The Trenton Lady Bulldogs track team didn’t quite pick up a plaque at the Class 2 MSHSAA Track and Field Championships at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City over the weekend, but a pair of state championships in the sprint relays made up for that. The foursome of Chandler Wilson, Mackenzie Mack, Maddie Hooyman and Scotlin Hurley combined to win both the 4×100- and 4×200-meter relays on the biggest stage in high school track and field in Missouri.
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“Overall, I was really proud of the way the girls ran down there,” Lady Bulldogs’ Head Coach Chris Parks said. “All four girls are very competitive at a lot of different things. They are exceptionally good runners and athletes and most of them were running in several events down there. I’m proud we were able to bring two state championships back to Trenton and, as a coach, that really makes you feel good.”
The four combined to turn in a time of 50.76 in the 4×100 and a time of 1:46.67 in the 4×200. Both marks were school records. With the two victories, Trenton earned 20 points, two-thirds of their final total of 30, which placed them sixth overall. All four members of the team will be returning next season as well as all are sophomores with the exception of Mack, who is a junior.
“We always have high hopes,” Parks said. “We lose some good seniors, but we will have the bulk of the team back.”
Hamilton won the Class 2 team state title with 40 points, ousting Blair Oaks, which finished runner-up with 38 points, in the final race of the meet. Fatima rounded out the top three with 36 points.
Trenton also had placewinners in Wilson, Hooyman and Rebekah Capeder. Wilson took fourth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.51, while Hooyman and Capeder both placed in the high jump. Hooyman was sixth after clearing 5-2 and Capeder was seventh with a mark of 5-1.
Others in action for the Lady Bulldogs included the 4×800-meter relay team of Amber Fischbach, Molly Boyle, Katey Norris and Megan Sole, which placed 10th with a time of 10:20.75; Mack, 10th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.89 and 13th in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.6; Fischbach, 12th in the 3200-meter run with a time of 12:41.92; and Wilson, 16th in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:03.26.
“Capeder finished strong down there,” Parks said. “Anytime you finish in the top eight at state you have to be proud of yourself. Amber Fischbach was a great leader for me and went to state in two events for me. She improved her time down there and although she is probably disappointed she didn’t get a medal, I was proud of her performance down there and she has nothing to be ashamed of in her career at Trenton. She set the school record in the mile during her career.”
Bulldogs
The Trenton boys were in action in five events and returned home with three state medals, all coming in relay events. The 4×400-meter relay team of Sam Cool, Dalton Preston, James Fairchild and Seth Acton took third with a time of 3:30.98. The 4×800-meter relay team of Cool, Addison Fuller, Fairchild and Acton placed third as well, turning in a time of 8:15.65.
Trenton also placed its 4×100-meter relay team. Keegan McGinness, Colby Larson, Preston and Acton combined to finish fifth with a time of 44.48.
“I was really pleased with how we ran,” Bulldogs’ Head Coach Wes Croy said. “On the 4×100- and 4×400-meter relays we had to run in the slow heat because of the rainout the day before. We got stuck in the slow heats because of the conditions we ran in at sectionals, but we still got third and fifth with no one around pushing us. I was really proud of the effort the kids gave.”
The three placewinning performances gave the Bulldogs 16 points at the state meet, placing them 12th overall. Maplewood Richmond Heights won the Class 2 state title on the boys side, finishing with 104 points. Principia was runner-up with 50 points and Strafford rounded out the top three, scoring 41 points.
Trenton had two individuals in action at the state meet in Fairchild and Preston. Fairchild placed 14th in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:12.66 and Preston placed 15th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.73.
With the state meet, the spring sports season came to a close. The Spring Sports Banquet will be held on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the THS commons.