Class 2 State Preview: Sprints/Hurdles
100 Meter Dash
(Christian Brune of Fatima)
Returning All-State Runners
Christian Brune, Fatima, JR, 1st
Bobby Norful, Maplewood, SR, 3rd
Nick Zink, Iberia, SR, 8th
This Year
Brune, looking to collect another 100m title, is the only male to dip under the 11-second mark this year. Nick Zink, who is running the 100m, 400m, but the 800m as well at state, has the second fastest time with 11.00. Norful could score major points for the 1st place Maplewood team according to virtual meets. However, many other people could make a run at the top places. Logan Logsdon of Christian High School, and Carl Brunner of Lathrop are both within .1 seconds of Zink.
200 Meter Dash
(Marcus Taylor of Maplewood-Richmond Heights)
Returning All-State Runners
Christian Brune, Fatima, JR, 1st
Marcus Taylor, Maplewood, SR, 2nd
Garett Schaefer, Scott City, JR, 3rd
Tyler Coonis, Fair Grove, JR, 8th
This Year
This race promises to be a good one with the top three finishers all returning. Brune, the fastest time in the 100m, and Taylor, the 1st time this year in the 200m and 400m, should make for a good race. Brune edged Taylor out winning by only .11 seconds last year, but Taylors time of 21.90 puts him .35 seconds faster than the Fatima junior this year. Marcus Taylor’s teammate, Bobby Norful, has run the third fastest time this season, but returning 3rd place finisher Garett Schaefer should be up with all of these young men.
400 Meter Dash
(Taylor and Liska of Maplewood-Richmond Heights)
Returning All-State Runners
Eric Liska, Maplewood, SR, 1st
Marcus Taylor, Maplewood, SR, 2nd
Dalton Preston, Trenton, SR, 5th
Daniel McCarty, Blair Oaks, SR, 7th
Nick Zink, Iberia, SR, 8th
This year
Teammates Marcus Taylor, and Eric Liska lead the way with their times of 49.14 and 49.97 respectively. Taylor, who also finished 2nd in the 200 last year at state, leads Class 2 guys in the 200 this season. Liska, has the sixth fastest time in the 400m. Keegan Prather, only a sophomore from Penney coming in with a PR of 50.23, could play spoiler for these two men. Look for these two men up front in the 400, as well as their 4x400 team to repeat last year’s success.
110 Meter Hurdles
(Dylan Barnum of Strafford)
Returning All-State Runners
Dylan Barnum, SR, 2nd
Dominic Ball, Cleveland, JR, 4th
Ben Cooper, Blair Oaks, JR, 5th
Jordan Akers, Lawson, JR, 7th
Bryan Lechner, South Callaway, SR, 8th
This Year
Barnum, after finishing 2nd in both the 110h and 300h last year at state, leads the field by .25 second. Lechner, the South Callaway senior, comes in with the third fastest time with 14.81, while Bell, only a junior, ran a 14.73. While Barnum has a lead on the field, many people could win this race.
300 Meter Hurdles
Returning All State Runners
Dylan Barnum, Strafford, SR, 2nd
Trevor Dixon, Penney, SR, 4th
Nick Coulter, Maplewood, SR, 5th
Bryan Lechner, South Callaway, SR, 7th
This Year
Reid Echelmeier, a sophomore from Lafayette County, leads Class 2 300m hurdlers with his time of 40.34h. Returning 2nd place finisher, Dylan Barnum, is only .07 seconds behind that mark but has run sub 40 seconds before. Maplewood’s Nick Coutler could help Maplewood’s quest for a team title, as he is currently ranked 4th. Jordan Akers, who did not make the finals but finished 10th, should be in the mix as he has run .02 seconds slower than Barnum’s best mark this year.
4x100 Meter Relay
(Bobby Norful of Maplewood-Richmond Heights)
We won’t declare the winner quite yet, but we will name Maplewood-Richmond Heights as our clear favorite to win this race. The returning state champs in this event have over a second lead on the pack with their time of 42.86. If all goes well, their own state record set back in 2009 of 42.72 could be in jeopardy. Marcus Taylor, the leading 200m and 400m, and Bobby Norful, who has the 5th fastest time this year in the 100, should guide their team to ten points. Other teams that could place well in this event are Lawson, Ash Grove, and Macon.
Watch MRH 4x100 at Skippy Keeer Relays
4x200 Meter Relay
Its no surprise again that Maplewood leads the way in this event as well. The one thing that could hurt the Blue Devils is that the best 200m runner in the state is not on this team. He ran the 200m, 400m, 4x100m, and 4x400m at sectionals, leaving him out of this event. However, Bobby Norful and Eric Liska carried their team to a 1:31.27 this weekend, which is faster than any team this year. Scott City, with Garett Schaefer, the 4th fastest 200m this year, has recorded the 3rd fastest time, while Lawson’s time of 1:31.50 places them second.
Watch MRH 4x200 at Skippy Keefer Relays
4x400 Meter Relay
This race proves to be the closest of all sprint relays. While Maplewood has the fastest time again this season, many teams could challenge them. The Blue Devils have Liska, 4th ranked 300m hurdler, Liska, 2nd fastest 400m runner, and Taylor, 1st fastest 400m runner in Class 2. Their time of 3:24.30 puts them 4 seconds in front of second ranked Principia, which will most likely feature Austin Holmsley, ranked 6th in the 400m and 1st in the 800m. Strafford comes in with the third fastest time this season, with hurdle star Dylan Barnum on their quad. Penney and Liberty Mountain View have broken 3:30 as well.