Scott City's Arnzen captures sectional high jump crown

TOWN AND COUNTRY, Mo. — Scott City senior Craig Arnzen was never so happy to see a folding chair.

The folding chair was needed by the judges at the Class 2 sectional meet Saturday at Principia High School to raise the high jump bar to 6 feet, 10 inches.

"That makes me feel like I have some hops," Arnzen said.

Arnzen was not able to clear that height, although he came very close on two of his three tries. But he was able to set a personal record by clearing 6-8 en route to the sectional championship. He qualified for the Class 2 state meet next weekend. The top four finishers in each sectional Saturday advanced to the state meet, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Lincoln University in Jefferson City.

Arnzen showed plenty of hops in defeating rivals Gerrico Shanklin of Crystal City, who cleared 6-2; and Trenton Horman of Chaffee, who also cleared 6-2.

"I know I have done something special if I beat Gerrico and Trenton," Arnzen said. "I love competing with them."

Arnzen, Shanklin and Horman have three of the four best jumps in the state in Class 2 and will be medal contenders.

It will be the first appearance at the state meet for Arnzen. Two years ago, when the top two advanced directly from the districts to state, he finished the dreaded third. Last year, he ended up in a similar situation, finishing fifth in the sectional.

"To tell you the truth, I felt terrible when I first got here today," Arnzen said. "This is where I got knocked out last year and it happend on a jump-off. I was worried coming into the meet."

He also had to make an adjustment in the middle of the competition when his teammate and good friend, Derek Goodin, fell in the 300-meter hurdles.

"I saw it happen, and I feel so bad for him," Arnzen said. "He was ranked first in the state and I am sure he would have been the state champion. I'm sick about it, and it spooked me and it showed when I missed my next jump at 6-2. I just had to lock back in and concentrate on what I need to do."

Arnzen was able to do that, and he put on quite a show in front of both Shanklin, who was taking pictures, and Horman.

Arnzen cleared 6-8 on his first try, breaking his previous best of 6-7 accomplished last month in the Sikeston Open meet.

The fast worker, who plans to attend the University of Missouri in the fall, looks forward to what he can accomplish at state.

"When you win a district and sectional like this, you have to be confident," said Arnzen, who is undefeated this season. "I am going there to win it. But more than anything, I just want to perform well."

Scott City sophomore Stephanie Essner had an outstanding sectional meet. She won the 200-meter dash (26.16) and the 400 (58.39) and finished second in the 100 hurdles (17.06).

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:Class 2 Sectional 1 at Principia

BOYS

300 hurdles — 2, Gage Harrell, Chaffee, 41.59.

High jump — 1, Craig Arnzen, Scott City, 6-8; 3, Trenton Horman, Chaffee, 6-2.

Shot put — 2, Daniel Lawson, Chaffee, 45-4.5; 3, Walker Rice, Chaffee, 44-10.25;

GIRLS

100 — 2, Londyn Backfisch, Kelly, 12.81.

200 — 1, Stephanie Essner, Scott City, 26.16; 2, Backfisch, Kelly, 26.21.

400 — 1, Essner, Scott City, 58.39.

1,600 — 3, Tara Johnson, Kelly, 5:39.92; 4, Libby Miles, Scott City, 5:49.82.

3,200 — 2, Johnson, Kelly, 12:24.93,

100 hurdles — 2, Essner, Scott City, 17.06.

1,600 relay — 3, Scott City, 4:16.96.

3,200 relay — 3, Scott City, 10:35.55.

High jump — 3, Backfisch, Kelly, 5-0.