Saxony, SV track sends athletes to sectionals

Saxony Lutheran track coach Max Weiser felt like his team had a “very good day” at the Class 2, District 1 meet on Saturday at Dexter High School. The Crusaders will send five individual athletes and three relay teams to the sectionals next Saturday. Weiser said it was a productive day that went as expected.
“We had everyone qualify that we thought had a very good chance,” Weiser said. “There were a couple spots we thought where we could have finished higher, but as far as moving on to the next level, we got everyone in that we planned on. I thought the kids competed well, and did a good job overall.”
Saxony senior Abigail Thomason and her sister junior Anna Thomason were the biggest winners of the day as they each qualified for four events apiece. To qualify for the sectional meet, athletes must finish in the top four in any event. Isabella Deckerd and Stacie Bangert qualified in three events apiece.
Anna Thomason finished second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.60 seconds, third in both the high jump (4-8.25) and triple jump (33-4.0). Thomason was also part of the 4x100 meter relay team with Abigail Thomason, Deckerd and Bianca Scholl that finished second (53.82).
Abigail Thomason finished third in the 800-meter run, third in the 4x400 relay with Briona Breig, Bangert and, Sara Spadazzi, fourth in the javelin, and was part of the 4X100 relay.
“They are both girls that we expected to have big days and they did what they were expected to do,” Weiser said. “They are both competitive girls and excel at track because it takes a little bit of athleticism in multiple areas, which these two have.”
Deckerd qualified on the 100 meter with a fourth place finish (13.64 seconds). She finished fourth in the long jump (15-9.0).
“I thought Isabella ran very well in her sprints and the 100 meter was the one I was most worried about,” Weiser said.
“She did well in the long jump and did enough to move on and I believe she can jump a little further because I’ve seen her do so in practice. She has gotten more consistent this year.”
Bangert qualified in the high jump, along with the 4x400 and the 4x800 relay with Addelyn Thomason, Janell Windeknecht, and Breig
“We had to move some people around for the relays, but everything came together at the right time for the girls,” Weiser said.
“In the 4x800, we have three freshmen that ran that and it only bodes well for the future. They are all solid runners, who will only get better as they go through their track careers.”
Freshman Luke Eggemeyer finished fourth in the 800 (2:13.12).
Aaron Zoellner finished fifth in the javelin (132-6), which is a personal best, but narrowly missed qualifying for the sectional meet.

“Luke is just a freshman and we had to convince him that the 800 meter was probably more his race,” Weiser said. “He stuck to our race plan and I think he has the ability to go faster.”
The sectional meet is in Mokane this Saturday. Weiser believes that his athletes have a chance to move on to state with some good performances.
“If we can stay healthy and sharpen some things up, we have a good chance to get some through [to state],” he said.
SV sends four to state
St. Vincent also competed in the Class 2, District 1 meet and as a result will send four athletes and one relay team to the sectional meet.
Senior Marissa Cooper qualified in the 200 meter with a fourth place (27.87). She also set a new school record in the pole vault, where she finished first (10 -2.75).
This is the second time Cooper has set the school record in that event this season.
“She goes to a coach in Jackson and he has helped her tremendously,” St. Vincent track coach Angie Hudson said.
“She has come a long way in that event and worked very hard at it. It’s been paying off for her.”
Gabe Anders, Jackson Unterreiner, and Isaac Hotop, each qualified in individual events as well and also together in a relay.
Anders finished third in the (2:11), while Unterreiner finished third in the 1,600 meter (5:08.78).
Hotop finished third in yet another distance race, with a third place in the 3,200 meter run (11:00.43)
Jackson and Isaac both ran cross country in the fall which helped them with the distances this spring,” Hudson said.
The three boys along with Ethan Leible finished third in the 4x800 meter relay (9:26.15.)