Wheeler breaks 2010 school record in long jump

BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Preparing for his second long jump at the Cassville Relays on April 16, Wildcat senior Ashton Wheeler had a feeling he might could make history.

His personal record at 6.3 meters, Wheeler leaped into the Cassville history books with a jump of 6.71 meters, surpassing Devin Linenbrink, who held the record with a 2010 jump of 6.58 meters.

“We are all excited for Ashton on breaking the school record,” said Clay Weldy, Cassville boys track coach. “Breaking the school record in long jump was a goal he had going into the season. I’m glad he was able to do it, especially at our home meet. He has worked really hard the last couple of years at practice and in the weight room to become a better athlete, and his hard work is paying off.”

Wheeler said he felt confident at the home meet that he could have a shot at the record.

“I’d been winning a bunch of medals, but going lower than my PR,” he said. “I was determined at our home meet and felt I would break it — and I did. It feels good and takes a lot of weight off my chest.”

Breaking the record also restored Wheeler’s bragging rights within his family, as his younger sister broke the long jump. record at Shell Knob No. 78 just the day before.

“As an older sibling, you can’t let your younger siblings have something you don’t,” he said. “She inspired me a lot because now she can’t boast about it too much.”

With the record broken, Wheeler is now turning his attention to the postseason. Last year, he took 13th place at the Class 3 state meet with a jump of 6.06 meters. The winner that day jumped 7.01 meters.

“I’m ranked 7th in the state with the 6.7, so I am mostly hoping to keep my legs fresh and injury- free,” he said. “It will all depend on the day and who does what, because no one jumps a PR every meet.”

“We are hoping that he is back at state again this year and maybe with a chance to medal,” Weldy said.

Wheeler said to make a medal happen, continuing to grow is key.

“My goals will become expectations, and I will create new goals,” he said.

The Wildcats hope to qualify more than just one athlete at state, and Wheeler may compete in other events.

“We are also hoping he can make it to state on a relay or two with a couple of his teammates, as well,” Weldy said. “We have several events that have chances to make a run at state as we get into May, and a couple of relays.”

Cassville’s other senior on the boys team, Ethan Bohmke, is also hoping to qualify for a state event.

“Ethan has had a really good season so far, and I hope he can get up to Jeff City as well,” Weldy said. “We have a good group of kids on our team, and if you can get hot this time of year anything can happen.”

The Lady Wildcats ares also hoping to get going at the season’s end, with a couple of athletes hoping to progress past districts.

“Aaliyah [Franklin] has been having a good year so far,” said Erin Flehmer, Cassville girls track coach. “She needs to throw her personal best to be able to make it out of districts. She is currently ranked 4th in the district and 6th in the sectional.”

Last year, Franklin took 16th place in the Class 3 discus competition, throwing a distance of 26.96 meters. The winner of the event, Palmyra’s Candra King, threw for 39.95 meters.

Another Lady Wildcat is highly ranking in a sprinting event.

“Jadyn Willliams has a great shot of making it to state in the 400-meter,” Flehmer said. “She has been consistently improving her times. She is currently ranked 2nd in the district and 3rd in the sectional.”

Flehmer said to have a shot at late postseason competition, the Lady Wildcats have to keep grinding.

“We still need to be working hard on the little details to ensure that we are ready to compete at the high level of competition,” she said. “All the girls have been working hard, and times, throws and jumps have been getting better throughout the season. It is anyone’s game at districts, and anyone can punch their card on to sectionals.”

Full results from the Cassville Relays include:

Girls — third as team

Overall team: 3rd

1st place

Shot put: Aaliyah Franklin, 9.91m

Discus: Aaliyah Franklin, 30.88m

2nd place

Long Jump: Evelyn Elliott, 4.74m

3200m: Kayli Anderson, 15:19

3rd place

800m: Kayli Anderson, 2:54

Javelin: Lauren Sparkman, 29.13m

4th place

4×200: Brynn Whittenburg, Makaiden Bolles, Claire Reuter, Evelyn Elliott, 1:54

4×100: Brynn Whittenburg, Makaiden Bolles, Claire Reuter, Evelyn Elliott, 55.26

4×400: Brynn Whittenburg, Claire Reuter, Kyla Bowling, Makaiden Bolles, 4:49

200m: Evelyn Elliott, 28.39

Triple Jump: Brynn Whittenburg, 7.85m

Shot Put: Heather Hall, 8.79m

Discus: Hadley Moore, 24.29m

5th place

High Jump: Emerson Grossman, 1.32m

Discus: Aleigha Bryan, 23.55m

Javelin: Olivia Garner, 26.01m

7th place

1600m: Mallery Cornell, 7:28

8th place

100m Hurdles: Caitlyn Bonass, 22.48

400m: Claire Reuter, 1:15

Boys — fourth as a team

1st place

Long Jump: Ashton Wheeler, 6.71m (22′.25″) *New School Record*

200m: Jacob Walker, 23.31

2nd place

100m: Jacob Walker, 11.63

200m: Kamden Beebe, 23.53

800m: Ethan Bohmke, 2:12.91

4×100 Relay: Jacob Walker, Kamden Beebe, Kyle Bailey, Ashton Wheeler, 44.67

4×200 Relay: Jacob Walker, Kamden Beebe, Kyle Bailey, Ashton Wheeler, 1:34.69

3rd place

Shot Put: Isaac Luney, 11.45m

4×800 Relay: Ethan Bohmke, Jacob Hudson, Trever Garnett, Kaid Williams, 9:10.31

4th place

1600m: Ethan Bohmke, 4:56.60

5th place

Pole Vault: Corbin Rhoads, 3.05m

200m: Kyle Bailey, 25.01

6th place

High Jump: Zayne Uzlik, 1.57m

Discus: Ethan Sizemore, 32.11m

100m: Kyle Bailey, 12.01

3200m: Trever Garnett, 11:32.29

8th place

Shot Put: Ethan Sizemore, 11.03m

3200m: Jacob Hudson, 12:04.35

Results from the East Newton Relays include:

Girls — 7th as a team

1st place

Javelin: Lauren Sparkman, 29.23m

2nd place

Shot Put: Aaliyah Franklin, 9.97m

3rd place

4×200 relay: Brynn Whittenburg, Makaiden Bolles, Evelyn Elliott, Jadyn Williams, 1:55

4×100 relay: Brynn Whittenburg, Makaiden Bolles, Claire Reuter, Evelyn Elliott, 55.56

200m: Evelyn Elliott, 28.53

5th place

Discus: Aaliyah Franklin, 26.98

6th place

Javelin: Olivia Garner, 24.37

3200m: Kayli Anderson, 14:26

Long Jump: Evelyn Elliott, 4.3m

7th place

800m: Kayli Anderson, 3:06

8th place

400m: Kyla Bowling, 1:15

Boys — 6th as a team

2nd place

Long Jump: Ashton Wheeler, 19’8.5″

4×200 Relay: Jacob Walker, Kyle Bailey, Kamden Beebe, Ashton Wheeler, 1:35.33

3rd place

200m: Jacob Walker, 23.72

4th place

100m: Jacob Walker, 11.70

Discus: Ethan Sizemore, 109’1.5″

4×800 Relay: Kaid Williams, Jacob Hudson, Trever Garnett, Ethan Bohmke, 9:21.38

5th place

Pole Vault: Corbin Rhoads, 9″11.75″

7th place

1600m: Ethan Bohmke, 5:16.07

8th place

3200m: Trever Garnett, 11:42.66