The News-Press track and field leaderboard is compiled by Andy Meyer through coaches submissions and meet results. If there is an inaccurate or missing time/distance, please e-mail Andy at andymeyer@npgco.com or fax it in to the News-Press at (816) 271-8692.
Tigers tame LeBlond batsDEARBORN, Mo. — Plattsburg’s Korbin Hicks sat front and center, watching Bishop LeBlond’s freight train offense steamroll its first two district games by a combined 38 runs.
He tempered his team’s chances of beating the Golden Eagles accordingly.
“We knew if we could hold them under 10 runs, we had a chance to win,” Hicks said.
Riding a recent streak of hot hitting, Central steamed into districts with a fresh batch of confidence in its bats.
Park Hill left-hander Albert Minnis doused that enthusiasm and ended the Indians’ season with a dominant performance during the Trojans’ 3-0 victory on Monday in Kansas City.
“I was not surprised it was low-scoring. I was surprised that we got shut out,” Central coach Stan Weston said. “Still, it’s probably one of the better hitting teams I’ve had.”
As course conditions deteriorated at Deer Lake Golf Course, so did Cameron’s chance at a second-day comeback.
But the Dragons’ top four shot as well or better than they did Monday to fuel a comeback that landed them in second place at the conclusion of the Class 2 Golf Championships in Springfield, Mo.
“We were a little disappointed in yesterday, but I’m proud of this group and how they kept battling,” Cameron coach Kevin Nichols said. “That’s how this team’s been all year.”
Ivory towers over 'Hounds
Benton forward Ivory Baldwin didn’t look that imposing as she streaked up the right sideline at Alumni Stadium. Then she got her feet on the ball. The pint-sized Cardinal blasted in three consecutive goals, each one harder than the next, and led her team to a 4-2 victory against Maryville in the Class 1 District 16 semifinals. Benton will take on city rival Bishop LeBlond in Wednesday’s final.
State just a leap away for Irish athletesEXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. — Kyle Williams didn’t want to watch, but he couldn’t look away.
The Lafayette senior sat helplessly in fourth place, forced to watch three long jumpers attempt to take his spot at sectionals. With each measurement, he peeked out from under his black hooded sweatshirt, afraid of what he might hear.
His anxiety disappeared a short time later when Kearney’s Austin Stephens scratched his final attempt at the Class 3 District 8 meet to send Williams to his first sectional appearance.
Mike Weil and Tyler Deatherage weren’t adjusting well to the consolation bracket.
The Benton duo committed error after error, both shouting in frustration as they rapidly fell into a 6-2 hole against Grain Valley. They certainly didn’t look like comeback candidates.
“We were kind of getting down on ourselves. One mistake turned into another and another,” Weil said. “Once we got rolling, we couldn’t really stop after that.”
This much drama is hard to find outside of daytime television.
*Cue Don LaFontaine, the epic-sounding movie trailer guy*
In a meet...where two conference champions will decide the team title, only one can be victorious.
Without looking back, Lindsay Vollmer picked herself up out of the long jump pit, brushed herself off and jogged to her starting blocks for the the 100-meter hurdle finals.
She had another event to dominate.
There was no rest for the victor of four events at Saturday’s Class 2 District 8 track meet at Bishop LeBlond, where the lanky Hamilton freshman swept her events by significant
margins.
With six state medals to his name, De’Andre Vandevender has made a name for himself in the jumping pits.
But for the first time in his accomplished track-and-field career, the Trenton senior will lace up his spikes for a running event at today’s Class 2 District 8 meet at Bishop LeBlond.
Never quite quick enough to crack the top four until this year, Vandevender’s rigorous workout regimen landed him on the 4x100-meter relay team.