Four from area claim second-place state finishes

One day after Jackson's Stuart McIntosh captured the Class 4 pole vault title, area athletes had several more standout performances in the Missouri Track and Field Championships that concluded Saturday in Jefferson City.

In Class 4, Central's Jennifer Pancoast and Cody Beaton both placed second in their respective events, as did Jackson's Heather West. Central's Ashley Colon was third.

In Class 3, Perryville's Chris Porter was second, while Notre Dame's Adam Prasanphanich, Perryville's Kyle Dobbelare and a Perryville relay team all claimed third-place finishes.

The top eight in each event earned all-state honors.

Pancoast, a sophomore, came up short in the 1,600-meter run and clocked 5:02.38 behind the winning time of 4:59.26. Pancoast was 13th in the 800-meters (2:19.55).

Beaton turned in a high jump of 6-5 to finish three inches behind the winning height.

West had the closest call among the runner-up finishers when her triple jump of 38 2 1/4 tied for the top distance, but she lost by one-half inch on her second-best jump.

"Heather was so close to winning it, but she had a super performance," Jackson coach Bob Sink said. "And Friday, Stuart was clean on all his jumps. Winning a state title is a great accomplishment."

Porter bounded 44-10 1/2 in the triple jump to finish exactly a foot behind Sikeston's Mike Colon.

Ashley Colon recorded a throw of 38-8 1/4 in the shot put; Prasanphanich turned in a time of 11.29 in the 100; Dobbelare clocked 15.30 in the 110 hurdles; and Perryville's 3,200 relay team of Chase Collom, Terry Wood, Kent Hadler and Ryan Shea timed 8:13.37.

Other all-state performances Saturday were turned in by Jackson's James Fortner in the 300 hurdles (seventh, 40.78) and Perryville's 800 relay team of Emily Amberger, Gina Buerck, Melissa Crannick and Sara Lappe (seventh, 1:49.52).

Also competing Saturday were Central's Alex Wieser (14th 800, 2:19.81) and Mikell Abraham (15th shot put, 44-1 3/4); Notre Dame's Bryce Willen (10th pole vault, 12-6) and 3,200 relay team of C.J. Harper, Jason Delgado, Ryan Roggow and Austin Critchlow (13th, 8:21.90); and Perryville's Gina Buerck (12th 800, 2:24.82).

Perryville wound up seventh in the Class 3 boys team standings with 23 points, just behind fifth-place Sikeston (28) and fifth-place New Madrid County Central (26).

Ladue won the title with 67 points.

Charleston's Peterson fourth in state tournament

Charleston's Alec Peterson dropped both his matches Saturday to finish fourth in the Class 1 state tournament in Springfield. Peterson lost 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals and 6-0, 6-2 in the third-place match.

Charleston's team of Blake Branum and Lee Hess also lost twice to finish fourth, falling 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals and 6-2, 6-3 in the third-place match.

--From staff reports