By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
BRANSON — The Webb City boys and Nixa girls brought home the team titles from the COC Track Meet on Thursday. Webb City edged out Joplin by two points at 126-124. Nixa won by 21 points over runner-up Ozark.
Webb City got first-place finishes from Mekhi Garrard in the triple jump (47-3) and Grayson Smith in the pole vault (14-0).
The triple jump was an incredible dual between two of the state’s best in Garrard and Donovyn Fowler. Fowler, who came in with the No. 1 triple jump mark in the state, finished runner-up with a leap of 46-9 to Garrard’s winning jump of 47-3.
Nixa received firsts from Lily Simmons in the high jump (5-3) and Alicen Ashley in the 3,200 (12:00). Nixa finished with 147.50 team points while rival Ozark finished second with 126.50 points.
CLICK HERE FOR POHOTOS OF THE MEET
Record night for Johnson, Montez
Ozark’s Sydney Johnson and Carl Junction’s Alanza Montez both set two meet records on their way to dominant nights.
Johnson won the 100 (12.42), 200 (25.34) and 400 (58.12) and teamed with Anna Hitt, Blaire Pace and Ashya Thompson to win the 4 x 200 relay (1:48.19).
She set meet records in the 100 and 200.
“It was a goal of mine this year to see what records I could break, but I actually forgot about conference records,” said Johnson, who holds school records in the 100, 200 and 400. “It’s a nice surprise to get them, too. It’s reassuring of all the hard work I did in the off-season.”
Montez won both the 100 hurdles (15.86) and 300 hurdles (45.89) in meet record times. Her 300 hurdles time also set a school mark.
“I was proud of getting the meet record and our school record,” Montez said. “Knowing I’m a conference champion is a big boost and encourages me so much to do well in Districts, Sectionals and at State.”
Montez didn’t let up even while not being challenged by competitors.
“You have to fight yourself the whole time and keep telling yourself, ‘You have to go,’” Montez said. “It’s a big mental game. It helps that my mom helps me with my mental game. She encourages me the whole time. She tells me to leave my heart on the track.”
Montez’s mother, Tina Montez (Keller), was a hurdler herself during her glory days at Carl Junction and later at Missouri Southern
“Often times people ask her, ‘Is that your daughter?,’” Alanza said. “We look so similar and I’m a lot like her in many qualities, our personalities and in athletics.
Montez teamed with Olivia Vediz, Salma Lewis and Shiloh Sluder to win the 4 x 100 relay (50.06).
CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS OF THE GIRLS MEET
Nixa’s Wheeler three-time champ
Smith Wheeler, of Nixa, won gold medals in the 400 (50.86), 4 x 200 relay (1:31) and 4 x 400 relay (3:29).
Wheeler’s relay ‘mates include freshman Spencer Ward, sophomores Dylan Sanders and Austin McCracken and senior Kendrick Nall.
“We have a lot of younger guys,” Wheeler said. “They’re going to be really good in the coming years. My plan is go to State in the 200 and 400 and take these guys to State in the 4 x 200 and 4 x 400.”
Solano wins in photo finish
Carthage’s Miguel Solano turned his dream into reality, while rallying for a victory in the 800. His time of 1:58.28 allowed him to edge Joplin’s Micah Bruggeman and his time of 1:58.30.
“I always see videos of people having a kick at the end and I think, ‘One day I want to be like that,’” Solano said. “I knew I had a great kick and could get him in the last 100. But I knew it would be tough. I was pretty sure I had him at the end. I tried sticking my chest out more. It was a lot of fun.”
Solano beat his PR by more than two full seconds.
“This tells me I have potential,” he said.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS OF THE BOYS MEET
Branson’s Conway sweeps hurdles
Branson’s Colsen Conway breezed to relatively easy wins in the 110 hurdles (15.73) and 300 hurdles (40.63). But he had some anxious moments.
In between the hurdles events, Conway was scrambling to find his spikes that he had left on the football field inside the track. He eventually found them, but far from where he had left them.
“They were at some random place on the other side of the field,” Conway said. “I was glad I found them.”
If Conway hadn’t found the spikes, he wasn’t going to ask to borrow someone else’s.
“I probably would have run in my tennis shoes and hoped for the best,” he said.
Conway won even while feeling subpar.
“I’m not feeling the best,” he said. “I’m having congestion and throat issues and a little trouble breathing. I figure I’ll have nine days until Districts, so I might as well lay it all out here tonight and get some points for my team.”
Calvin separates himself from pack
Carthage’s Caleb Calvin never could have guessed at the beginning of his sophomore year that he would be throwing the javelin, much less be a COC champ on his way to possibly being a two-sport athlete at Pitt State.
Calvin set a new personal record for himself while winning the javelin with a throw of 183-6. He beat the rest of the field by 24 feet.
The fact his older sister, Korah, threw the javelin, led Caleb to compete in the event, as well.
“Since my sister threw shot put and javelin, we had practice javelins in our yard,” Calvin said. “So, me and my Dad got into a competition throwing the javelin around. He said whoever throws it the furthest gets to shoot the other in the butt with a little salt gun. I won and shot him in the butt and he told me I was going to be throwing the javelin. Now, it’s my favorite event.
Looking ahead, Calvin has his sights set on a throw of 190-200.
“I’m going to need a lot more footwork practice,” said Calvin, who may also serve as a place-kicker for Pitt State’s football team. “I need to get longer strides and work on my plant.”
Surprising winner for Cardinals
Webb City finished 1-2-4 in the boys pole vault, with Grayson Smith winning with a vault of 14-0. The Cardinals’ Pryce Mason, who set a school record of 14-9 last month, was second with a 13-5.
A new pole allowed Smith to set a new PR. He went from a 14-0, 65-pound pole to a 14-7, 70-pound pole.
“It gives me quite a bit of an extra pop and you can feel quite a bit of an extra lift, that’s for sure,” Smith said. “It was a little nerve-wracking my first couple times with a new pole. You don’t know if you’re going to land in the runway and not make it to the pit. But I feel like I’ve figured it out. There might even be another pole in the future, probably same height but a little heavier.”
