Wachter, Maddox, Martin win state titles at track meet

~ Jackson boasts two state champions, while Central claims one

Senior Paden Wachter made the final meet of her high school career a special one for both her and her father, Steve, who served in the capacity of head coach for the Jackson High School track and field team for the final time at the Class 4 championships in Jefferson City, Mo.

Paden Wachter won the discus throw on Friday and finished second in the shot put Saturday, one of three state championships claimed by local athletes and one of seven all-state performances turned in by the Indians.

Jackson junior Sierra Maddox also claimed a state title in the pole vault, while Central senior Chris Martin won the Class 4 boys triple jump.

In addition to Wachter and Maddox, Jackson junior Dylan Rush placed third in the boys pole vault, junior Clay Darnell placed fifth in the discus, and senior sprinter Brannon Wright concluded a stellar high school career with sixth-place finishes in the 100 and 200 meters.

"As a coach, you think it's an incredible deal to have someone be state champion and take second," said Steve Wachter, who is retiring from teaching and will be stepping down to assistant track coach next season. "But even more incredible and a great feeling, a super feeling on top of it since it's your daughter. I'm very proud of her. I'm very proud of [throwing] coach [Richard] Rushin -- he did a fabulous job with her."

Paden Wachter moved up from fifth place to second on her final throw in the shot put finals, breaking her personal-best by more than two feet with a toss of 43 feet, 6 inches.

Wachter had the seventh-best toss in the discus heading into the state meet, but she boasted the best throw in the preliminaries and uncorked the top throw in the finals. She threw 135-1 on her second attempt to beat Blue Spring's Tyra Bickham, who threw 133-4

"I feel she peaked out here the last couple of weeks," Steve Wachter said.

Paden Wachter, who will compete next year at Lindenwood University, had finished seventh in the discus as a junior with a throw of 128-0.

Maddox won the pole vault with a personal-best 12-6. She then attempted to break the state meet record at 12-10 but came up short.

"She just had a fabulous season all year," Wachter said. "She just kept it going through districts, sectionals and state. She was kind of like Paden -- she just kept peaking right here at the end and kept getting a little bit better and better. Both of [their] work ethic is exceptional. I mean they train all the time and work out hard. It's very deserving by both of them."

Martin turned in his winning attempt on his second jump, traveling 47 feet, 2 3/4 inches. Martin's winning jump was 10 inches farther than that of Hazelwood West senior Anthony Ball.

"It's everything I thought it would be and more," Martin said about his win. "It's a good feeling to actually say you're the best."

Martin took fifth place in the event as a sophomore and finished second last year. He jumped even farther last year with a 47-7 in the finals, but he was beat out on the final attempt by the final competitor.

"He's worked very hard for this and he's deserving," Central coach Scott Schweinbold said. "He didn't jump his best jump, but it was good enough to win."

Rush cleared 15-0 in the pole vault finals along with Poplar Bluff's Austin Barousse and Jefferson City's Joey Burkett. He took third based on fewest missed attempts.

Darnell, who finished sixth at the state meet as a sophomore, threw 162-5 to improve one spot this year.

Wright, who finished third in the 400 as junior, ran in four events at the state meet -- 100, 200, 400 and 1,600 relay.

He reached the finals in the 100 (11.03 seconds) and 200 (22.41). He clocked 11.25 seconds in the 100 final and 22.28 in the 200 final.

"What an incredible career he's had at Jackson," Wachter said about Wright, who also will compete next year at Lindenwood. "And he's had a fabulous last four weeks."

Jackson finished 13th in the boys team standings, while Jackson's girls placed seventh.

In Class 3, Notre Dame's Myriah Bernard placed third in the shot put with a throw of 40-6 3/4. Bernard had finished second in the shot put as a junior.

The Bulldogs also received an all-state performance by the girls 1,600 relay as Edie Salter, Ariel Dumars, Taylor Hess and Madison Little finished seventh in 4:08.32.

Notre Dame took fourth in the boys 3,200 relay as the quartet of Carson Bruenderman, Jordan Barber, Cole Ross and Devin Ziegler ran 8:07.44 in the final.

Barber also was among the eight qualifiers for Saturday's 400 final.

Class 4

Boys

100 -- 6. Brannon Wright, Jackson, 11.25

200 -- 6. Wright, Jackson, 22.28

Triple jump -- 1. Chris Martin, Central, 47-2 3/4

Discus -- 5. Clay Darnell, Jackson, 162-5

3,200 -- 13. Billy Leighton, Central, 9:55.9

Pole vault -- 3. Dylan Rush, pole vault, 15-0

Girls

Discus -- 1. Paden Wachter, Jackson, 135-1

Shot put -- 2. Wachter, Jackson, 43-6

Pole vault -- 1. Sierra Maddox, Jackson, 12-6; 9. Chleo Legrand, Central, 11-0

Class 3

Boys

3,200 relay -- 4. Notre Dame (Carson Bruenderman, Jordan Barber, Cole Ross, Devin Ziegler), 8:07.44

400 -- 8. Jordan Barber

Girls

Shot put -- 3. Myriah Bernard, Notre Dame, 40-6 3/4

Discus -- 12. Marissa New, Notre Dame, 113-2

1,600 relay -- 7. Notre Dame (Edie Salter, Ariel Dumars, Taylor Hess, Madison Little), 4:08.32