“I did a lot better than last year when I scratched on all four tries at sectionals,” said Stancell, who operates at fullback on the Mustang football team.

Billy Wright, a senior from Cassville, was the only other area Class 3 athlete to get a medal in the discus, with a throw of 145-2 for seventh place.

Neosho was the only other area Class 4 team to get medals. Freshman Courtney Wood took seventh in the 1600 run (5:10.86), junior Amanda Thogmartin tied for seventh in the high jump (5-0) and junior Cody Hollland placed eighth in the shot put (55-2).

Wood admitted she had to fight back a little nervous tension in her first state meet.

“I was pretty nervous but I love the competition, said Wood, who showed remarkable composure for first-time participant.

Holland said his throw of 55-2 bettered his previous best of 54-1.

“Last year I took 11th and I intend to get the school record before it’s over, he said. The school mark at Neosho is 60-3.

Other area medalists were Monett’s D.J. Dunmire and Nevada’s Tyler Werner, who tied with St. Clair’s Richard York for second in the Class 3 pole vault at 13-6. The winning height was six inches higher.

Senior Ritchie Carson had Carl Junction’s top finish of the day with 11th place in the triple jump.