Four local teams have two dozen state entries

Sophomore Niki Kruger will represent Slater in four events at the state meet, having won both the sectional 800 and 1,600 runs. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

There are going to be some busy Saline Area athletes later this week at the MSHSAA Class 1 Track and Field Championships at Jefferson City.

Sophomores Niki Kruger of Slater qualified for state in four events and sophomore teammate Jeremy Wilson placed three times Saturday during the Section 3 meet at Marshall. Santa Fe had three make the cut in three events -- senior Ramon Gordillo, junior Darin Buford and sophomore Lauren Aversman -- as did Lady Wildcats freshman Ana Jackson.

Kruger won the 800- (2:32.7) and 1,600-meter (5:54.1) runs and joined Jackson, senior Jessica Fleetwood and freshman Marissa Weiher for first place in the 1,600 relay (4:30.4). Kruger, senior Rachel Gonzalez -- the champion in the 3,200 (13:09.0) -- Weiher and sophomore Lexsi Griffith were fourth in the 3,200 relay (11:16.0).

Jackson placed second in both the 100 (13.3 seconds) and 200 (26.8) to punch her ticket to state.

Aversman was second in the 300 low hurdles (50.3) and long jump (15 feet, 7.5 inches) and came in fourth in the triple jump (31-0) and will be joined by Lady Chiefs junior Cassie Wright. The defending state discus champion won that event (111-5), plus was third in the shot put (29-6.25).

While the era of Sweet Springs sprinters appears to be over, or at least in remission, the team has two state-qualifying throwers: sophomore Hollie Heaper winning the shot put (32-4.75) and sophomore Kristen Jones placing third in the discus (90-10).

Wilson was third in the 200 (23.9), fourth in the 400 (54.0) and was part of the second-place 1,600 relay (3:40.4) with juniors Garrett Falls and Jeremy Fizer and sophomore Cody Skinner. Falls, Fizer, Skinner and senior Aric Falls were second in the 400 relay (46.9).

Buford (2:09.7) and Gordillo (2:12.0) were second and fourth, respectively, in the 800. Those two, along with junior Logan Kirchhoff and sophomore Hunter Rolf, were third in the 1,600 relay (3:40.9). Buford, Gordillo, Rolf and sophomore Jeff Knipmeyer were second in the 3,200 relay (8:55.0).

Kirchhoff also advanced with a second place in the triple jump (41-3.5).

Sweet Springs didn't have any qualifiers on the boys' side, but Malta Bend did -- for the first time in four years -- when sophomore Tyler Armstrong placed fourth in the long jump (19-10).