Francis Howell girls track & field coach Nate Tower hopes the Vikings' recent district and sectional championships will give way to something far greater.
The Vikings were the overall winners of the Class 4 sectional meet Saturday in Troy and will eye another strong finish at the state track & field championships this Friday and Saturday at Lincoln University in Jefferson City.
"Great performance all around," Tower said. "We had some girls who really stepped up and exceeded expectations. They're peaking at the right time, for sure."
Howell finished first with 81 points, 12 points better than second-place Hazelwood East. Junior Leah Krause and sophomore Valeska Halamicek were Howell's standout individuals, with Krause placing first in the 1,600-meter run in 5 minutes, 24.61 seconds and Halamicek placing first in the 800 in 2:20.49.
"It's neat to see both girls (place first)," Tower said. "Both are looking strong and Valeska was able to respond to every move. She actually led the whole race and the girl from McCluer North passed her with 150 (meters) to go. I was unsure what would happen because no one this season has passed Val with that much to go. She battled all the way to the finish and held her off at the end."
Krause won the 1,600 run in 5:24.61 ahead of second-place finisher Alexis Happe, a Francis Howell North freshman, who finished in 5:29.13, and also qualified in the 800.
Sophomore Whitney Adams, freshman Kayla Landwehrmier and junior Alison Barker were Howell's other three individual state qualifiers. Adams was third in the 400 in 56.36 and fourth in the 100 dash in 12:49. Barker was second in the 300 hurdles in 46.46 and Landwehrmier was fourth in the long jump in 16-01.
The Vikings also qualified a pair of relay teams. The 3,200 relay team of Jacci Guthrie, Jessica Marx, Ali Rexroat and Barker won its sectional race in 9:54.19 while the 1,600 relay team placed third.
"Really we're just hoping all our girls can get into the finals in all their events and that our relay teams can be all-state," Tower said. "There's always outstanding competition there, so we'll see what happens. We want to see the girls do well because they've worked really hard for this. Hopefully things go their way this weekend."
Friar qualifies in three of four events
Holt sophomore Nataliyah Friar expressed some disappointment last year for not qualifying for state in either of her sprint events.
Friar will be making a return trip to the championship in the long jump and triple jump but will also try her hand in the 100 dash. At the sectional meet in Troy she finished third in the 100 in 12.31 and first in both the long jump (18 feet, 2.75 inches) and triple jump (40-0).
Her mark in the long jump was a new personal best and she reached the 40-foot mark in the triple jump for just the second time.
The big difference for Friar is she's entering the state meet healthy. As a freshman she was hampered by a bum ankle and stayed off it for a week leading up to the event. She still managed to finish second in the triple jump and sixth in the long jump.
"As a freshman she was just thrilled to be there," Holt coach Craig Kinnary said. "This year (the goal is) more than just getting there. She won't be happy if she doesn't come out of it with a first-place medal."
Howard leads Duchesne in Class 3
Senior Jenny Howard was among the standout individuals for Duchesne in the Class 3 sectional meet Saturday in Mexico by winning the 100 in 12.25 and finishing second in the 200 in 25.85.
"She ran her best time ever (in the 100)," Duchesne coach Terry Meatheany said. "She's stronger and more powerful this year and is always working on her technique."
Howard competed in the 100 at state last year but did not qualify for the final race. Therefore, she's eager to take another crack at it.
The Pioneers finished tied for sixth in the team standings with 33 points and had two other individuals qualify for state. Anna Schmidt (2:24.75) and Sarah Goetges (2:25.29) finished second and third respectively in the 800.
Other St. Charles-area Class 3 qualifiers are: Jordan Baumgartner (St. Charles West, first in triple jump in 35-01.5); Anne Tabora (St. Dominic, first in 300 hurdles in 45.99); Joselyn Covington (St. Charles West, third in 300 hurdles in 47.68); and the Warrenton 3,200 relay team (fourth in 10:04.11).
Class 3 Sectional 2 team scores: 1. MICDS, 157 points; 2. Hannibal, 77; 3. University City, 56; 4. John Burroughs, 41; 5. McCluer South-Berkeley, 38; 6. Duchesne, 33; 6. Kirksville, 33; 8. Moberly, 30; 8. Fulton, 30; 10. St. Charles West, 29; 11. Bowling Green, 25; 12. Mexico, 22; 13. Villa Duchesne, 18; 13. Clayton, 18; 15. St. Dominic, 17; 16. Lutheran North, 16; 17. North Callaway, 10; 18. Warrenton, 9; 19. Boonville, 7; 19. Westminster, 7; 21. Marshall, 6; 21. Southern Boone County, 6; 23. Wright City, 5; 24. St. Charles, 3; 24. Orchard Farm, 3; 26. Kennedy, 2; 26. Trinity, 2.
Other St. Charles-area Class 4 qualifiers are: Shelby Markum (Fort Zumwalt North, first in pole vault in 10-0); Michaela Randolph (Howell North, second in pole vault in 9-6); Brittney Gerber (Timberland, fourth in pole vault in 9-0); Dahlia Dyson (Zumwalt West, second in discus in 139-04 and first in shot put in 41-4.25); Alyshia McRoberts (Timberland, fourth in discus in 113-08 and third in the shot put in 36-11); Jasmine Jones (Zumwalt South, fourth in 100 hurdles in 16.29); Haley Delgado (Zumwalt West, fourth in 1,600 in 5:39.26); Ashley Oberdieck (Zumwalt North, fourth in 400 in 58.05); Gloria Westlake (Zumwalt East, first in 3,200 in 11:54.54); Coleen Grone (Howell North, second in 3,200 in 12:24.07); and Chandler Carreon (Holt, third in 3,200 in 12:45.83). Zumwalt West (10:09.8) and Howell North (10:11.94) finished third and fourth respectively in the 3,200 relay.
Class 4 Sectional 2 team scores: 1. Francis Howell, 81 points; 2. Hazelwood East, 69; 3. McCluer North, 66; 4. McCluer, 52; 5. Parkway North, 45; 6. Parkway Central, 41; 7. Fort Zumwalt West, 39; 7. Holt, 39; 9. Pattonville, 34; 10. Hazelwood Central, 31; 11. Francis Howell North, 29; 12. Hazelwood West, 27; 13. Timberland, 26; 13. Ritenour, 26; 13. Normandy, 26; 16. Fort Zumwalt North, 23; 17. Troy, 21; 18. Fort Zumwalt East, 10; 18. Fort Zumwalt South, 10; 20. Francis Howell Central, 1.
