By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
As McDonald County coach Ashleigh McFarland put it, the Mustangs had a “perfect day” at Thursday’s Big 8 Conference track and field championships in Monett.
McDonald County’s girls squad won nine events and totaled 170.5 points to run away from the field, breaking several school or meet records in the process.
“When we looked at entries and mocked up the points, on paper we were supposed to get 160 or 165 points and I just told them before we got off the bus, I said we’re not going to settle for showing up and enjoying it, we’re going to show up and compete and work for the next level, for the district, sectional and state meets,” McFarland said. “Let’s go and see what we can do. They cheered each other on, they truly worked as a team.”
With a first-place finish already locked up, the Mustangs ended the meet with a record-breaking performance in the 4×400 relay. Eyeing their own school record of 4:06, the McDonald County relay finished in 4:03.09 to break that mark as well as the 1992 Big 8 record of 4:07.20.
“That’s sitting No. 1 in the state right now I believe for Class 4,” McFarland said.
McDonald County’s 4×200 relay broke its own meet record from last year in winning with a time of 1:45.59. The 4×100 relay also won with a time of 49.91 seconds, breaking another school record.
“Our 4×2 we ran an off one, our fastest leg did opens to try to be a high point athlete and they ran a meet record without her, a time that would put them top eight in the state so that was very impressive,” McFarland said.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE TRACK EVENTS
Individually, Samantha Dowd won the 200 in 24.75 seconds to break her own meet record from last year. That’s another state-leading time. Dowd added wins in the 100 (12 seconds) and 400 (1:00.54).
Other highlights were provided by Ireona Nirka, who won the 300 hurdles in 48.53; by Dakota O’Brien, who won the javelin throw at 36.35 meters; and Jada Howard, who won the triple jump at 10.32 meters.
“We took second and third in the shot and were supposed to take fourth and eighth, and in the discus we took third and weren’t supposed to finish that high,” McFarland said. “Triple jump we won and were supposed to take second. Pole vault we were supposed to take fifth and we got second. You can look at every event and we improved from where we were supposed to be. Ireona Nirka has never done hurdles until this year and came out and got a conference championship by several seconds.”
Dowd was named Big 8 Conference Female Athlete of the Year and McFarland was named Girls Coach of the Year.
Lamar, which finished second in the standings, was led by Kember Wolf’s first-place finish in the 100 hurdles (16.96) as well as the winning 4×800 relay (10:39.74).
Nevada’s Grace Andersen won the 800 (2:31.61) and Anna Swarnes won the long jump (5.06).
East Newton finished with three champions: Kaylea Holmes won the shot put (10.96) and the discus (35.31) and Chandler Mountford won the pole vault (2.90).
Aurora’s Drew Mayes took home gold in the 1600 (5:27.85) as well as the 3200 (12:06.42).
Monett’s Peyton Brandt took home top honors in the high jump at 1.54 meters.
Lamar boys win by wide margin
Just like the McDonald County girls, the Lamar boys squad ended up scoring more points than projected and rolled to a comfortable first-place finish over Mt. Vernon, McDonald County, Seneca and Nevada.
The Tigers totaled 150 points while winning five events.
“They stepped up,” Lamar coach Rodney Baldridge, who was named Big 8 Conference Boys Coach of the Year, said. “We knew we were going to have to compete to win and they met the challenge.”
“We exceeded what we had projected to score for the meet,” he said. “We felt like if we ran well we had a chance to win but we were going to have to perform well.”
Garin Schneider won both the 100-meter dash (11.18) and 200 (22.04) and also ran the anchor leg on the second-place 4×100 relay and the third-place 4×200 relay. His time in the open 200 broke Lamar’s school record held by Tigers assistant Luke Hardman since 2016.
“Well-deserved, he’s worked hard for it and I’m happy for him,” Hardman said.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE FIELD EVENTS
Lamar’s other champions were Keanen McManis in the 300 hurdles (41.30), Logan Martin in the shot put (15.67) and Terren Williams in the discus (52.11).
“Keanen won the 300 hurdles, was second in the 110 hurdles, third in long jump and third in triple jump––all open events so that was big,” Baldridge said. “We took first and fifth in the discus which is big. We just had a lot of kids over-perform their seed.”
Lamar’s girls team also broke two school records: Carlee Dunham in the 200, and the 4×100 relay.
“I’m proud of them, too,” Baldridge said.
Mt. Vernon, which finished second in the boys standings, was led by Hunter Dawson’s win in the javelin throw with a distance of 54.81 meters.
McDonald County had four winners; Miguel Mora won the 800 (2:00.83), Carter McGarrity won both the 1600 (4:48.06) and 3200 (10:45.59), and the 4×800 relay won in 8:41.21.
Seneca’s highlight was a first-place finish in the 4×100 (43.82 seconds).
Nevada’s Sam Klumpp won the 110 hurdles (15.74) and the triple jump (13.17). Kyndrek Atkins, who was named Big 8 Conference Male Athlete of the Year, won the high jump (1.81) and the long jump (6.88).
Host Monett was highlighted by four wins: Theo Smith was tops in the 400 (51.58), Alexander Meeks won the pole vault (4.42), and the 4×200 (1:30.51) and 4×400 (3:30.20) relays both earned gold.
Girls team standings
McDonald County 170.5
Lamar 107
Nevada 104.5
Mt. Vernon 82
Monett 71.5
Aurora 71
East Newton 62
Seneca 47
Cassville 18.5
Boys team standings
Lamar 150
Mt. Vernon 100
McDonald County 95
Seneca 95
Nevada 94
Monett 90
Cassville 60
Aurora 31
East Newton 23
