Jackson girls track and field team claims home meet crown

Chelsea Drum was on a roll, and so was the Jackson girls track team.

Drum had three first-place finishes in four events to lead the Indians to a victory in the Jackson Invitational held Saturday at the Jackson Junior High School sports complex.

Drum, a senior, won both the 800- and 1600-meter runs, and anchored the Indians' winning 4x800-meter relay squad on her way to being named the meet's Outstanding Track Athlete.

"Chelsea was one of our biggest standouts," Jackson track coach Jim Stoverink said after his Indians won the girls event for the third straight season. "That was an outstanding day."

Jackson finished with 164 points, edging Poplar Bluff, which had 154 points. Central was third at 101.

Drum won the 800 meter run in 2 minutes, 19.22 seconds, less than 1/10th of a second from setting a meet mark. She also won the 1600 in 5:23.39.

"I just tried to stay relaxed because I have four events today," Drum said. "I just wanted to relax through all my races."

Sophomore Morgan Stone added a win in the 200, while junior Carli Knott won the 400 as Jackson's depth proved critical in accumulating points.

"We're happy," Stoverink said. "For the most part, we're where we expect to be."

It was nearly a sweep as the Jackson boys fell a half-point short of matching the girls' title. The Indians boys placed second to Mt. Vernon (Ill.), finishing with 109 points to Mt. Vernon's 109.5.

"That's the equivalent of a buzzer-beater in basketball," Stoverink said.

Jackson senior Xominique Davis soared 41 feet, 8.5 inches to win the triple jump, while junior pole vaulter Dakota Maddox easily outdistanced the field in his event with a vault of 14 feet.

"I feel like I'm doing pretty good this season," Maddox said. "I'm hoping to get around 16 feet this year. I need to work on my plant, keeping my step out and getting inverted better at the top of the vault."

Maddox faltered in three tries to tie the meet record of 15-6, which was tied last season by former teammate Dylan Rush.

"Yeah, I was trying, but the wind and everything kind of messed me up a bit," Maddox said.

Dominating the field made things a little more difficult for Maddox to perform to his best.

"It kind of makes it more difficult for me because I usually look for someone to push myself," he said. "Like I had Dylan last year, and he really helped me shoot for those higher heights because he would encourage me to do better."

Instead of chasing better vaulters, Maddox finds himself with the target on his back.

"I'm trying to keep that out of my mind," he said. "Just do what I have to do to get better."

Jackson freshman Katherine Schumer won her event with a vault of 10 feet, bettering her personal best by a foot. She and Maddox are following in a long line of Jackson pole vaulters known for besting the competition.

"I felt good coming into this meet," Schumer said. "It was a home meet, and it's a little more comfortable. It just felt like a good day."

Other outstanding performances on the day included Central senior Couretta Stevenson, who won the high jump with an effort of 5-foot-3 while also running on the Tigers' winning 4x100 relay squad and competing in two other events.

"I think I can go a little higher," said Stevenson, who cleared 5-4 her sophomore year. "I was thinking about the hurdles (event) and trying to get ready for it. I'm happy with it because I had a lot of good competition. Today was a really good day for me."

Senior teammate Tremonee Stewart anchored both the Tigers' winning 4x100 and 4x200 relay squads. She took advantage of a baton drop by Poplar Bluff in the 4x100 to give the Tigers the win.

"I knew that our times were kind of similar," she said. "They were going to be some competition, but they kind of fell short when they dropped the baton, so I knew we had it."

Stewart believes the Tigers' foursome, which turned in a clocking of 52.18 seconds, has better things ahead.

"I think we'll do great," she said. "We'll at least make it past sectionals, and (make it to) state. It's all about the handoffs, and we're very good at that. We keep improving, because once we have competition, that's when we know it's time to put our head in the game."

Notre Dame senior Robert Jansen returned from an absence to win the boys high jump with a leap of 6-foot-4. He nearly matched a school record of 6-6, barely tipping the bar on his final attempt, but believes he can reach that goal.

"I'm pretty happy," he said. "Six-foot-six is the school record, that's what I want. I hope I can go higher than that."

