Central senior vaults to title

~ Matt Willingham cleared 15 feet to top the field.

Central senior pole vaulter Matt Willingham was cleared by doctors to return to action the day before the district track meet.

Three weeks later, Willingham stood atop the podium at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo., after clearing 15 feet to win the Class 4 pole vault Friday at the Class 3 and 4 state track and field championships.

"When [the injury] happened the [doctors[']] initial response was my season's over," Willingham said. "So I feel lucky just to make it here."

Willingham finished eighth last year with a jump of 13-6. This year Willingham did not even get going until the bar was raised to 14 feet, trying to save energy for the tougher heights.

Central's Tyler Terry competed in the triple jump Friday during the Class 3 high school track and field championships in Jefferson City, Mo. (L.G. PATTERSON ~ Associated Press)

"Last year I made the mistake of coming in too low and wore myself out," Willingham said. "This year I waited to conserve my energy."

Up until the state meet, Willingham had done just enough to get out of each round. Despite jumping 15 feet earlier this season, Willingham vaulted just 13-6 in the sectional and finished second at the meet.

"We were only going to jump long enough and high enough to qualify and that's what he did," Central vaults coach Chuck Goodale said. "Places didn't mean anything to him. He knew if he stayed healthy and qualified he could do it."

Willingham, who will pole vault for the University of Missouri next year, had qualified for state in the event each of the past two seasons. Both times Willingham had topped out at 13-6.

"It was a great way to go out this season," Willingham said.

Central's boys were tied for third with 18 points, thanks mostly to the 10 points from Willingham and a third-place finish from junior Chase Johnson in the 800. Johnson dropped three seconds off his sectional time to finish in 1:54.63, only three-tenths off the winner.

"It was kind of competitive, and it got a little aggressive at the end," Johnson said. "I got kicked a couple of times. If I hadn't got kicked at the end I would have got first."

Senior jumper Tyler Terry rounded out Central's scoring with a seventh-place finish in the triple jump. Terry was second in the event last year.

The Tigers were 11th in the 400 relay, their only other entry on the boys side.

Also in Class 4, Jackson sophomore Adam Zweigart was 12th in the 400 preliminaries, Greg Gibson was 15th in the 1,600, Jacob Bullinger was 10th in the discus and Wren Harris was 13th in the triple jump.

Jackson senior Rachel Kahle moved into the finals in the 100 and 200, winning her heat in the 100 and qualifying third in the 200. Jackson freshman Landon Wachter qualified third in the 400 and had the second-fastest time in 58.13. The Indians just missed out on qualifying for the finals in the 1,600 relay, finishing ninth.

Indians freshman Jill Rushin scored the first points of the meet for Jackson with a fifth-place finish in the discus with a throw of 127 feet, 8 inches. Senior teammate Amanda Peiffer was ninth in the event.

Central's girls 3,200 relay team was 11th, Tiffany Mead was 14th in the 400 and Brianna Egbuka was 12th in the discus.

Perryville senior Brittney Castleberry had the top qualifying time in the 100 hurdles in Class 3. Castleberry qualified sixth in the 300 hurdles, and finished 15th in the triple jump.

Pirates junior Kris Cottner qualified for the finals in the Class 3 400 dash with a fourth-place finish. Nick Amschler was 10th in the 300 hurdles and Perryville was 11th in the 800 relay.

Notre Dame's boys were 10th in the 1,600 relay.

Class 4

Boys

Pole vault -- 1. Matt Willingham (C) 15-0

400 -- 12. Adam Zweigart (J) 50.83

800 -- 3. Chase Johnson (C) 1:54.63

1,600 -- 15. Greg Gibson (J) 4:32.24

400 relay -- 11. Central 44.23

Triple jump -- 7. Tyler Terry (C) 45-4 1/4, 13. Wren Harris (J) 43-0

Discus -- 10. Jacob Bullinger (J) 142-1

Girls

100 -- 2. Rachel Kahle (J) 12.53

200 -- 3. Kahle (J) 25.28

400 -- 3. Landon Wachter (J) 58.13, 14. Tiffany Mead (C) 1:00.22

Discus -- 5. Jill Rushin (J) 127-8, 9. Amanda Peiffer (J) 119-9, 12. Brianna Egbuka (C) 116-10

1,600 relay -- 9. Jackson 4:06.85

3,200 relay -- 11. Central 9:46.96

Class 3

Boys

400 -- 4 Kris Cottner (P) 50.29

300 hurdles -- 10. Nick Amschler (P) 40.68

800 relay -- 11. Perryville 1:32.08

1,600 relay -- 10. Notre Dame 3:29.49

Girls

100 hurdles -- 1. Brittney Castleberry (P) 15.28

300 hurdles -- 6. Castleberry (P) 46.53

Triple jump -- 15. Castleberry (P) 32-8 1/2