Schweitz jumps to front of the pack

CHESTERFIELD – Lafayette’s Mackenzie Schweitz entered the District 2 track meet as one of the more consistent high jumpers in the state.

Schweitz had cleared 5 feet, and sometimes even 5-2, in every meet this year. But the senior still hadn’t been able to match her personal best mark of 5-3 which had earned her a sixth-place finish at the Class 4 state meet as a freshman.

That all changed Saturday. Schweitz won the high jump when she cleared 5-2 at Marquette High School, but then she just kept going higher until she had tied the state-best mark of 5-7. Just a few miles away Parkway North’s Amber Alexander was also clearing 5-7 at the District 4 meet to tie Eldon’s Sara Rhine atop the state rankings.

Schweitz wasted little time between her attempts with the bar climbing higher. She caught just enough of the bar to miss on her first attempt at 5-7. She clipped the bar again on her second run at 5-7. The bar bounced a couple times but stayed up.

“Once a lot of the competitors are done, I calm down a lot and I’m not as nervous,” Schweitz said. “And once I got over 5-4 I knew that today was the day.

“If I sit down I start to get more tense. I like to stay flexy, that’s what my coach says, so that’s why I just roll with it.”

Webster Grove’s Jimmy Rizzo saw the district meet as his second chance. Rizzo got caught in a jumble of runners sprinting to the finish in last year’s 1,600-meter run. Rizzo was tripped up and fell, which cost him a qualifying spot for sectionals. This year, the junior trailed just behind race leaders Noah Kauppila and Adam Roderique of Marquette through the second half of the race, and he had little trouble holding onto fourth place (4:26.46) to advance.

2011 District 2 finish

“This is what I’ve been trying to go for all season,” Rizzo said. “I’ve just been focused on getting through districts, getting through districts, getting through districts.

“I didn’t make it through in anything; I only run the (1,600), so that was another reason why it was a huge bummer ending the season like that. I think (sectionals is) going to be a great experience and be a lot different than anything I’ve ever done.”

Kauppila won the race in 4:22.03, and Roderique was second in 4:22.62. Eureka’s Ethan Lambert took third (4:25.54).

The 110-meter hurdles pitted three of the top four runners in Class 4. Ladue senior Jehu Chesson II broke up the potential 1-2 finish Lafayette’s Chris Caldwell and Chris Orange were attempting.

Caldwell entered with the best seed time of the three at 14.12, and he jumped out to an early lead to claim the race in 14.61. He said having Orange on his team has helped him reach new heights this season.

“It’s actually a really big help because it’s more competition and without (Orange) I’d be running the same times I’ve been running for awhile,” Caldwell said. “I was just running my own race and staying focused. I can’t worry about my competition in the race.”

Chesson was second in 14.70 and Orange took third in 14.98.

The DeSmet 800-meter relay surged to a victory in the final strides with Durron Neal running anchor. The Spartans set a new school record in the event with their 1:28.13, which is second-best in the state this season.

“When I got it, I was just trying to coast 90-95 percent on the curve, and one thing I know I’m good at is when I get into the straight, I keep pushing it and moving my arms and started to pull away,” Neal said. “There’s still a lot more to improve, but it’s a nice win.”

There was a tight pack at the front of the boys’ 3,200-meter relay heading into the anchor leg. Marquette had opened about a 15-meter lead on the middle two legs, but Ladue’s Cody Medler was able to close the gap and claim the relay title. Ladue won in 7:58.08, while Marquette held on for second in 7:59.07.

“I was just thinking finish the race,” Medler said. “I was trying to conserve, but I didn’t conserve. I don’t know. I just run, race. I have a few hours until my next event, so I’ll be fine.”

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