Notebook: Area Teams Poised For State Track Meet

The defending track and field Class 4 state champions are poised for another title run.

track and field enjoyed a successful afternoon at the Class 4 sectional meet Saturday at Troy Buchanan High. Highlighting the Hawks’ big day were speedsters Michael Hester and Marc Franks.

Hester finished first in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.50 seconds. He also won the 400-meter dash in 48.55, and Hester ran a key leg in Central’s 1600-meter relay first-place finish (3:17.53). His 200-meter run time set a Hawks' school record.

Meanwhile, Franks was victorious in the 100-meter dash (11.15), and placed second in the 200-meter dash (22.08). Franks was also part of the 1,600-meter relay team that placed first.

The Hawks had other competitors who had a stellar day at Troy.

Cole Davis finished second in the 800-meter run (1:58.31), and Mike Jordan placed third in the high jump at an even 6 feet. Each qualified for state.

Factoring in the qualifying times in the 3,200-meter relay and 400-meter dash relay, Hazelwood Central will be represented in eight events at this weekend’s state championship meet in Jefferson City on Friday and Saturday.

The district-champion Hazelwood Central baseball team (12-10) plays a sectional contest at powerhouse Saint Louis University High (23-0) on Tuesday night, and Florissant Patch will have a full game story following the contest. The Hawks for the title, 2-1, last Thursday.

McCluer North

The McCluer North girls track and field team qualified for six state events at this past weekend’s sectional meet. Senior Kendra White won the 200 with a time of 24.42 seconds and also placed first in the 400-meter dash (55.24).

White also ran a leg on the winning 1600-meter relay squad. Teammate Natalie Pattin will advance to state after placing second in the 800-meter run (2:20.93), and Kimberly Simon will head to Jefferson City after her third-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles (15.46).

The McCluer North boys will be aiming to make a splash at the state meet after the Stars qualified for nine events at the sectional meet. In the shot put, North’s Deondra Canaday won with a toss of 58 feet, 1/4 inches. He also placed third in the discus with a throw of 167 fee, 7 inches. Teammate Keith Jones set a school mark with his first-place throw of 172 feet, 5 inches in the discus and also was third in the shot put (48 feet, 9 inches).

In the long jump, Melik Benton finished second for the Stars with his leap of 22 feet, 5 ¾ inches. Second-place finishes for North included Nicholas Stewart in the 3,200-meter run and Aaron Mallet in the 110-meter hurdles (14.91).

The McCluer North baseball team (8-14) lost to Hazelwood Central, 4-2, in the Class 4 District 6 tournament semifinals last week. Junior Nick Wildman went 4-4 this season with a 3.85 ERA in 40 innings. Senior Gregory Elliott batted a team-high .455.

McCluer

The McCluer girls track and field team finished second in the 1600-meter relay and in the 800-meter relay (1:43.32) at Troy. Sherise Williams, Alauna Ray and Catrina Harris qualified for state competition in the high jump, and Jaronica Owens finished third in the 200 (24.59).

The McCluer baseball team (9-17) had its season end last week with a 10-3 loss to Hazelwood West in the Class 4 District 6 semifinals. Senior star outfielder Lance Jeffries batted .457 this season with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs.

Now, Jeffries will work out for pro teams in preparation for the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft. Senior outfielder Andrew Johnson hit .487 this season to pace the Comets on a team-best 37 hits.

(Have some local sports news, or story ideas? Please email Patch sports editor Brian Doolittle at briandoolittle@hotmail.com)