ALBANY, Mo. — Rock Port’s girls continued their state qualification parade at Saturday’s Class 1 sectional.

The Blue Jays became a little more comfortable with second-, third- and fourth-place finishes at E.C. Smith Field, but it doesn’t change their overall goal. With 10 individual state qualifiers and three relays, Rock Port looks a good bet to bring home a first state trophy since 2005.

And a large amount of point-earning finishes next week could mean a fifth state championship for the Blue Jays.

“It’s going to be tough, but I know everyone on our team has worked really hard to get where we are right now,” said sophomore Abbey Lawrence, who qualified for state in the 4x800-meter relay, 800-meter and 1,600.

“We’re going to aim for state. We want it; we really want it.”

Rock Port swept the throwing events — Kyleigh Parrish (discus) and Makayla Vette (shot put) — and earned a 1-2 finish in the 3,200 from Hanna Vette and Leslie Alitz. But Parrish missed out in the shot put, and the Blue Jays normal dominance in the middle distances was interrupted.

The meet started with another dominant performance for the Blue Jays in the 4x800 relay. Lawrence, Alitz, Elyssa Ellison and Karley Evans finished in 10 minutes, 25.56 seconds, topping second-place Stanberry by nearly 17 seconds in a time consistent with a state-medal finish.

The successes didn’t carry over in the open 800 and 1,600.

After Rock Port placed 1-2 in both events at last week’s district, Alitz and Elyssa Ellison placed third and fourth in the 1,600, while Lawrence was third in the 800. Ellison failed to qualify for state in the 800.

Polo’s Tiffiney Hufford captured first in both with DeKalb’s McKenzie Reagan earning two runner-ups. In the 1,600, Reagan ran up front for the first 3 3/4 laps before Hufford outsprinted her on the backstretch of the final lap, finishing in 5:48.85.

In the 800, Hufford took the lead from the beginning and won in 2:32.91. The 1,600 went to plan for the Polo junior, but she was more nervous in the 800.

“I was actually hoping they’d set the pace, and I could kick in late,” Hufford said. “But if I would’ve waited, it would’ve hurt my time.”

On the boys side, Craig junior Will Haer captured his first pole vault sectional championship in a stacked field. Three of the top four state finishers from last year competed — including Haer and defending state champion Payden Bauman of North Andrew.

Haer cleared 13 feet on his third and final attempt at 13 feet after Albany’s Landon Crawford and Bauman missed on their three tries. Battling windy conditions, Haer extended out and cleanly cleared the bar to match his personal best for a fifth time.

“I already knew I was going to state,” Haer said, “so it was kind of give it all you have and can see what you can do. It feels kind of good to have everything against you and win.”

The three top competitors provided a show for the onlookers, while also showing a familiarity with each other.

“It’s a lot of fun to know the guys who are good as you,” said Haer, who placed third at state last year with a vault of 12-0. “When I compete against them, you know who to talk to and they can help you with your steps.

“They’re friendly, but you can always see a little edge there.”

In one of the few big surprises, Jefferson’s 4x200 relay placed fourth and advanced to state after Gallatin and Rock Port dropped the baton on early exchanges. The unexpected state berth allowed senior Doug Archer to advance in all four events.

After placing third in a loaded 110 hurdle field, Archer anchored the 4x200, won the high jump and finished third in the 300 hurdles. Teammate Craig Mattson joins Archer in the 4x200, while winning the 110 hurdles and placing second in the triple jump.

The duo gives the Eagles serious medal possibilities in the individual events, but the relay team might just enjoy the experience.

“We caught a couple lucky breaks, those teams dropping batons,” Archer said of the 4x200. “Probably not too many expectations for that one (at state), unless we catch a couple lucky breaks again, but that’s one-in-a-million chance.”

Archer edged out Christian’s Adam Nelson for the final spot in the 300 hurdles, but Nelson earned his first individual state berth earlier in the 100 hurdles. He trailed Orrick’s Leslee Eubank until the Bearcats junior fell over a hurdle, allowing Nelson to claim the final spot.

Nelson will draw an outside lane assignment next week at state, but all four qualifiers from last year’s Albany sectional earned medals at state.

“Getting out of a stacked hurdle sectional’s gotta feel pretty good,” Nelson said. “Just gotta work hard this week, and I have a good chance of getting into the finals.

“Lane 1, lane 8 — doesn’t really matter to me.”

Christian’s only other individual qualifier was Jake Herzog, who won the 800 with a late surge. Herzog allowed Mound City’s Miles Clifton to lead most of the two-lap race, but despite a stiff head wind down the backstretch, Herzog passed Clifton in the last 20 meters.

“That was exactly what I wanted to do,” said Herzog, who finished in 2:06.19 — 0.65 ahead of Clifton. “I’ve always got enough in the end. I was just hoping to have it again.”

Assistant sports editor Ross Martin can be reached at

rossmartin@npgco.com