Saxony's relays find stiff competition in Class 2

JEFFERSON CITY -- The Saxony Lutheran boys 1,600 and 3,200 relays have dominated Class 1 over the past four years with a total of seven state titles.

The two relay teams, however, faced tougher competition this year in Class 2 as both placed third.

"I'm really pleased," said Saxony senior Andrew Etzold, who is a member of both the relays. "I knew it was going to be a lot harder at the beginning of the year, but we picked it up. Practices were a lot harder. It paid off. [The competition] has pushed us a lot more. Last year in Class 1 we won by quite a bit. This year we had people ahead of us that kept us going strong."

The 1,600 relay finished in 3 minutes, 27.66 seconds. The 3,200 relay ran in 8.13.37.

The time Saxony ran in the 3,200 was better than each of the times it had the past four years when winning the Class 1 championship.

"I can't complain," said Saxony senior Ross Gage who also is a member of both the relays. "We ran a lot faster than we had in past years in Class 1."

Mark Buerck and Trevor Mabuce were the other two members of the 1,600 relay, while Joe Buerck and Rhett Obermann were members of the 3.200 relay.

Unlike in past years when Saxony was in Class 1, none of its boys qualified to compete in individual events, including Gage, who was last year's 1,600 champion.

"In sectionals I dropped out of the mile to try to focus on the 800," Gage said. "Our sectional turned out to be incredible with 800 and 1,600 talent."

Other local athletes

Kelly's Cody Kern finished eighth in the Class 2 3,200 in 10:10:25. Kern, a junior, shaved almost four seconds off his seed time (10:14.19).

Scott City sophomore Alex Eichhorn placed eighth in the shot put (47-04.50).

Saturday's other results:

Class 2 girls

800 -- 11. Cassie Simpher, SL, 2:27.33

1,600 -- 11. Melanie Lacey, SC, 5:36.53. 13. Libby Miles, SC, 5:39.29.

Class 1 girls

Discus -- 12. Amber Kirk, C, 92-01.

Long jump -- 11. Sarah Sigman, C, 14-02.25.