Marshall runners bring home SMSG gold

Wrestler Dustin Hackett (top) was among the current and former Marshall High athletes to compete at the Show-Me State Games. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

COLUMBIA -- Runners from Marshall came back from the Show-Me State Games at Columbia last month with plenty of hardware.

Missouri Valley College graduate Linzi Leimkuehler, a perennial SMSG winner who was an all-state sprinter for the Owls, took first place in the women's 18- to 29-year-old 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes during the July 25-26 track and field competition.

Also among younger athletes, recent Santa Fe grad Cassie Wright of Blackburn -- the 2008 MSHSAA Class 1 discus champion -- won that event in the women's 17- to 18-year-old age group. Another Santa Fe product, Hadley Rolf of Alma, was third in the girls' 13-14 triple jump and fifth in the long jump.

Two of Marshall's master runners, Jack Uhrig and Bill Wright, also enjoyed their customary strong showings. Uhrig entered eight events for 55-59 men, winning the 1,500 and 5,000 and placing third in the 400 and 800. He also medaled in two relays, gold in the 400 and silver in the 1,600.

Of Wright's six races, he was first in the men's 65-69 1,500 and 5,000 -- along with a leg of the 30-plus 400-meter relay -- second in the 200 and 800 and third in the 100. He also claimed a silver medal in the long jump.

During the July 26 five-kilometer road race, Uhrig was first in the 55-59 class, Wright was sixth among 60-69 and Uhrig's son Jacob -- a former Marshall letterman -- placed second in 19-24.

Current Lady Owl team members -- junior Katie Wells, sophomore Arozo Shahabzada and junior Stormy Morrison -- took the top three spots in the Aug. 1 cross country meet. Wells won a state medal last year at the MSHSAA Class 3 Championships.

In other results from the nation's longest-running state Games:

--Slater head football coach Chris and son Nikolas Ferri of Marshall were third in the 13- to 15-year-old father/son golf contest July 19, combining for an 88 on A.L. Gustin Golf Course.

--In the skills contest held July 25-26, former MHS head boys' basketball coach Kevin Hart placed in the top three among 55-59 men in all six events -- winning for both football and softball throwing accuracy.

--Recent Marshall grad Dustin Hackett, a state qualifier last winter, was fifth in the 18- to 29-year-old 213- to 239-pound division in wrestling on July 18. Michael Colfax, a 2007 Missouri Valley College grad from Guam, came in third in the 175-185 weight class of the same age group.

--Senior bowlers also did well, Blanche Deal and Anne Collier finishing 1-2 in women's 80-and-over singles and teaming up for first place in doubles contest. Shirley Keyton was second in singles and was joined by Leanna Westbrook for second in the women's 70-79 bracket. Placing fourth in women's 20-29 singles was Jennifer Land of Miami.

--Controlled Insanity, coached by former Marshall assistant Shelley Parkhurst, won the bronze medal in Open Co-ed volleyball July 26.

Results are only listed for those athletes who are clearly known to be from the Saline area.