Local athletes take three seconds at state track meets

~ Central's Martin, Notre Dame's Kiblinger and Bernard led the charge to all-state finishes

Central's Chris Martin and Notre Dame's Elizabeth Kiblinger and Myriah Bernard claimed second-place finishes at the Missouri Class 3 and 4 track and field championships in Jefferson City, Mo., on Saturday.

A total of 15 local athletes turned in all-state performances at the two-day meet.

Notre Dame led the way with eight all-state performers in Class 3, including four that made up the 1,600 relay team that placed seventh. In Class 4, Jackson had four all-state athletes in five events, while Central had two all-staters. Perryville had one in Class 3.

Kiblinger, a senior, capped her high school career with all-state performances in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters.

She took fifth in the 1,600 in a school-record time of 5 minutes, 10.36 seconds, which was her personal best by eight seconds.

She then finished her high school career with a runner-up finish in the 3,200 in 11:26.97, which was 5 seconds off the winning time of Clinton sophomore Nicole Lee.

"The two mile was my final high school race, so I was excited to get second," said Kiblinger, who was making her first appearance at the state meet.

The Bulldogs were strong in the throwing events.

Bernard, a junior, finished second in the shot put with a toss of 40 feet, 1 3/4 inches, which was just an inch and a half short of the winning toss of John Burrough's Jordan McClendon, while senior Jessica Menz was fourth in the discus (129-1).

Notre Dame junior Seth Sievers finished fifth in the discus (156-0) and seventh in the shot put (48-6 1/4).

"Everybody we took up there got all-state in something," Notre Dame coach Bill Davis said. "We had a good meet."

Central's Martin, a junior, turned in a career-best jump in his third appearance at the state meet. His final jump of 47-7 was more than 6 inches farther than his previous best, which he turned in earlier this season.

Martin led until he was surpassed by McCluer senior Darrion Dillard (48-6 1/2) on his final attempt.

Central junior Jacob Campbell also placed third in the 110 hurdles in 14.77.

"That's a great accomplishment for a first-year hurdler," Central coach Matt Hale said.

Jackson all-staters included a double performance by junior Payden Wachter in the girls discus and shot put. Wachter placed sixth in the shot put (39-2 3/4) and seventh in the discus (128-0).

Jackson junior Brannon Wright placed third in the 400 meters in 48.87. His time won less than a second off the winning time of Liberty's Max Bamburg.

Indians sophomore Dylan Rush placed fourth in the pole (14-3), and Clay Darnell was sixth in the discus (163-4).

Perryville's Terry Davis placed seventh in the 200 (22.63).

Class 4

Boys

Pole vault -- 4. Dylan Rush (J) 14-3; 12. Alex Bess-Rhodes (C) 13-0

Triple jump -- 2. Chris Martin (C) 47-7 3/4

110 hurdles -- 4. Jacob Campbell (14.77)

200 -- 11. Brannon Wright (J) 22.13

400 -- 3. Wright (J) 49.87; 15. Lowgn Wren (J) 51.51

1,600 relay -- 15. Jackson 3:27.95

Discus -- 6. Clay Darnell (J) 163-4

Girls

Shot put -- 6. Paden Wachter (J) 39-2 1/4

Discus -- 7. Wachter (J) 128-0

Pole vault -- 14 (t). -- Chleo Legrand (C) 10-6

Class 3

Boys

Discus -- 5. Seth Sievers (ND) 156-0

Shot put -- 7. Sievers (ND) 48-6 1/4

Triple jump -- 16. Jacob Lawrence (P) 39-0

1,600 relay -- 7. Notre Dame (Jordan Barber, Duncan Ross, Brady Vetter, Christian Westrich) 3:28.04

200 -- 7. Terry Davis (P) 22.63

Girls

Discus -- 4. Jessica Menz (ND) 129-1

Shot put -- 11. Menz (ND) 37-3 3/4

3,200 -- 2. Elizabeth Kiblinger (ND) 11:26.97

1,600 -- 5. Kiblinger (ND) 5:10.36