Area athletes launch bids for state meets on Saturday

~ Chaffee girls look to build on conference meet title.

The Chaffee track and field program has experienced a resurgence this season, bringing home the school's first girls conference title.

In all, the Red Devils will finish the year with 61 track athletes, numbers the school hasn't approached in nearly two decades. Among those 61, only four are seniors.

Chaffee track coach and athletic director Terry Glenzy said while the program was strong in the late 1970s into the early 1990s, the numbers had been dwindling until this season.

"The numbers started to fade off and we didn't have the athletes," Glenzy said. "Hopefully we can pick it up now and sustain it."

Chaffee, Oran, Saxony Lutheran and Bell City will compete in the Class 1 District 1 meet Saturday at the Missouri School for the Deaf in Fulton, Mo.

The top two finishers in classes 1 and 2 in each event move on to the state meet next week in Jefferson City, Mo.

Chaffee made a splash at the SEMO South Conference track meet, winning their first girls conference title and finishing third on the boys side.

Now the Red Devils will look to capture their first girls district title since 1987.

"I think we'll be in the top one, two or three," Glenzy said. "They have their minds set they're going to win it. That's their goal."

Sarah Dooley, Christa Beck and Whitney Schlosser all qualified for the state meet last year.

"Those three and I think we have a couple of relay teams made up mostly of freshmen that have a good shot," Glenzy said. "Of course, you never know."

Chaffee already has collected a district title this year, with the softball team bringing home a title in the fall. A track and field district title could add another shot in the arm to the sports program.

"That's the big thing, attitude-wise, thinking we can win," Glenzy said. "That's what we've worked on all year long."

Bell City will compete only on the girls side, where it is making its track and field debut this season.

On the boys side, Saxony Lutheran will try to bring home its first track and field district title. Playoff success is nothing new for Saxony Lutheran's young high school varsity sports program, with three cross country district titles in three years.

Saxony Lutheran won a state title in the 3,200 relay last year. Even with their elite distance runners, the Crusaders finished second last year at the district meet to Viburnum.

"I think Viburnum is still going to be tough," Saxony Lutheran coach Larry Cleair said. "They have some good kids back from last year. I know we've got a lot of good new talent, some good freshmen. I think we're going to give them a run for their money."

The Crusaders' program continues to grow, and the added depth could be a factor Saturday and next week.

Cleair said besides the 110 hurdles and the pole vault -- the only two events in which the Crusaders do not have an entry -- he expects his team to score in every event.

"This is by far the best overall depth we've had," he said. "Our kids are running well. They're really pumped for it.

"The kids are going to put a little pressure on themselves, but I told the kids we're still doing this for fun. We're going to have a good time on Saturday, and hopefully we're going to do it quick."

Chaffee's boys should have several state contenders, including sophomore Walker Rice in the throws and senior Garrett Pepple in the sprints.

Scott City and Kelly will be in action at the Class 2 District 1 meet at East Prairie on Saturday.

A test for Central

The Central girls track team has dominated in the relay events this season and will put their success to the test Saturday in the Class 4 District 1 meet at Oakville.

The top four finishers in the district meet move on to the sectionals next week in Farmington, Mo. Jackson will join the Tigers at Oakville.

The Tigers qualified three of their four relay teams to the state meet last year but did not earn all-state honors in any of the three.

Individually, junior Nicole Jackson should be a favorite to win the 200, an event in which she finished second at the state meet last year. Brianna Egbuka should also be a contender for a district title in the shot put.

On the boys side, the Tigers should contend in the sprint relays, and Tyler Terry will likely be a favorite in the triple jump. Matt Willingham and Lance Altenthal have a chance to be among the top four in the pole vault.

Jackson is led by junior Rachel Kahle, an all-stater in the 100 last year who also competes in the 200, triple jump and long jump.

Heather Hileman has been among the area's best in the 100 and 300 hurdles and the high jump. Freshman distance runner Greg Gibson will lead Jackson's boys.

ND, Perryville go the distance

Area squads Notre Dame and Perryville will compete Saturday in the Class 3 District 1 meet at Perryville.

The Bulldogs and Pirates have had several close races on the boys side in the distance relays, and should be among the top four in the 1,600 and 3,200 relays.

Potosi, a distance power on the boys side, is the favorite to win the district.

Notre Dame junior Mark Zimmer has the best time in the area in the 200.

Perryville's Kyle Bert won his conference crown in the 1,600 recently and was second in the 3,200, while Josh Hayden is coming off a conference title in the 110 hurdles.

Distance runners Jessica Banda and Tori Pfau have been among Notre Dame's most consistent performers on the girls side. For Perryville, Brittney Caslteberry should have a shot to make the sectionals in the hurdles and sprinting events.