Chiefs, Lady 'Cats win district

Sophomore Ana Jackson earned three gold medals as the Lady 'Cats won the Class 1, District 5 championship. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Kirchhoff claimed gold medals in the 100- (11.2 seconds) and 200-meter (22.8) dashes and the triple jump (41 feet, 11 inches). The Chiefs also got a victory from senior Darin Buford in the 800 (2:08.7) to rack up 140 points, 16 ahead of second-place Glasgow.

Santa Fe had 12 entries finish in the top four, qualifying to this week's Section 3 meet at Richmond. The Chiefs had three relay teams advance.

Kirchhoff and Buford were joined by seniors Eric Harvey and Lance Miller for second in the 400 (47.4) and Buford, Harvey, Miller and freshman Jeff Kuntz combined for fourth in the 800 (1:41.4).

Buford, Kuntz, sophomore Correy Fitzwater and junior Hunter Rolf were second in the 3,200 relay (9:19.2). Rolf was third in the 800 (2:12.2) and Fitzwater second in the 3,200 (11:32.8).

Senior Luke Brandt finished fourth in the 110 high hurdles (17.2) and high jump (5-6) and Santa Fe's two discus throwers -- freshman Will Laws (126-7.25) and senior Tylor Strickland (111-10) -- were second and fourth, respectively.

Slater was fourth with 80 points, winning three times and advancing to sectionals in eight events. Junior Jeremy Wilson won the 400 (53.5) and was second in the 200 (22.9) and junior Cody Skinner was first in the 300 intermediate hurdles (43.6) and third in the 110 high hurdles (16.7).

Wilson, Skinner, freshman Adrian Clark and sophomore Travis Holt also teamed up to give the Wildcats a victory in the 800 relay (1:26.4). Skinner, Clark, Holt and sophomore Zach Sullivan placed second in the 1,600 relay (3:41.5). Holt added a fourth place in the triple jump (39-5).

Sweet Springs junior Kyle Hollrah placed second in the long jump (19-5) and third in the triple jump (40-9.5). The Greyhounds also came in third in the 400 relay (49.0) behind junior Chris Kinney, sophomores Nathan Belden and Bryan Catron, and freshman Derick Appleberry.

While Sweet Springs (26 points) was eighth in the team standings, two members of its football team led Malta Bend (30) to seventh -- junior Tyler Armstrong medaling in the 100 (11.6), 200 (24.5) and long jump (19-3) and his brother, senior Ryan Armstrong, placing in the 100 (11.7) and 400 (56.5).

Slater had three two-time winners to take the girls' title with 129.5 points, 20 ahead of Wellington-Napoleon.

Sophomore Ana Jackson was first in the 100 (12.8) and 200 (27.9), junior Niki Kruger won the 800 (2:36.2) and 1,600 (5:49.9), and freshman Betty Goodman was unbeaten in the 100 (18.5) and 300 (51.7) hurdles.

With freshman Jacqueline Anderson placing second in the 100 (13.1) and third in the 200 (28.7), no wonder the Lady Wildcats won two relays. Jackson, Goodman and Anderson ran both, joined by sophomore Marissa Weiher in the 800 (1:55.0) and Kruger in the 1,600 (4:25.4).

Senior Rachel Gonzalez came in first in the 3,200 (12:59.2) and fourth in the 1,600 (6:03.0) -- while also hooking up with Kruger and freshmen Brooke Clemons and Kaylee Holt for second in the 3,200 relay (11:12.0).

Freshman Brittany Higgins' first in the long jump (14-10.5) and third in the 100 (13.3) and triple jump (33-3) led the Sweet Springs to third place (71). While freshman Chelsea Hollrah placed in the high jump (4-8) and triple jump (31-9) and junior Kim Rennison was fourth in the 200 (29.0), the Lady 'Hounds also got big points from their throwers.

Junior Hollie Heaper won the shot put (32-0), with freshman Hope Heaper fourth (29-10), and junior Kristin Jones finished third in the discus (88-6).

Santa Fe (61) was fourth as a team, again with throwers doing much of the work. Senior Cassie Wright took the first step toward defending her state championship in the discus (112-5.5) with a win, also placing third in the shot put (30-2). Senior Kate Peters was second in the shot (31-0) and fourth in the discus (86-6).

The Lady Chiefs were also helped by junior Lauren Aversman, medaling in the 300 hurdles (52.4) and long jump (14-3) and leading off the fourth-place 400 relay (56.7) -- ahead of freshman Hailey Case, sophomore Anna Sleeper and senior Joci Russell.

The top four in each event at the sectional meet Saturday will advance to the MSHSAA Class 1 Championships, May 22-23 at Jefferson City.