault.
“For districts, our plan is to just get through to sectionals,” she said. “Run hard enough to get out. From there, we have done the work to get us here. Jolie in the 3200m was a nice surprise this year since she’s never run it before. ”
Some seniors leading the squad, like Evans and McCrackin, enjoyed state glory last season, taking eighth place in the 4×800 relay in 10:14.61.
“This group of seniors is a special group of kids,” Flehmer said. “They are very self-motivated and got a taste of a state medal last year and want a higher medal this year. They cheer each other on and remind one another of the end goal.” Full results from the Big 8 Meet follow. The top six placers in each event are awarded All-Conference.
Boys
1st Place
4×800 Relay: Charles Elliott, Caleb Leach, Jacob Martinez, Forsyth Hayse, 8:22.42
2nd Place
300 Hurdles: Charles Elliott, 41.98
1600m: Caleb Leach, 4:28.65
4×400 Relay: Charles Elliott, Caleb Leach, Jacob Martinez, Peter Littlefield, 3:30.99 (New school record)
4th Place
Long Jump: Ashton Wheeler, 6.30m
High Jump: Peter Littlefield, 1.72m
5th Place
800m: Caleb Leach, 2:08.31
3200m: Forsyth Hayse, 10:26.81
6th Place
4×200 Relay: Kyle Bailey, Jake Anthonysz, Hernan Hernandez, Ashton Wheeler, 1:35.9
8th Place
110 Hurdles: Tyler Rattigan, 18.00
4×100 Relay: Kyle Bailey, Jake Anthonysz, Hernan Hernandez, Ashton Wheeler, 45.96
Girls
1st Place
4×800 relay: Marianne McCrackin, Tori Mitchell, Jadyn Williams, Jolie Evans, 10:22.55
4×400 relay: Marianne McCrackin, Jolie Evans, Tori Evans, Jadyn Williams, 4:18.53
Discus: Aaliyah Franklin, 28.88
2nd Place
800m: Jolie Evans, 2:29.77
3rd Place
1600m: Jolie Evans, 5:35.96
Pole Vault: Annie Moore, 2.59m
4th Place
400m: Jadyn Williams, 1:02.98
300m Hurdles: Marianne McCrackin, 51.21
5th Place
800m: Tori Mitchell, 2:35.82
7th Place
4x100m: Grace Yocum, Makaiden Boles, Pazlee Burbridge, Evelyn Elliott,55.11
Discus: Maci Barton, 26.28
3200m: Kayli Anderson, 13:55.33
8th Place
4x200m relay: Grace Yocum, Kyla Bowling, Makaiden Boles, Evelyn Elliott, 1:57.82
Cassville teams compete next at the Class 3, District 6 Meet on Saturday in Hollister.
To see more photos from the event, or to purchase photos, visit: https://cassvilledemocrat.zenfoliosite.com/photo-galleries/track-big-8-conference-meet?id=4a0e9698-a327-4ec5-8903-3647fc13d5e3&ct=2>=1&st=1&sc=1&rootPageId=5eb9b772-c2f9-4fc7-be94-97908665a185&srf=true
