From staff reports

sports@joplinglobe.com

LAMAR, Mo. — College Heights Christian School’s track teams exceeded expectations at Saturday’s Class 2 sectional meet at Lamar High School.

The Cougars qualified a total of 26 entries — 12 boys and 14 girls — for next weekend’s state meet at Lincoln University in Jefferson City.

“It was a great day, better than expected,” Cougars coach Daniel Lewis said. “We got both of our kids through in the 300 hurdles (Tim Hedger third and Rachel Calandro fourth) in the 300 hurdles. I wasn’t sure about that.

“We had multiple PRs. We cut six seconds off our girls 4x400. We ran a 4:12 after running 4:18 at district. I was very pleased with what we did.”

And, on a personal note, “My daughter (Brittney Lewis) ran the best time of her life in the 400 meters (1 minute, 0.4 seconds to win the event),” Lewis said. “I was excited for both Coach and Dad.”

Lightning halted the meet after the first running final. The competition resumed about 30 minutes later and continued uninterrupted the rest of the day.

“There were a couple of sprinkles off and on, nothing approaching severe,” Lewis said. “There was a little wind, at times gusty. It turned out to be not too bad.”

As expected, the Cougars dominated the boys distance events.

Caleb Hoover, Alex Moore, Josh Carter and Ethan Beaver finished 1-2-3-4 in the 3200 meters. The Cougars’ pack was separated by eight seconds and finished 11 seconds in front of the fifth-place finisher and more than a minute in front of the seventh- and eight-place runners.

Beaver, Carter and Hoover went 1-2-3 in the 1600, separated by less than two seconds, and Alan Good and Beaver placed second and third, respectively, in the 800 behind Stockton’s Lucas Manring.

College Heights also qualified two boys relay teams, taking first in the 4x800 and second in the 4x400.

The Cougar girls won two events — Brittany Lewis in the 400 and the 4x400 relay. In the sprints, Lewis and Hannah Braeckel placed 3-4 in the 100 and 200.

In the distance events, Emily Beaver was second in the 1600 and third in the 800, and Lacie Sparlin took third in the 3200 and fourth in the 1600.