Backfisch, Essner split state championship races

JEFFERSON CITY — Kelly sophomore Londyn Backfisch and Scott City sophomore Stephanie Essner say they don't keep track of their head-to-head meetings.

They don't even know how many times they've squared off this season.

But following Saturday's finals at the Class 2 state meet, their personal count in state championships is tied 1-1.

The two fastest girls sprinters in Southeast Missouri hooked up once Saturday at Lincoln University, with Backfisch nipping Essner in the 200 meters. Backfisch finished in 25.41 seconds; Essner was second in 25.58.

"I wanted it really bad," said Backfisch, who gave a fist pump after she crossed the line just ahead of her rival. "I was looking forward to this race."

She also had a third-place finish in the 100, though she scratched out in the high jump to focus on the track.

"I had a lot more time to execute the events I was in," Backfisch said.

ANDREW JANSEN ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian Scott City's Stephanie Essner celebrated her victory in the 400 during Saturday's Class 1 track meet in Jefferson City.

Backfisch last year qualified in four events and competed in three, again scratching the high jump. She medaled in the 100, 200 and 400, with a second-place finish in the 400.

She didn't make it through to the state meet this year in the 400, which was won by Essner.

Backfisch and Essner also had hooked up in the 200 at district, which Backfisch won; and the sectional, which Essner won.

"It's just kind of cool that we're still neck-and-neck even here at state," said Essner, who said the loss to Backfisch was not especially upsetting. "My big race is the 400. The 200, I just try my best and whatever comes out of it. I mean, I wanted to get first, but. ...

"When we race, I just go out and it happens. And then it's like, 'OK, well, I'll get you next time' or she'll get me next time."

Added Backfisch: "We're pretty good friends. I like running against her. It makes it seem less like a race and more like a friendship race."

Backfisch prefers meeting at the shorter distances.

"The 200 is my favorite," she said. "You can run it like a 100, but you have to have the endurance.

"My coaches and my teammate, Tara [Johnson], were giving me a lot of tips: that I needed to take out like a 100 and I needed to use my arms more. I've always known to do that, but I was probably kind of laid back before. This was now or never."

Essner's now-or-never moment came in the 400, which she dominated in Friday's preliminaries with a personal record 57.32. She nearly repeated that (57.38) and won by more than a second Saturday.

"Maybe it's just me, but I hear them breathing and their rhythm and their feet, and I know how close they are to me," Essner said.

They weren't very close either day, but Essner said the 400 took a toll on her. After that and four events Friday — she had the ninth-fastest 100 hurdles time and also ran the 1,600 relay anchor — Essner couldn't quite overcome Backfisch on Saturday.

"I got a really good start," Essner said. "We've been working on getting out, getting out every time. Probably around 100 meters, she caught me. She ran well in the last 100. Probably not doing both [200 and 400] helped her."

For Essner, the state meet left a much better taste than last year, when she was injured at the finish of the 400 preliminaries. She had to scratch the 100 hurdles final and the 200 prelim, and she walked 400 meters to get her only state medal.

"From last year to this year is awesome," Essner said. "It's amazing how much different it is being at the top of the podium instead of the bottom."

Essner and Backfisch should have more meetings next year — and Saxony Lutheran sprinter Cassie Simpher expects to join them — and some of those may be in field events.

Backfisch said she may try the long jump and pole vault next year. Essner also may work in the long jump and remains intrigued by the longer hurdles distance.

"Last year was a trial-and-error year for me," Backfisch said. "I didn't run the 400 until halfway through the year and I made it to state. Next year, we're going to try some new stuff and see what happens.

"Hopefully, by senior year, I'll master something."

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:STATE RESULTS

Class 1 girls

Team scores — 1, Rock Port 58; 2, Meadville 52; 3, Albany 35; 7, Saxony Lutheran 29; 15, Oran 17

Local individuals

100 — 3. Cassie Simpher, Saxony Lutheran, 13.17; 4. Haley Glastetter, Oran, 13.20.

200 — 3. Haley Glastetter, Oran, 26.45; 4. Cassie Simpher, Saxony Lutheran, 26.90.

400 — 2. Cassie Simpher, Saxony Lutheran, 59.77; 3. Haley Glastetter, Oran, 1:01.58.

1,600 relay — 1. Saxony Lutheran (Lucy Gage, Abby Hartman, River King, Cassie Simpher), 4:19.66.

Class 2

Team scores — 1, Hamilton Penney 77; 2, North County Tech 43; 3, Crystal City 36; 12, Scott City 18; 16, Kelly 16

Local individuals

100 — 3. Londyn Backfisch, Kelly, 12.64.

200 — 1. Londyn Backfisch, Kelly, 25.41; 2. Stephanie Essner, Scott City, 25.58.

400 — 1. Stephanie Essner, Scott City, 57.38.

3,200 — 9. Tara Johnson, Kelly, 12:28.72.

3,200 relay — 14. Scott City 10:42.03.

Class 1 boys

Team scores — 1, Saxony Lutheran 52; 2, Worth County 49; 3, Crocker 36; 9, Scott County Central 22;

Local individuals

200 — 7. D.D. Gillespie, Scott County, 23.55.

400 — 1. D.D. Gillespie, Scott County, 51.11; 2. Max Wieser, Saxony Lutheran, 51.72; 3. Andrew Etzold, Saxony Lutheran, 52.49.

800 — 2. Ross Gage, Saxony Lutheran, 2:00.63; 14. Max Wieser, Saxony Lutheran, 2:22.32.

1,600 — 1. Ross Gage, Saxony Lutheran, 4:36.39.

800 relay — 1. Scott County (Jarron Banks, Randy Timmons, D.D. Gillespie, Drew Thomas), 1:33.13.

1,600 relay — 1. Saxony Lutheran (Andrew Etzold, Mark Buerck, Ross Gage, Max Wieser), 3:29.32.

Class 2

Team scores — 1, Trenton 67, 2, College Heights Christian 44, 3, Stockton 37; 32, Scott City 8; 47, Chaffee 3.

Local individuals

300 hurdles — 8. Gage Harrell, Chaffee, 41.73.