The Republic-Times coverage area will be represented by several athletes from Columbia, Waterloo and Dupo at the IHSA state boys track meet in Charleston this weekend. 

At the Class 2A Herrin Sectional last Wednesday, Columbia’s Ronnie Hunsaker and the 4×100 relay team qualified for state, as did Waterloo runners Jackson McAlister and Eli Ward and Waterloo wheelchair racer Donovan McBride.

Columbia’s 4×100 relay team of Brandon Hall, Donavan Bieber, Austin Luebbers and Hunsaker placed second to East St. Louis with a time of 43.46 seconds. 

Hunsaker also qualified for state by placing second in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump.

“The interesting thing about the 4×100 team is that this was the first time these four athletes competed in that event together,” Columbia track coach Mike Hall said. “We tweaked the order and it paid off for us. The team is made up of three juniors and a freshman, so they will all be back next year.”

Hall added that Hunsaker has been solid all season.

“He works hard in his jumps and it shows,” Hall said. “We were fairly confident in his chances to qualify in the triple jump, but the long jump was a longer shot. But he pulled off a great jump that earned him a second place finish.”

McAlister and Ward finished 1-2 in the 800 meter run. McAlister’s time was 1:56.51. Ward’s was 1:57.00.

McBride, a senior, will represent Waterloo in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 meter wheelchair races at the state meet.

McBride was the 100 meter wheelchair division champ at last year’s meet. As a sophomore, he won the 800 meter and 200 me- ter races at state.

At the Class 1A Nashville Sectional boys track meet on Friday, Dupo’s Bryce Chadduck won the discus with a throw of 166 feet, three inches.

Dupo’s Cody Heusohn placed second in the shot put with a throw of 44 feet, four inches.

Both Tigers track standouts will compete at the IHSA state meet in Charleston this weekend.

A number of Gibault track athletes performed well in Nashville but just missed qualifying for state.

Josh Kueker finished sixth and set a school record in the shot put. He also lowered his 400 meter record, finishing fourth. 

Elgin Scherff lowered the school record in the 1600 meter run, placing fifth.

Jacob Muehlher recorded a personal record in the 800 meter run.

Owen Scherff lowered the school record in the 300 meter hurdles, placing fourth. He also placed sixth in the 110 meter high hurdles.

The 4×400 relay team of Scherff, Muehlher, Scherff and Kueker lowered the school record and placed third.