Jansen missed the past three weeks with a back problem caused by his right leg being a quarter-inch shorter than his left. He was experiencing a searing pain when launching off his right leg.

"I've got a lot of time to improve," he said, noting district competition is still four weeks away. "I've only had like four or five days of practice, so I'm hoping (assistant track coach Ryan Long) will help me out and we'll get up there."

Bulldogs teammate Devin Ziegler dominated the field in the boys 400 meters, running in lane 4 and coming hard off the final turn to win in 51.73 seconds. The 6-foot-3 senior admitted his "long legs help a lot."

"I like running on the inside better," he said. "Thinking about the fact that somebody can come up behind me and I don't know where they are. So I like the inside better, know where all my competition is and I can go out and catch them."

The meet was the first this season where Ziegler didn't post a personal best, which stands at 51.42 seconds this year.

"I'm a little disappointed," he said. "This is the first meet all year I haven't (set a personal record) in the event, so I was a little disappointed, but I was a little sore all day. I already had one event this morning (4x800 relay), so I was a little tired. But I still got first, so it's not too bad."

Other local individual first-place finishers were Central's Mackenzie Mitchell, who won the triple jump with a leap of 32-7 3/4, and Jackson's Ean Buffington, who placed first in the 3200 with a time of 10:03.80.

Jackson Invitational Results

Girls

Team scores -- 1. Jackson 164; 2. Poplar Bluff 154; 3. Cape Central 101; 4. Dexter 75; 5. Farmington 73; 6. Notre Dame 66; 7. Murphysboro 37; 8. Fredericktown 12; 9. Scott City 3; 10. Zalma 2.

Top five local finishes

100 -- 3. Morgan Stone (J) 13.05; 5. Alyssa Kimmich (J) 13.52; 6. Sierra Jones (C) 13.70; 7. Kylie Lane (C) 13.77; 8. Kendall McGarr (ND) 14.01

200 -- 1. Morgan Stone (J) 26.97; 2. Alyssa Kimmich (J) 27.79; 4. Chandra Huff (C) 28.54; 6. Jazreil Hill (C) 29.26; Taylor Hess (ND) 30.09

400 -- 1. Carli Knott (J) 1:00.91; 2. Taylor Hess (ND) 1:03.68; 5. Chandra Huff (C) 1:09.62; 7. September Knupp (C) 1:11.38; 9. Brenda Gremard (SC) 1:12.54

800 -- 1. Chelsea Drum (J) 2:19.72; 4. Katherine Hanners (ND) 2:26.91; 5. Tayler Winick (J) 2:32.58; 7. Alleigh Emmendorfer (ND) 2:42.64; 8. Morgan Kluge (C) 2:44.12

1600 -- 1. Chelsea Drum (J) 5:23.39; 2. Tayler Winick (J) 5:41.52; 6. Jordan Meadors (ND) 5:57.33; 9. Abigail Sadler (J) 6:09.26; 10. Margo Motes (J) 6:09.26

3200 -- 3. Anastasia Compton (J) 12:54.68; 5. Carlee Williamson (J) 13:18.81; 7. Chelsey Lemons (Z) 15:50.65

100 hurdles -- 5. Courterra Stevenson (C) 17.84; 7. Kassidy Adams (J) 18.33; 8. Timia Evans (C) 18.36; 9. Lauryn Varner (J) 18.98; 10. Elizabeth Keene (ND) 19.81

300 hurdles -- 4. Lauryn Varner (J) 51.29; 5. Kassidy Adams (J) 51.44; 7. Courterra Stevenson (C) 51.83; 8. Timia Evans (C) 53.28; 12. Julia Gregory (Z) 1:00.49

100 relay -- 1. Central (Mackenzie Mitchell, Jazreil Hill, Courterra Stevenson, Tramonee Stewart) 52.18; 2. Notre Dame (Kaylee Harris, Megan Jansen, Elise Bruenderman, Lindsey Peters) 54.93; 5. Jackson (Grace Deloach, Hannah Deloach, Ariana Kroninger, Mabrey Mccallister) 56.88

