Local tracksters in fine form ahead of sectionals
Local track and field talent was on display at the Collinsville Invitational on Saturday, as a handful of Waterloo and Columbia athletes came home with medals among tough competition from such track powerhouses as Edwardsville, Cahokia, East St. Louis and O’Fallon.
Columbia’s Ethan Snow returned from injury to place first in the high jump, clearing six feet, three inches. The school record is 6 feet, 4.5 inches.
“He did match the 2A state qualifying height,” Columbia track coach Taylor Nickerson said. “If he can do that again at sectionals, he will qualify (for state).”
Waterloo senior Lance Mueller added another feather in his cap, breaking the school record in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:19.76. He placed third overall at the invite.
Fellow Waterloo senior Cole Rodenberg placed second in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 9:43.76, with teammate Will Zeisset not far behind in fifth with a time of 10 minutes.
Columbia junior Sam Berghofer placed fourth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.98 seconds. He also placed seventh in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.35 seconds.
Last Wednesday, the Columbia boys placed third as a team at the Cahokia Conference Championships. The CHS girls placed ninth.
The Dupo boys placed fourth as a team, while the Dupo girls placed sixth.
Snow won the high jump at the conference meet for the Eagles; Dupo’s Tony Cozart won the 110-meter hurdles.
Dupo’s Leia Campbell won the shot put.
The Waterloo girls placed second as a team to Triad at the Mississippi Valley Conference Championships.
Genna Bourgeois won the high jump and Hannah Finnerty won the 100-meter hurdles.
The Waterloo boys will compete in the MVC Championships today (Wednesday) at home.
Waterloo and Columbia girls track athletes will compete Thursday in the Class 2A Triad Sectional for the chance to advance to state. Dupo and Gibault girls will compete Friday in the Class 1A Nashville Sectional.
The Waterloo and Columbia boys teams will compete in the Class 2A Triad Sectional next Thursday, May 21, while Dupo will participate in the Class 1A Chester Sectional on the same day.
