Baughman, Bryan Take Down Top MO Talents in the Boys 800; Iowa Girls Go 1-4
In the marquee match-up of the day, the Boys 800 was shaping up to be a major throwdown all week between a few of the top talents in the Midwest in the event.
Missouri brought the Wonder Twins James and Jerald Allen along with Lafayette's Nassim Oufattole, Hazelwood East's Matthew White, and Central St. Joseph's Boston Small, and saw the 800 debut of Hazelwood West 400 phenom Justin Robinson. Illinois added Illini West stud Jacob Bryan and Waterloo's Cayden Kirkham. Oklahoma sent over Sand Springs junior Aden Baughman and the stage was set.
The race went out with the implication that someone would probably break 1:55 as the top three boys were all under 28 seconds through the first lap and the top six boys were 57 seconds or better through 400.
The blistering pace was felt in that third lap, though, as the race came back, but eventually was won by Baughman in an indoor personal best of 1:55.63 with Bryan just behind in 1:55.73.
James Allen was the first Missourian across the line in 1:57.91 with Oufattole behind him in 1:58.28 and Jerald Allen fifth in 1:59.11. Kirkham made it six boys under 2:00 as he crossed in 1:59.94 and White took seventh in 2:00.95
On the girls side, the Iowa foursome that came down to Columbia did not come down in vain.
Janette Schraft (East Mills), Kelsey Schweizer (Dowling Catholic), Julia Schumacher (Assumption), and Laney Fitzpatrick (Assumption) took the top four spots in a tactical race that went out relatively slow (36) and finished fairly fast (33) with Schraft taking the win in 2:22.04.
Liberty's Madelynn Hill was the top Missourian in fifth in 2:29.46.