Etzold repeats as Class 1 champ

~ The Crusaders are in first place after the first day of competition.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Saxony Lutheran senior Brandon Etzold defended his state titles in the 800-meter run and 1,600-meter run Friday at the Class 1 and 2 state track and field championships, but defending Class 1 champion Polo scored 12 points in the two events and appears to be the favorite once again at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.

The Crusaders were runner-up to Polo in Class 1 last year, finishing eight points behind. Polo scored all of those points in the 100, 200, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 400 relay, 800 relay and 1,600-meter relay. On top of bringing back basically all of its points from last year -- Polo moved into today's finals in all of the events it scored in last year -- Polo was able to pick up extra points in the 800 and 1,600.

"We're still in a good spot, but they have a lot of kids going on to the finals, so it will be fun," Saxony coach Larry Cleair said.

Saxony led the team standings after one day thanks to 20 points from Etzold and four more points from Ross Gage, who finished sixth in the 1,600 and eighth in the 800.

Etzold had a perfect day, adding the top time in the 400 preliminaries and the 1,600 relay preliminaries. In the 1,600, the first of his four races, Etzold won in four minutes, 29.41 seconds. Etzold ran in second or third position for much of the early going, turning it on in the final lap.

Norborne senior Thomas Hamer actually led on the final lap and tried to turn it on in the final 100 meters, but Etzold kicked it into gear and won by more than a second.

"It was a little faster than I thought it would be, but basically it's what I expected," Etzold said. "I think he [Hamer] thought he had it. I was just trying to save myself with the 400 and 800. Plus, I was pretty confident in my kick."

In the 800, Etzold decimated the field. He finished in 1:57.35, more than three seconds faster than Chris Hufford of Polo.

"That went out perfectly," Etzold said. "The pace was perfect, but because of the hard mile I didn't have the pace on the second lap that I wanted."

Etzold's four guaranteed all-state medals could be matched by freshman teammate Cassie Simpher. Simpher assured herself of at least three medals by qualifying for the finals in the 100, 200 and 400.

Simpher had the top 400 time and was the only runner under a minute in 59.19 seconds. In the 200, Simpher had the second-fastest time, and she had the third-fastest time in the 100. Simpher will become the first Saxony Lutheran girls track athlete to finish all-state when she runs today.

"Her 400 was the class of the field," Cleair said. "It will be a great race between her and the girl from the Missouri School for the Deaf [the defending champion] in the 200."

Besides the day from Etzold, Saxony Lutheran also got Max Wieser into the finals in the 400 and Alex Jauch into the finals in the 300 hurdles. Saxony Lutheran also had the third-fastest qualifying time in the 800 relay despite a poor lead handoff.

"Alex Jauch had a good race and we're looking for another good one today," Cleair said. "Brandon had a couple great races and we need another one. Max ran well and we need another one, and our three relays need another one."

The Crusaders will also be favored today in the 3,200 relay, Saxony has won the event the past two years. Peter Winningham will round out Saxony's competitors today in the 3,200.

"We?ve done really well," Etzold said. "We're a little further back than I thought we would be, but I think we still have a good chance to get them."

The 400-meter dash will be one of the key races today. Etzold and Polo sprinter Andy Ahart had the two top sectional times in the event, and Ahart had the third-best time on Friday. Ahart is the defending 100 and 200 champion.

"I got my two long races out of the way so it will be easier," Etzold said. "It [the 400] will be a good, fast race."

It was a good day overall for area runners. Kelly freshman Londyn Backfish made it through to the finals in all three of her races. Backfish has the fifth-fastest time in the 200, the second-fastest time in the 400 and slipped in with the seventh-fastest time in the 100. Backfish will also compete in the high jump today.

Scott City junior Derek Goodin and Chaffee junior Gage Harrell each made it through to the finals in the 300 hurdles. Goodin had the third-fastest time in the preliminaries.

Perhaps the one piece of bad news from the state meet on Friday was the injury to Scott City freshman Stephanie Essner. Essner made it into the finals in the 100 hurdles early in the day, but pulled up lame as she finished her heat in first during the 400 preliminaries.

With ice wrapped around her waist for her injured hip, Essner was scratched from the 200. Despite qualifying for the finals in the 100 hurdles and 400, Essner will not earn a state medal unless she competes in the events.

Scott City coach Terry Flannigan said the trainers advised against her competing today, and it is doubtful she will.

"It puts a little damper on the end, but still doesn't take away from what she did during the season," Flannigan said. "It's disappointing, but the main thing is you can look to the future. She has a bright future ahead of her."

Chaffee freshman long jumper Sarah Sigman finished 16th with a jump of 13 feet, 8 1/4 inches.