Saxony's Etzold wins four titles in final state meet appearance

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Saxony Lutheran's boys track and field team added four more first-place medals to its haul on Saturday, but it was not enough to knock off defending Class 1 champion Polo at the Class 1 and 2 state track and field championships at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.

The Crusaders finished with 70 points, 18 short of Polo. Last year, Polo finished with 64 points, eight points ahead of the Crusaders.

"We scored everywhere we could," Saxony coach Larry Cleair said. "They [Polo] did a great job. You just look at what we did, even the people who didn't score a lot of points ran well."

It was not about where the Crusaders did not score, but where Polo did. Polo scored 16 points in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 relay this year after not scoring a point in any of those events last year. Polo also added eight points in the 400 this year as well.

"They made some good moves," Cleair said. "They had a kid run the 800 and he got second, and they scored in the 400 and took second. That's 16 points there."

Scott City's Stephanie Essner struggles to complete the 400-meter run Saturday during the Missouri state high school track and field championships in Jefferson City. Essner was injured in the preliminary race. (L.G. Patterson photo)

Despite having to settle for runner-up a second straight year, it was clear the Crusaders' athletes were satisfied with the day. The highlight of the day came in the 400-meter dash, where Brandon Etzold claimed his third individual title of the weekend by setting the Class 1 state record.

Etzold used his patented final kick to fly by Andy Ahart of Polo in a winning time of 49.66 seconds. This came after Etzold won the 800 and 1,600 on Friday. Etzold became just the second runner in Class 1 history to win the 400, 800 and 1,600 in the same year.

"I was kind of scared," Etzold said of the 400. "I didn't think I had enough endurance to finish it -- the Polo kid started so fast. I knew I had it [the state record] in me, I just couldn't get it out. If felt good to finally do it."

Saxony opened Saturday by winning its third straight 3,200 relay in a time of 8 minutes, 22.34 seconds. Without the help of Etzold, who moved over to the 400, the Crusaders ran sophomores Andrew Etzold, Ross Gage, freshman Joe Buerck and junior Max Wieser.

Andrew Etzold gave the Crusaders a lead on the first lap, Buerck needed a strong second 400 to maintain the lead, Gage held a slim lead after three runners, and Wieser opened up a big lead to take the race.

Saxony Lutheran's Alex Jauch started his leg in the 800 relay during Saturday's state championships. Saxony finished fourth in the event.

"To have a freshman, two sophomores and a junior in the relay and run with that maturity, they were excellent," Cleair said.

Brandon Etzold shared those sentiments.

"I kind of missed being out there, but it was great for those guys," Brandon Etzold said. "They all were able to do that without me, which shows how great those guys are. They didn't need me to win."

The Crusaders did use Brandon Etzold's skills to close out the day with another state title. Saxony defended its 1,600 relay title in 3:28.46. Wieser ran the leadoff, followed by Andrew Etzold, Alex Jauch and Brandon Etzold.

The 1,600 title made for the second straight year in which Brandon Etzold won all four events he competed in. Last year Etzold won the 800, 1600 and ran on the winning 1,600 and 3,200 relays. In all, Etzold finished with nine first-place medals.

"It's been a lot more success than I thought it would be," Brandon Etzold said. "That's because of coach Cleair and God. God's given me ability and drive. And I couldn't have done it without my teammates. I couldn't do it by myself."

Jauch wins 300 hurdles

Jauch rounded out Saxony's boys titles Saturday by winning the 300 hurdles in 39.29 seconds. Chris Hufford of Polo finished second in 39.44. While the finish appeared pretty tight, it was easy to tell who won with the excitement of Jauch and the dejected look on Hufford's face.

"I knew I had to get it those first five hurdles," Jauch said. "I just tried to come out of the blocks and attack the first three hurdles and it was smooth sailing. I knew if I had the lead and he caught up on the stagger, I could win the sprint."

The Crusaders also took fourth in the 800 relay. Wieser, Jauch, Trevor Mabuce and Clay Obergoenner ran on the 800 relay. Wieser also medaled in the 400 in eighth.

"He just worked like a dog," Cleair said of Weiser. "I told him after the 400, 'If you don't have anything left we have alternates,' and he said he'd let me know. He did. He ran a great open leg for us."

Simpher wins 400 title

The success was not limited to Saxony's boys. Saxony freshman Cassie Simpher collected her first state title by winning the 400 in 59.80. Simpher was the only runner in under a minute.

Simpher also finished third in the 100 in 26.43 seconds and third in the 100 in 12.88 seconds. Chetara Watkins and Kelly McKay finished first and second in both events, respectively.

"I felt pretty good to at least qualify in four events," Simpher said. "The 100 I wasn't quite satisfied with. I felt I could do a little better, but I was still able to get third. It was the same with the 200.

"The 400 I was expecting to win it, and I did. I'm glad I got at least one first-place medal. Being a freshman, it's pretty good to get three medals."

Simpher was able to place 10th in the girls competition by herself with 22 points. Worth County was first with 49 points. Simpher also finished 11th in the long jump with a distance of 15 feet, 2 1/2 inches.

Kelly freshman Londyn Backfish matched Simpher with three medals Saturday. Backfish finished second in the Class 2 400 in 59.85, she was fourth in the 200 in 26.15 and fifth in the 100 in 12.70.

Backfish also qualified in the high jump but did not compete in it Saturday. The high jump was scheduled at the same time as the 200 and 400.

"I'm just ecstatic with my results," Backfish said. "I didn't realize how big an accomplishment it was to get here. It just really makes you feel good that you made it here.

"I'm so happy. I've had so much help form my teammates. I couldn't have made it here without them."

Backfish nearly won the 400. Tanna Prenger won in 58.57 seconds. Backfish started out slow but passed several runners in the final 100 meters and just fell short of Prenger.

"That's how I do it. I hang back and give a kick," Backfish said. "It's not usually the best style, but it works with me."

Essner walks in final

Scott City freshman Stephanie Essner did not compete in the 100 hurdles finals due to an injury, but she did walk the track in the 400 to claim her eighth-place medal. Essner won her heat in the 400 on Friday, and would have likely qualified in the 200 finals as well if not for the injury.

Scott County Central junior D.D. Gillespie brought home four all-state medals Saturday. Gillespie was third in the 400 (51.61), fifth in the 200 (23.65) and eighth in the 100 (11.72). Gillespie also anchored the 800 relay, which finished fifth in 1:35.57. Ron Banks, Drew Thomas and Rhazi Jones also ran on the relay.

Kelly senior Spencer Ayers was all-state in the Class 2 shot put with a sixth-place throw of 50-7 3/4. Also in Class 2, Chaffee sophomore Trenton Horman finished sixth in the high jump, clearing 6-2.

Scott City junior Derek Goodin was fifth in the Class 2 300 hurdles in 41.63, followed by Chaffee junior Gage Harrell in sixth in 42.09.

Chaffee also got an all-state performance from senior Rachel Hendrix in the 800. Hendrix passed six runners on the second lap and finished seventh in 2;26.95.

Kelly freshman Cody Kern was 14th in the 3,200 in 10:57.36. Scott City was 11th in the 3,200 relay in 8:31.17, and Kelly was 13th in 8:37.68.

Also for Saxony Lutheran, Peter Winningham was 10th in the 3,200 in 10:54.49. Deanna Dippold was 10th in the 3,200 for Saxony Lutheran on Friday in 13:29.44.

Caleb Johnson rounded out Scott County's first-year state qualifiers in 12th in the high jump. Johnson cleared 5-8 on Friday.