For the first time since 2014, the Lamar Tigers are state champions in track and field.
The Tigers claimed the MSHSAA Class 3 boys championship on Saturday, May 18 at Adkins Stadium with 42 points. That was enough to hold off Eldon, who had 37 1/2 points, for the state championship.
The crown is No. 3 overall for Lamar, which won back-to-back Class 2 titles in 2013 and 2014.
A key to the success was Southwest Baptist football signee Ian Ngugi -- who led the football team to a state title back in December.
Ngugi placed in four different events for the Tigers.
He was on the 4x100-meter relay team with Aiden Sheat, Chase Querry and Adam Kluhsman -- taking second in 42.71 seconds.
The same group, but with Sheet, Kluhsman, Querry and Ngugi running the anchor instead of the second leg, won the 4x200-meter relay in 1:28.10.(Above)
Then, Ngugi added points in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
Seeded fifth in the 100 after prelims, he ended up taking third place in the finals on Saturday, running 10.83. In the 200, he took fourth with a time of 22.29. He ran a season-best 22.28 in the prelims on Friday in the 200 and his 100 time in the finals was his best of the year.
Lamar also added 14 points in the field events.
Querry added six points in the long jump by placing third, jumping 6.93 meters/22-feet, 9 inches. Senior Trace Wooldridge was the runner-up in the shot put. He threw 16.64 meters/54-7 1/4. Last year, he won a state title in that event.
