Summit Christian girls finish second in Missouri Class 2 track and field
It wasn’t too long ago that Summit Christian Academy would bring an athlete or two to the state track meet, and maybe snag a medal.
My, how quickly things can change.
Summit Christian announced itself as a track team to be reckoned with at this year’s Missouri Class 1-2 state track meet, especially the girls. Summit Christian, which brought six girls to Jefferson City High School, finished second in the Class 2 team standings with 51 points, just four shy of team champion Tolton Catholic of Columbia. It’s the closest the school has come to winning a state team title in its 26-year history.
What’s the secret to Summit Christian’s sudden rise? Eagles coach Chris McGregor believes it’s both the coaches and the athletes the program has been able to attract.
“The athletes that we have are top-notch, not just in the athletics but also as students and individuals,” McGregor said. “They come to practice every day with the mind-set to do their best.”
That would start with junior Carlie Queen, who won her third consecutive Class 2 girls high jump title Saturday with a jump of 5 feet 6 inches. That matched her winning height last season, but like last season she failed to surpass the 5-7 3/4 Class 2 state mark she set as a freshman.
“I’ve jumped really well this year toward the end,” said Queen, who has cleared 5-9. “I know that I’m a lot better than I did today, but that’s OK.”
Summit Christian also got points Saturday from freshman Lenetta Lee, who placed third in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes after finishing sixth in the high jump the day before. Kaylee Lunn took third in the 300-meter hurdles, and the Eagles’ 3,200 relay team was fourth.
“We came into this meet secretly hoping to finish well,” McGregor said. “We felt we had a shot at finishing in the top two, and it’s a huge blessing.”
Bright ending for Breitkreutz
Lutheran senior Zac Breitkreutz managed just one gold medal in four Class 1 boys finals Saturday. But he was hardly complaining.
Breitkreutz set a Class 1 record when he won the 400 in 49.30 seconds. That came between placing fifth in the 100, which he won last season, and third in the 200. He also anchored Lutheran to fifth place in the 1,600 relay.
But of all those races, Breitkreutz said the 400 was the one he really wanted. And when he landed the state record, it was mission accomplished.
“I’m ecstatic,” Breitkreutz said. “I practiced all season and I’m so glad to see my goals come together at the end of the year.”
Lathrop’s relay winner
After running a season-best time in Friday’s prelims, Lathrop’s girls 1,600 relay team thought it might have a chance in Saturday’s final.
And they were right.
Lathrop’s foursome of Madelyn Vonderfecht, Jacque Gentzell, Deidra Sellers and Allie McEntee ran another season-best in the Class 2 girls final and won going away in 4:10.40.
Their preliminary time didn’t totally soothe their nerves, however.
“Coming in, we were really nervous,” McEntee said. “Half the time we said, ‘Oh my gosh I’m going to (get sick),’ but finishing was great.”
Barstow’s Hollis wins long jump
Barstow junior Jeff Hollis won the Class 2 boys high jump with a 6-9 leap. Hollis, the top-seeded jumper going into the meet, defeated defending state champion Lath Kisling of Sarcoxie and almost cleared a Class 2 record of 6-10.
This story was originally published May 21, 2016 at 6:46 PM with the headline "Summit Christian girls finish second in Missouri Class 2 track and field."