Scott City boys track team ties for fourth place at Class 2 state meet

Scott City's 1,600-meter relay team knew the situation heading into the final race at the Class 2 state track and field meet Saturday.

A top-eight finish would guarantee the Rams of at least a fourth-place finish in the team standings.

"We knew about that going into it that we needed one point to keep the fifth- and sixth-place guys off us," Scott City coach Travis Schiwitz said. "We knew the worst we could do was tie for fourth."

The Rams' team of Austin Atchley, Zach Cotner, Eric Essner and Justin Modglin finished just most than a half-second out of eighth place.

So Scott City had to settle for sharing fourth place at the state meet, which was held at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo.

Scott City junior Brandon Shemonia competes during Saturday's Class 2 state track meet in Jefferson City, Mo. (CHRIS AUCKLEY ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian)

"That's the first time in school history we've even been close to it," Scott City junior Brandon Shemonia said about the fourth-place finish. "We had an awesome group of guys. It's awesome to finally get it, especially to be the first ones in school history."

Shemonia helped lead the Rams with a second-place finish in the 3,200 and a third in the 1,600. College Heights' Caleb Hoover edged Shemonia in the 3,200.

"In the 1,600, that's probably about what we thought on that," Schiwitz said. "He was closer to the lead than we thought he would be, honestly. On the 3,200, I thought he had an outside chance of taking the Hoover kid from College Heights down. Just didn't work out."

Shemonia said the warm weather Saturday played a factor in his performance.

"I was feeling really good in the mile, but in the 2 mile, the heat kind of caught up to me," he said. "I didn't feel that great, but I'll take second place. They made us stand out in the heat a lot. I get sunburned really quick. I think it just took a lot of energy out. By the time we ran the 2 mile, it was 6 o'clock and we had been out here six hours."

Scott City senior Alex Eichhorn relishes taking second place in the shot put at the Class 2 state track meet Saturday in Jefferson City, Mo.

The Rams also got a second-place performance from senior Alex Eichhorn in the shot put. His throw of 51 feet, 5 inches was just 2-11 behind champion T.J. Schieber of Penney.

"That came out of nowhere," Schiwitz said. "I was shocked. It was a great way for Alex to end his senior year."

Scott City senior Garett Schaefer recorded a pair of third-place finishes. He ran the sixth-fastest time in the 100 preliminaries but bettered that time by three-tenths of a second to earn third. He also took third in the 200.

"Garett PR'd in everything and he ran the fastest he's ever ran," Schiwitz said. "He had an awesome weekend. It was a great way to end his senior year."

The Rams' best relay performance came in the 400, where Atchley, Cotner, Modglin and Schaefer finished sixth.

Scott City senior Melanie Lacey competes in the 3,200 meters during Saturday's Class 2 state track meet in Jefferson City, Mo. (CHRIS AUCKLEY ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian)

Senior Melanie Lacey made the most of her final meet by taking fourth in the 3,200.

"I was really pleased with the way we did," Schiwitz said.

Saxony Lutheran's Nicole Hemmann ran the 14th fastest time in the 100 hurdles preliminaries.

Kelly's Kyle Long did not record a height in the pole vault.

BOYS

Top five team scores -- 1. Maplewood 104; 2. Principia 50; 3. Strafford 41; t-4 Scott City 37; t-4 College Heights Christian 37

Finals

Discus -- 13. Austin Tapley, sr., Scott City, 127-2

Pole vault -- Kyle Long, sr., Kelly, NH

3,200 relay -- 14. Scott City (Tyler Adams, Eric Essner, Brandon Shemonia, Jacob Underwood), 8:45.22

100 -- 3. Garett Schaefer, sr., Scott City, 11.06

800 relay -- Scott City (Austin Atchley, Zach Cotner, Justin Modglin, Schaefer) DQ

1,600 -- 3. Brandon Shemonia, jr., Scott City, 4:22.85

400 relay -- 6. Scott City (Atchley, Cotner, Modglin, Schaefer), 44.62

Shot put -- 2. Alex Eichhorn, sr., Scott City, 51-5

200 -- 3. Schaefer, Scott City, 22.21

1,600 relay -- 9. Scott City (Atchley, Cotner, Essner, Modglin), 3:33.54

3,200 -- 2. Shemonia, Scott City, 9:52.44

Preliminaries

100 -- 6. Schaefer, Scott City, 11.36

GIRLS

Finals

3,200 -- 4. Melanie Lacey, sr., Scott City, 11:57.09

Preliminaries

100 hurdles -- 14. Nicole Hemmann, jr., Saxony Lutheran, 17.86