200 relay -- 1. Central (Mackenzie Mitchell, Jazreil Hill, Sierra Jones, Tramonee Stewart) 1:51.06; 2. Notre Dame (Kendall McGarr, Kaylee Harris, Claire Morrill, Madison Little) 1:54.86; 3. Jackson (Kassidy Adams, Alyssa Kimmich, Mabrey Mcallister, Lauryn Varner) 1:55.44

400 relay -- 2. Jackson (Chelsea Drum, Carli Knott, Alyssa Kimmich, Morgan Stone) 4:12.83; 3. Notre Dame (Madison Little, Katherine Hanners, Claire Morrill, Taylor Janota) 4:19.22; 5. Central (Sierra Jones, Chandra Huff, Timia Evans, September Knupp) 4:35.78

800 relay -- 1. Jackson (Anastasia Compton, Carli Knott, Chelsea Drum, Tayler Winick) 10:14.75; 3. Notre Dame (jordan Meadors, Claire Morrill, Alleigh Emmendorfer) 10:36.89

High jump -- 1. Courterra Stevenson (C) 5-03; 3. Marlen Hoederbeck (ND) 4-10; 6. Jazreil (C) 4-08; 9. Hannah Shemonia (SC) 4-04

Pole vault -- 1. Katherine Schumer (J) 10-0; 3. Kylee Stevenson (C) 8-06.25; 4. Jaden Barnes (ND) 8-06; 5. Lindsey Peters (ND) 8-0; 7. Jaycie Baird (J) 7-06

Long jump -- 5. Tramonee Stewart (C) 14-11; 7. Mabrey Mcallister (J) 13-09.50; 8. Alexus Walker (C) 13-08; 9. Kaylee Harris (ND) 13-03; 10. Addison Ziegler (ND) 13-02

Triple jump -- 1. Mitchell Mackenzie (C) 32-05.75; 3. Mabrey Mcallister (J) 30-02.75; 6. Lydia Goodson (ND) 29-08.75; 7. Krista Valentine-Wright (J) 27-10.75; 9. Elise Bruenderman (ND) 27-06.75

Shot put -- 2. Nicole Humphreys (J) 35-11; 3. Quetaja Martin (C) 35-0; 7. Olivia Brown (J) 31-10.50; 9. Rachel Perry (SC) 30-06.50; 10. Hannah Sterling (C) 29-11

Discuss -- 2. Olivia Leible (J) 112-06; 3. Quetaja Martin (C) 103-10; 4. Olivia Brown (J) 102-0; 8. Rachel Perry (SC) 91-01; 12. Katie Stone (ND) 87-11

Boys

Team scores --1. Mt.Vernon 109.5; 2. Jackson 109; 3. Poplar Bluff 98.5; 4. Carbondale 82; 5. Notre Dame 71 5. Murphysboro 71 7. Farmington 55 8. Central 51; 9. Fredericktown 40; 10. Scott City 12; 11. Zalma 3

Top five local finishes

100 -- 3. Zyshon Mallory (C) 11.62; 5. Ethan Isaksen (J) 11.77; 12. Bryndan Reid (J) 12.21; 13. Kameron Williamson (ND) 12.22; 14. Nicholas Bickings (SC) 12.27

200 -- 2. Devin Ziegler (ND) 22.98; 5. Zyshon Mallory (C) 23.70; 6. Ethan Isaksen (J) 24.40; 10. Nathan Ruark (S) 25.10' 12. Tyler Schumacker (ND) 25.46

400 -- 1. Devin Ziegler (ND) 51.73; 6. Joseph Reed (J) 54.90; 9. Nathan Ruark (S) 56.05; 16. Kameron Williamson (ND) 59.70; 17. Rico Flye (C) 1:00.12

800 -- 3. Rudy McClellan (ND) 2:03.96; 6. Riley Duncan (C) 2:11.57; 7. Broack Kasten (ND) 2:13.02; 9. Caleb Bess (J) 2:14.96; 13. Brock Uelsmann (SC) 2:17.47

1600 -- 2. Caleb Bess (J) 4:47.09; 3. Jackson Givens (J) 4:47.33; 4. Brock Kasten (ND) 4:48.25; 5. Matt Gibbs (ND) 4:48.78; 12. Matthew Stearns (C) 4:57.91

