By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
BOLIVAR, MO – When you combine 64 participating schools from three different classes, 40 events, 2,659 entries and near-perfect weather conditions, it makes for a massive track and field spectacular.
Suffice to say, day two of the Southwest Baptist University High School Bearcat Classic did not disappoint.
When the dust settled, the Mountain Grove boys and Clever girls each claimed narrow overall team victories on the day.
The Panther boys posted 52.5 points – led by discus champion Andrew Whitson – besting runner-up Clever (51) and Hermitage (48.5) for the top spot.
The Blue Jay girls recorded 77 points on the day, edging out both Eldon (70) and Houston (52.33) for the overall honors.
Clever senior Valerie Cowles led the team with a pair of individual firsts in the 300-meter hurdles and high jump. The Blue Jays also captured victories in the 4×100-meter relay (Brooklyn Flood, Olivia Compton, Katelynn Butts, Alexa Flood) and 4×200-meter relay (A. Flood, B. Flood, Butts, Cowles).
Klieber captures distance double
Featuring three of the state’s top distance runners, the boys 1600 was billed as a heavyweight clash between El Dorado Springs junior Wyatt Klaiber, Hollister senior Sinry Mendoza and New Covenant Academy senior Kian Edwards.
The showdown never materialized, however, as Mendoza and Edwards both scratched their respective events on the day.
“I’m really thankful to be out here today,” Klaiber said. “I was hoping to run with Sinry and Kian, but they both have their struggles. But, you know, that’s all right. We all have our struggles, and with those guys playing it smart – not overdoing themselves – it’s just the way it is.”
Klaiber, who had been looking forward to showdown with Mendoza, in particular, was disappointed to hear the news.
The two battled to a one-two finish at the Class 3 state meet last season, with Mendoza claiming top honors.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE TRACK EVENTS
“As soon as I got here, Sinry ended up finding me and we caught up a little bit,” Klaiber said. “He told me he was going to scratch because he was just a little worn out at the moment and saving it for postseason. Sinry’s very smart on his part, but after he told me that, everything kind of started shutting down. My mindset was like, you know, it’s just another race now.”
Rather than dwell on what could have been, Klaiber simply went out and turned in a solo 4:21.18 season best.
Springfield Catholic junior Kyle Hathcock finished in second place (4:36.42), and Dora junior Daniel Tomlinson rounded out the top three (4:42.74).
“Getting out there, my coach really helped me get my mindset back to where it needed to be,” Klaiber said. “We were able to go out there and run a hard race for ourselves. It’s a true blessing to be out here getting to run that time.”
Later in the afternoon, Klaiber added another first-place finish to his Bearcat Classic haul with a personal best 9:23.42 in the 3200.
Once again, Hathcock (9:51.16) and Tomlinson (10:23.68) rounded out the top three finishers.
Magner sprints to 100-meter victory
While her 100-meter winning time fell nearly a full second short of her personal best mark (12.83) – set just one week ago – Isabelle Magner wasn’t about to complain.
Facing not only a loaded field but a stiff headwind, the Dixon senior bested both on the day.
“I got in the blocks, and I knew the girls beside me were going to get out quick,” Magner said. “So, I was just thinking I need to get out and go and stay in the front. (The headwind) was tough, but I just pumped my arms to get through it.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE FIELD EVENTS
Magner outsprinted Eldon senior Brittany Morris (13.31) and Houston junior Adyson Dailing (13.32) down the straightaway to post a winning time of 13.15.
After posting a victory at one of the largest meets of the season, Magner believes the win will definitely benefit her moving forward – especially with the postseason meets closing in on the horizon.
“It helps me know that I can do it,” Magner said. “It gives me a little confidence to know I can compete with these bigger schools and do well against them. I definitely want to get better, but I’m getting to my goals, so I’m where I need to be – I think I can get better though.”
Weathers claims high jump victory
As Tuesday’s high jump competition moved to its final stage with the bar at 1.95 meters (6-foot-4.75 feet), three jumpers remained in contention.
Thayer senior Cordell Washington – the narrow favorite coming into the meet – Mountain Grove junior Kale Gardner and Hermitage junior Justin Weathers.
First up on the approach, Weathers knew he needed to make something happen.
“I just got to clear this,” Weathers said of his attempt. “Got to get a good jump in and make sure nobody else beats me.”
Weathers did exactly that and, in turn, put pressure on his fellow competitors to match the big jump; however, neither Washington nor Gardner were able to clear the height, giving Weathers the victory.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE MEET
After the event, Weathers was quick to credit his fellow jumpers for pushing him to bigger and better jumps throughout the season.
“Honestly, I love the competition, and I love the way they keep me going,” Weathers said. “If I had no competition, I wouldn’t jump as high as I do.”
With the win, Weathers now has his sights set on a postseason victory at state. A feat which will require a considerable improvement on his current personal best of 1.97 meters (6.46 feet).
“My goal for state is 6-foot-10,” Weathers said. “I think it’s going to take a lot of training and a lot of drive to beat the competition – 6-foot-10 would put me in first.”
Mayes races to steeplechase victory
Prior to Tuesday, Drew Mayes had never competed in the 2000-meter steeplechase.
As was the case with all but seven of her competitors, the Aurora senior was getting a rare first look at the collegiate-level event at the SBU meet.
As it turns out, once was more than enough.
After trailing throughout the first half of the event, the Houn’ Dawg distance runner surged to the lead on the back half and never looked back.
Mayes’ winning time of 8:16.11 bested Clever junior Kaydence Butts (8:25.87) and Butler senior Toree Hiser (8:34.01).
CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS OF THE MEET
Prior to the event, Mayes had reservations with the obstacles on the course, particularly the ominous water pit known to trip up competitors and leave them completely soaked from head to toe.
“I’ve never ran (steeplechase) before, and I hadn’t even practiced,” Mayes said. “I was scared I was going to trip over the hurdles, or someone was going to jump on me near the water pit. I wasn’t even planning on jumping the hurdles going into it.”
While Mayes splashed into the water on repeated jumps over the water obstacle, she was able to quickly traverse through the water pit without losing time to her competitors; however, on the final attempt, the water obstacle claimed yet another victim on the afternoon.
“It was pretty rough,” Mayes said of the water obstacle. “I fell on the last water jump, but I got back up and finished.”
In addition to a brand new personal best in the event, Mayes also gets to claim the Aurora school record.
“I think it was a school record,” Mayes said. “Because we don’t have a record for the steeplechase.”
Not bad for a first-timer.
