The Missouri Track and Cross Country Coaches Association (MTCCCA) handed out awards at it's annual clinic and awards dinner in Columbia last month. Coach of the Year, Distinguished Coaches, and Hall of Fame honors were bestowed to some of the many outstanding coaches in the Show-Me State.
Coach of the Year awards were handed out for each class and gender of both cross country and track and field. Coach of the Year honors are awarded to the MTCCCA member whose team has the highest finish at state. Here is a look at the five Boys Track and Field Coaches of the Year.
Mark Sabala, Hermitage, Class 1 Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year
Sabala's Hermitage Hornets tied Hayti for the Class 1 state title as both teams scored 42 points. The Hornets were led by their distance squad. They won the 4x800, were 2nd in the 4x400, and got 3rd place finishes in the 800, 1600, and 3200-meter runs. Sabala's boys also won their 3rd straight state cross country title in the fall, earning him the Class 1 Boys cross country Coach of the Year honor as well.
West Platte. Class 2 Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year
The Class 2 Boys State Track meet also featured close margins. Northwest Missouri's West Platte Blue Jays tied O' Fallon Christian High School for 3rd. Coach Newsted's squad totaled 38 points to earn a state trophy, not far behind Summit Christian Academy and Charleston, who tied for first with 47 points. West Platte scored all of their points on the track, taking 2nd in the 4x100 and 4th in the 4x200 and 4x800. Charlie Kinslow added a 2nd place 1600 finish and a 3rd place 800 finish.
Matt Chance, Bowling Green, Class 3 Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year
Matt Chance's Bowling Green Boys dominated the Class 3 meet. The Bobcats scored an eye-popping 74.5, to more than double up 2nd place (37 points). Bowling Green had three individual state champions: Marcus Starks in the high jump, Bleyne Bryant in the triple jump, and Dylan Dalton in the javelin. Chance's son Ben placed 4th in the 3200, 6th in the 1600, and ran on the 11th place 4x800.
Chris Partney, Festus, Class 4 Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year
Festus won a great duel for the Class 4 Boys State Track and Field title. Festus beat Jefferson County rival Hillsboro for the Class 4 state title. Partney's Tigers finished with 76 points, 13 ahead of Hillsboro and 29 ahead of 3rd place. Festus was led by state champions Ian Schram and Arhmad Branch.
Schram won the 800 and 1600 while taking 2nd in the 3200 and anchoring the runner-up 4x800. Branch won the long jump, took 3rd in the triple jump, and ran on the runner-up 4x100 and 4x200 relays.
Neal Blackburn, Rock Bridge, Class 5 Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year.
The Bruins claimed their 3rd straight state title. Blackburn's squad dominated the field with 73.5 points to win by 15.5 points and beat 3rd place (32 points) by 41.5 points. Rock Brige was led by seniors Casey Hood and Ian Kemey,
and junior Andrew Hauser. Hood anchored the winning 4x100 and 4x200 while taking 2nd and 4th in the 200 and 100. Kemey claimed the 3200 state title while also taking 5th in the 1600 and 11th in the 800. Hauser won the 1600 and was 8th in the 3200.
Rock Bridge followed with their 3rd state cross country title in school history in the fall, to give new MTCCCA Hall of Famer Blackburn another COY honor. 