Holt senior Kenny Cushing is known for his trademark kick -- a sudden burst of acceleration -- at the end of his races.
Using that technique has helped him win many track & field events over the years.
However, Cushing has evolved as a runner and now finds himself having to rely less on that ability. Now he's focused on establishing a stronger pace at the start of races and maintaining it through the finish line.
But make no mistake: he can still kick it into high gear when he needs to.
"This year he's not sitting back and letting someone else dictate the pace," Holt boys track coach Ethan Place said. "Now he feels more confident in his ability to lead from the front and still has the kick to hold them off at the end."
Cushing gave a standout performance Saturday at the Class 4 sectional meet at Troy, winning the 1,600- and 800-meter runs and helping Holt place third overall in the team standings. He also ran a leg in the 1,600 relay, which finished second behind Hazelwood Central by one-quarter of a second.
"He's an elite runner and his mindset is to be a state champion," Place said. "That's been his focus the last couple years. He'll run against great competition at the state meet and he understands it's a great field. But his goal - and it's a legit goal - is to be a state champ."
Other state qualifiers for Holt were James Reed (fourth in high jump in 5-foot, 10-inches); Alex Foley (fourth in pole vault in 12-0) and Chris Campbell (third in the 400 in 49:03).
Huddleston versus the bar
St. Charles West senior high jumper Shane Huddleston will have one sole focus when he enters Dwight T. Reed Stadium on Friday in Jefferson City for the Class 3 track & field championships: clearing the bar.
Huddleston took first at the Class 3 sectional meet Saturday at Mexico with a jump of 6-4 but he hopes to summon his inner high jumper and get close to the mark of 6-8 he cleared last month.
West coach Gary Strauss said conditions may have been perfect the day he achieved his personal best but Huddleston still has a jump or two like that left in him.
"He's one of the hardest working kids I've ever coached," Strauss said. "I think he should be able to come back with a medal this year but he'll still have to jump well to be in the top five. If he goes at least 6-4, he'll have a shot."
Junior Kyle Potter was another sectional champion for West. He won the pole vault competition with a mark of 14-9, setting a new school record that had been held since 1983.
Strauss said Potter has been consistent in his vaults all year but made a major improvement upon switching to a more advanced pole, which is on loan from Francis Howell North.
"Since he's started using it, he's skyrocketed," Strauss said. "He's one of those guys where if he clears a height once, he's been able to (clear it again)."
Wright City senior Deon Bradshaw is also poised to compete for a state title. At sectionals he placed first in the long jump in 21-6 and triple jump in 46-10.
Other St. Charles-area Class 3 qualifiers are: Justin Greene (Warrenton, third in high jump in 6-0); David Jones-Richerson (Duchesne, fourth in pole vault in 13-0); Reece Berry (Warrenton, second in discus in 146-10 and fourth in the shot put in 47-8); Dylan Sinclair (Orchard Farm, second in shot put in 49-3.5); Bryan Groeper (Warrenton, fourth in 800 in 2:00.05); Nick Meier (St. Dominic, fourth in 3,200 in 10:09.87); and the Warrenton 3,200 relay team (third in 8:11.41).
Class 3 Sectional 2 team scores: 1. MICDS, 73.5; 1. McCluer South-Berkeley, 73.5; 3. Hannibal, 60; 4. John Burroughs, 48; 4. Westminster, 48; 6. Jennings, 44; 7. Lutheran North, 42; 8. Warrenton, 37; 9. University City, 35; 10. Bowling Green, 34; 11. St. Charles West, 29; 12. Kirksville, 26; 13. Moberly, 24; 13. Wright City, 24; 15. St. Dominic, 18; 16. Orchard Farm, 15; 16. Trinity, 15; 18. Priory, 14; 19. Clayton, 10; 20. Duchesne, 9; 21. North Tech, 8; 22. Mexico, 6; 23. Missouri Military Academy, 2; 24. Southern Boone County, 1; 24. Fulton, 1; 24. Winfield 1.
Other St. Charles-area Class 4 qualifiers are: V.J. Fitzpatrick (Fort Zumwalt North, second place in pole vault in 13-0); Brady Williams (Timberland, second in triple jump in 43-5.75); Josh McDonald (Timberland, second in 169-09 and fourth in shot put in 47-11); Kenneth Boyer (Fort Zumwalt West, fourth in discus in 158-01); Brad Hardin (Zumwalt West, second in shot put in 48-11.5); Trent Robinson (Fort Zumwalt South, second in the 100 in 11.16 and fourth in the 200 in 22.19); Drew Webster (Fort Zumwalt East, third in 4:26.91); Josh McKinley (Francis Howell Central, fourth in 1,600 in 4:31.89); Kyle Deeken (Zumwalt North, third in 3,200 in 9:46.97). Qualifying relay teams include Zumwalt West, which finished first in the 3,200 relay in 8:03.65, and Zumwalt South, which finished second in the 400 relay in 42.66.
Class 4 Sectional 2 team scores: 1. McCluer North, 95 points; 2. Hazelwood Central, 92.50; 3. Holt, 61; 4. Parkway North, 59; 5. SLUH, 43; 6. Ritenour, 39; 7. Fort Zumwalt West, 35; 7. Hazelwood East, 35; 9. Parkway Central, 32; 10. McCluer, 29.50; 11. Timberland, 28; 12. Fort Zumwalt South, 26; 13. Normandy, 18; 13. Riverview Gardens, 18; 13. Fort Zumwalt East, 18; 16. Troy, 17; 17. Fort Zumwalt North, 16; 18. Francis Howell, 11; 19. Francis Howell Central, 9; 20. Hazelwood West, 8; 21. Pattonville, 6; 22. Francis Howell North, 4.
