Notebook: Hazelwood Central Riding Momentum Into District Meet

Hazelwood Central won the Suburban North Conference boys track meet for the second consecutive season last week. The Hawks scored 163 points to best host school McCluer North in the two-day meet that concluded last Thursday. The second-place Stars scored 145 points.

Pacing Hazelwood Central to the title was senior Michael Hester. He won the 400-meter dash with a time of 50.07 seconds. Hester also topped the field in the 200 in 22.08, while teammate Sean Willis placed first in the 100 in 11:04. Both sprinters were part of the winning 800-relay team, along with Bryan Williams and Matt Quarells. The team ran a 1:28.48.

The Hawks also won the 1,600 relay (3:21.95) and the 3,200 relay (8:18.02).

There will be 11 schools at this weekend’s Class 4 District 3 meet at McCluer North on Saturday, including Hazelwood Central, McCluer North and McCluer.

Hazelwood Central qualified three golfers for last Wednesday’s state sectional tourney at The Missouri Bluffs Golf Course in St. Charles. Gerald Harsley, who had placed ninth overall at districts, finished 43rd with a +28. Cedric Portis was 35th with a score of +24 and Donovan Bates shot a +50. The cut-off score for state qualifying was +20.

Hazelwood Central baseball snapped a four-game losing streak on Monday with a 9-6 victory over McCluer. The Hawks are 10-11, and 8-5 in conference.

The McCluer North boys track team saw plenty of individual success at the conference meet, including in the throwing events. Deondre Canaday outdistanced the field in the shot put with a throw of 53 feet, nine inches. Teammate Keith Jones won the discus with a toss of 162-10.

Long-distance specialist Nicholas Stewart took first place in the 1,600 meters (4:38.86) and the 3,200 (10:04.88).

In the girls conference meet, the Stars had two prominent victories. Kendra White won the 400 in 55.66 while teammate Natalie Pattin won the 800 in 2:27.25.

The McCluer track teams shined in the field events at the conference meet. Sherise Williams set a Suburban North meet record in the high jump at 5-5. Alauna Ray also set a conference meet record, as she leaped 37-6 in the triple jump to outdistance Hazewood Central's Kim Moye, who finished with a jump of 37-2.

For the McCluer boys, Darrion Dillard placed first in the triple jump at 45-5.

The McCluer baseball team is 7-15 after the loss to Hazelwood Central. Lance Jeffries is continuing his standout season and is batting .446 with nine homers and 34 runs batted in. Andrew Johnson is batting .525 on a team-high 31 hits. Pitcher John Struttmann is 3-2 in a team-high 44 innings.

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