3200 -- 1. Ean Buffington (J) 10:03.80; 9. Brent Werner (J) 11:01.65; 10. Jesse Perry (SC) 11:22.43; 11. Monia Clayton (C) 11:23.02

110 hurdles -- 8. Matthew Keith (ND) 19.47; 9. Damarcus Pryor (C) 19.55; 11. Glen Boyd (J) 20.01

300 hurdles -- 6. Alex Steinberg (Z) 45.40; 7. Matthew Keith (ND) 46.67; 12. Nicholas Bickings (SC) 49.52; 13. Luke Robertson (Z) 53.99

100 relay -- 4. Central (Trevon Mcclard, Braion Owens, Jalen Reddin, Zyshon Mallory) 45.82; 5. Jackson (Xominique Davis, Ethan Laster, Ethan Isaksen, Bryndan Reid) 47.06; 7. Scott City (Albert Bollinger, Nicholas Bickings, Caleb Sykes, Isaac Pennington) 47.17; 9. Notre Dame (Steven Clark, Matthew Keith, John Essner, Raj Patel) 48.52; 10. Saxony (Paiton Miller, Austin Ray, Isaac Scheper, Gavin Steffens) 53.52

200 relay -- 2. Central (Trevon Mcclard, Jordan Franklin, Zyshon Mallory, Jalen Reddin) 1:36.57; 5. Jackson (Dean Lashone, Ethan Laster, Ethan Iasksen, Bryndan Reid) 1:37.19; 6. Notre Dame (Devin Ziegler, Kameron Williamson, Tyler Schumacker, Devin Ross) 1:38.29; 7. Scott City (Austin Spriggs, Caleb Sykes, Albert Bollinger, Isaac Pennington) 1:38.77

400 relay -- 1. Notre Dame (Devin Ross, Devin Ziegler, Tyler Schumacker, Rudy McClellan) 3:34.49; 6. Jackson (Caleb Bess, Ty Crowden, Gabriel Dudley, Joseph Reed) 3:44.00; 8. Scott City (Noah Hahn, Austin Spriggs, Caleb Sykes, Albert Bollinger) 3:49.87

800 relay -- 1. Notre Dame (Devin Ziegler, Matt Gibbs, Devin Ross, Rudy McClellan) 8:17.79; 2. Jackson (Ean Buffington, Gabriel Dudley, Caleb Bess, Jackson Givens) 8:24.21; 5. Central (Jovanny Miranda, Clayton Monia, Matthew Stearns, Riley Duncan) 8:43.65; 9. Scott City (Jesse Perry, Tyler Rhyne, Jeremiah Tims, Brock Uelsmann) 9:12.94

High jump -- 1. Robert Jansen (ND) 6-04; 2. Rico Flye (C) 6-0; 4. Braden Wendel (J) 5-08.50; 7. Austin Spriggs (SC) 5-08; 8. Jeremy Elliot (J) 5-06

Pole vault -- 1. Dakota Maddox (J) 14-0; 4. Brennan Redinger (C) 13-0; 8. Shawn Bareiter (J) 11-06.25; 9. Charles Woolard (C); 10. Noah Huff (ND) 11-0

Long jump -- 2. Xominique Davis (J) 19-09; 4. Isaac Pennington (SC) 18-07.50; 6. Elliot Jeremy (J) 18-0.25; 12. Diamonte Wilkins (C) 16-11.50; 15. Andrew LeGrand (ND) 15-07

Triple jump -- 1. Xominique Davis (J) 41-08.50; 2. Jalen Reddin (C) 40-01.50; 6. Peter Lake (J) 27-07.50; 10. Garrett Menz (ND) 35-0; 11. Chase Sweet (ND) 34-09

Shot put -- 2. Dane Evans (J) 49-06; 11. Patrick Buck (C) 38-05.50; 12. Dalton Goforth (SC) 38-04.50; 13. Garrett Mcmahon (J) 38-02; 14. Christian Mitchell (C) 37-10

Discuss -- 2. Dane Evans (J) 135-02; 10. Patrick Buck (C) 113-08; 11. Dalton Goforth (SC) 113-03; 14. Justin Crane (J) 102-03; 16. Jon Long (C) 96-03