by Coach Brian Goatley

On Thursday, May 24, the state track qualifiers from the El Dorado Springs track team, which included Ethan Parshall, Brayden Housh and Ashley Knoll, headed to Jefferson City to have one final practice, in preparation for the Missouri Class 3 State Track Meet.

On Friday, we headed to the track with Brayden and Ethan, to get things started with pole vault. We got there around 8 a.m. to get everything rounded up and to begin warming up for the scheduled 9:30 start to the Class 3 Boys Pole Vault.

However, due to a storm moving in, all events were delayed and we did not reconvene the track meet until 1 p.m. So at 1 p.m. we got things started off with pole vault.

The boys got off to a nervous start, but soon settled into their game and in the end, Ethan finished in 8th place with a vault of 13 foot. Brayden finished 6th with a vault of 13 foot 3 inches. Both ended up with All State honors, and making it on the podium to medal.

Ashley, was supposed to get things started for herself at 1:15 in the 1600 m. run, however, due to the delay, she didn’t run until 3:45. She struggled with this race last year, so she was looking for redemption this year. She was also closing in on the school record and shooting for that as well.

Which, before going any further, I need to make a correction regarding the school record for the girls 1600. Last week I stated that the school record, held by Lucinda Fortney, was 5:24. I have to make a correction, Lucinda does currently hold the school record, but the time is actually 5:20.05 not 5:24. That was a mistake on my part.

Ashley ran a really smart race, following the game plan she had set forth, and finished in 6th place with a personal best time of 5:23.60, closing in on Lucinda’s time, but leaving Lucinda still atop the record boards.

On Saturday, she looked to pull off another good performance in the 3200 m. run, getting that started at 3:30. The weather was really hot for the 3200, running up in the 90’s, which is not bad for sprints but not good at all for distance. They sprayed them down on one segment of the track with a hose and offered water on the opposite corner to help with the heat. Ashley seemed to have prepared herself pretty well, mentally for the tough conditions. She went out in a solid first mile and put herself in contention. Ashley struggled a little bit in the 2nd mile, yet when it was all said and done, she finished 6th, with a school record breaking time of 11:52, bettering a record, that she already held, by 2 seconds. As a result, Ashley ended up with All State honors in both races, making the podium and medaling.

Overall this was an incredibly special weekend. Ashley will be missed, as she will head to SBU next year, running track and cross country for the Bearcats. However, we do look forward to another couple of years with Brayden and Ethan, as they are only sophomores.

If you see any of these three, congratulate them on a job well done.