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Sports

Summit Boys, Lindbergh Girls Shine at Rainy District Meet

Rockwood Summit takes the boys team championship while Lindbergh wins the girls' title.

Weather conditions may not have been ideal for the Class 4 District 1 track and field meet on Saturday at Oakville High School. But with chances to qualify for sectionals on the line, athletes from 12 schools battled through the rain and wind in hope of continuing their seasons.

Despite the elements, several athletes set school and personal records in their respective events. On the boys’ side, Rockwood Summit took the team championship by totaling 104 points, 12 points better than second-place Central (Cape Girardeau) High School.

Fox (90 points), Lindbergh (85 points) and Mehlville (68.5) rounded out the top five for the boys. Seckman came in sixth, followed by Jackson, Oakville, Northwest, Poplar Bluff and Vianney.

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For the girls, Lindbergh dominated the field of teams by scoring 174.5 points, 65 points better than second-place Rockwood Summit. Cor Jesu Academy took third with 91.5 points, while Jackson (64) and Northwest (61.5) came in fourth and fifth.

Oakville finished in sixth, followed by Central, Mehlville, Fox, Poplar Bluff and Seckman.

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For both the boys and girls, the top four individual qualifiers in each of the 18 events advanced to sectionals, which will take place Saturday, May 21 at Lafayette High School.

The top four finishers for each event at sectionals then moves on to the state championship, which will be held May 27 and 28 at Lincoln University in Jefferson City. 

MAZAR AND WOOD CARRY SUMMIT TO CHAMPIONSHIP

The Falcons’ boys track and field team, led by the one-two tandem of seniors Daniel Mazar and Curt Wood, swept through the field to earn a district team championship. Rockwood Summit will advance to the sectional meet in 10 events.

Mazar, who recently moved to Missouri after attending Edwardsville High School last year, won four district championships. Mazar won gold medals in the 800-meter run, the 1,600, the 4x400 relay and the 4x800.

Mazar’s teammate and good friend Wood finished second to Mazar in the 800 and helped the Falcons win district championships in the 4x400 relay, which Wood anchored, and the 4x800. Wood said he loves running with and against Mazar.

“It’s amazing,” Wood said. “Me and him have become real close. No matter who wins, we know we’ve got each other’s backs. If I happen to get my day and beat him, he’s going to be just as proud for me. I’m always just as proud for him and we’re always there to give each other the first high-five at the finish line.”

Mazar, who has been friends with Wood for three years, said that competing with and against Wood makes both athletes stronger.

“We have a really good friendship,” Mazar said. “We’re best friends and we train every day together. It’s a good time to race each other and we push each other.”

For the girls track and field team, the Falcons will advance to the sectional meet in 12 events. Senior Crystal Harris finished fourth in three of her four events. With a second-place finish in the other event, the 4x100, Harris qualified for sectionals in each of her four events.

Senior Jenny Govero earned first place in the 3,200 and second-place in the 1,600 and the 4x800. Seniors Sidney Baudendistel and Jordan Thomas placed first and second, respectively, in the high jump.

LINDBERGH GIRLS TAKE TITLE BEHIND RILEY

The Flyers dominated the field to the tune of 174.5 points and a first-place finish overall. Senior Colleen Riley led the way by winning each of her four events. Junior Jill Harmon won two district titles, while freshman Anne Massey took one.

“It’s been a great day,” said Tom Gose, who co-coaches the team with Jim Wilder. “There were some things that were disappointing, but considering the elements, that’s true of everybody’s team. Sometimes you get caught up in your own things, and you have to look back on the results to see that in the big picture, despite your flaws, it was a good performance.”

Riley, who will attend Iowa State University next year, won the 800 and the 1,600. She anchored the 4x400 and 4x800 teams in their victories.

Harmon won championships in both the long jump and the triple jump. Massey won the district title in the 100 hurdles with a time of 16.23 seconds.

“We hope to get 10 events qualified to state,” Gose said. “When I say events, it could be two kids in a given event, which would be two events. There’s an outside chance we can win the sectional next week. The other district is very tough.”

For the boys, senior Tim Hamm-Bey and junior Ryan Woodland paced Lindbergh to 85 points and a fourth-place finish. Hamm-Bey finished less than half of a second behind Woodland in the 200, as the duo swept the top two spots.

Hamm-Bey won the district title for the 400 and anchored the 4x200 relay team that grabbed a championship. Woodland ran the first leg for the 4x200 team as well as the 4x100 team that placed second.

Sophomore Justin Simmons chipped in with a district title of his own, as he completed the 110 hurdles in a time of 15.94. 

NORTHWEST WINS POLE VAULT AND SHOT PUT

The Lions’ girls track team was led by senior Jennifer Sturgeon and sophomore Alysiah Whittaker, who each captured district titles. Sturgeon took gold in the pole vault by clearing 10-6. She finished fifth in the state championship last year.

“For Jenny Sturgeon in the pole vault, she just missed a school record; she’s got that tied right now,” said girls coach Glen House. “She’s repeated as district champ and hopefully, if things go well next week, she’ll have her fourth trip to state in four years.”

Whittaker won the shot put with a throw of 39-6, which broke the Northwest school record. Whittaker also qualified for sectionals in the discus throw. Whittaker’s throw of 105-7 earned her a fourth-place finish.

Senior Taylor Hosna earned second-place in the long jump while her teammate, senior Emily Weiss, finished fourth in the same event. Hosna also qualified for sectionals in the triple jump by finishing fourth in that event.

“We’ve come a long way in the last five years,” House said. “Five years ago, we had one girl qualify to a sectional meet. The last few years, we’ve had multiple girls going to state. I’d like to see all of our girls get to state this year, and I believe it’s possible.

“In all of the events, we will either be seeded to qualify to state or be right there with a chance.”

For the boys’ track and field team, no one won a district title, but the Lions will advance to the sectional meet in seven events. Northwest finished ninth overall with 48 points.

Senior Matt Diehl and sophomore Gino Bono finished second and third, respectively, in the 300 hurdles. Senior George Willis placed third in the shot put while senior Nick Tufts took third in the discus throw.

Sophomore Josiah Icenesse barely beat out Mehlville’s Donald Allen to take fourth in the 110 hurdles. The 4x400 and 4x800 teams both finished in fourth to advance to sectionals.

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