By Richard Polen
Globe Sports Writer
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. —
Carl Junction’s girls won the district track and field championship Saturday and advanced to the sectional round in 11 events.
West Plains ran away with the team championship in the boys’ division.
A 2-3 finish by Korie Johnson and Desiree Felker in the 300-meter hurdles, and a second-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay, the last event of the day, capped Carl Junction’s winning effort.
“It’s the first time we’ve won the district in a long time,” said Carl Junction head coach Frank Pittman. “The seniors have worked real hard. The whole team has.
“I didn’t realize we would score this many points. They’re a consistant bunch,” he said. “I’m very proud of them.”
West Plains was second in the girls’ team standings, followed by Nevada. Webb City was sixth and East Newton was seventh.
Webb City’s Katie Box won the 100 hurdles, was third in the high jump and ran on the Cardinals’ runner-up 4x200 relay team along with Callie Beaver, Hailey Roderique and Kylie Eyermann.
“I wasn’t too worried about it because I did well in districts last year,” Box said. “But whenever those two girls false-started, that scared me. Overall, I felt pretty good.”
A steady rain in the morning carried over into the field events in the early afternoon and left small pools of water in the high-jump area.
“I tried to step over it on purpose and on one run I restarted,” Box said. “It didn’t effect me as much as I thought it would.”
Lindsey Bragg of East Newton, who has signed to join Missouri Southern State University’s squad next season, won the long jump and triple jump for the second year in a row.
“Even with the weather, she had good marks and performed well today,” East Newton head coach Mark VanSlyke said. “We performed about as I expected. It’s a tough field, 16 teams, very good competition.”
Faith Collingsworth of East Newton advanced to the sectional in the discus for the second year in a row.
Carl Junction’s Taitum Mead placed second in the 100 hurdles and in the long jump and was third in the triple jump.
Nevada’s Mariah Mock won the 100 and 200, while Emily Weldin of Aurora was second in the 100, 200 and 400.
Seneca’s Victoria Foley won the discus, and Jennifer Frazier of Monett won the shot put. Kara Stutesman of Carl Junction placed fourth in both events.
Carl Junction’s Lauren McRae was second in the pole vault and fourth in the triple jump, and Harlee Stutesman was third in the pole vault.
In the boys’ division, Webb City won the 4x200 relay, placed second in the 4x100 with a time of 44 seconds and was third in the 4x400.
Webb City senior Boo Rodgers ran on the first two relays along with Slade Byford, Alex Christian and Jarvis Jones.
“We could be a little better,” Rodgers said. “We need to work on our handoffs. That was a key mistake (in the 4x100).
“I think we can be in the low 43s or in the 42s,” he said. “It’s just a matter of the handoffs. We have to get them perfect.”
On the 4x400, Rodgers ran with Andrew Pisechenko, Byford and Braxton Baker in advancing to the sectional.
Meanwhile, Jones placed third in the 100 and 200, and Pisechenko was third in the 800 and 1600.
Corey Phillips of Mount Vernon won the long jump and triple jump, and Dylan Gibson of Cassville won the shot put and discus.
Ethan Hamilton of McDonald County won the pole vault and teammate Spencer Paul was second in the triple jump. McDonald County also won the 4x800 relay.
