Will Scheer gave a good account of himself at the Nixa Relays last week while giving the 100 a try for the first time.
Scheer took second in the 100, despite not running in the final heat. With the sprinters running into a 10 mph wind, Scheer was clocked in 11.83.
“I told coach I wanted to try the 100 this season and he said he would put me there at some point,” Scheer said. “I feel good about it. I think I can definitely get faster. I had a slow start out of the blocks, I almost tripped. And, running with all those fast guys (in the final heat), I’d probably do a lot better.”
Only two runner who were not in the final heat placed in the top eight.
Nixa’s Austin McCracken finished third (11.87) and Jordan Tyler fourth (12.04). Tyler also did not run in the final heat.
Scheer was happy to own bragging rights on teammate Jake Beets, who was 16th (12.36).
“There was a lot of motivation with another Ozark kid running with me,” Scheer said. “We like to talk crap to each other. Everyone on our teams has a friendly competition with everyone.”
It remains to be seen if Scheer will stay in the 100. Normally, his workload includes the 200, long jump and legs on Ozark’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 relays.
“I don’t know if coach will keep me in the 100 or not,” Scheer said. “Either way, I’ll be happy. I love the 100. I don’t get tired. I was a 400 runner last year and I’m not terrible at it, but it’s not my favorite race.”
Scheer didn’t let running into the wind have an effect on his enthusiasm.
“It obviously slowed you down. It slowed everybody down,” he said. “In the heat of the moment, though, your only focus is running as fast as you can.The wind didn’t change my mentality, it’s always sprint, sprint, sprint.”
Other highlights for Ozark were Peyton Ligon winning the high jump (6-43/4), Mamady Embola taking second in the 110 hurdles (16.68) and Hunter Johnson placing third in the 200 (23.65).
On the girls side, Ozark’s Abby Beets won the pole vault (10-6). She beat her competition by more than 11 inches.
The Lady Tigers’ Ellie Kitchin was second in the 1,600 (5:30), as was Jessica Marshall in the discus (100-3) and the 4 x 200 relay (1:51)/
Adri Wakeman was third in the 300 hurdles (49.83), as was Hanna Vorheis in the long jump (16-111/4), Allie Muggenburg in the javelin (107-3), Kopelyn DeLong in the 3,200 (12:42) and Izabella Rickard in the discus (96-6) and the 4 x 400 relay (4:15.44).
For Nixa, boys winners included Afton Hopkins in the pole vault (12-6), Tony Perez in the discus (165-7) and girls winners were Jena Medearis in the high jump (5-5), Ashlyn Allison won the discus (109-1) and the 4 x 400 relay (4:15.16).
The Lady Eagles’ 4 x 800 relay was second (10:57), as was Taylor Hopper in the 100 (13.31), Faith Chepkondol in the long jump (17-83/4).
Finishing third were Halle Hanna in the shot put (32-2), Brookelyn Bidinger in the 400 (1:02) and Emily Harris in the 800 (2:28), Hopper in the 200 (27.29),
The Eagles’ Zernie Mess was second in the triple jump (41-01/4), as was Perez in the shot put (48-51/4), Caleb Gamble in the 3,200 (10:20) and Wyatt Boone in the javelin (136-7),
Thirds went to Christian Marsh in the long jump (20-61/4), Dawson Heppner in the javelin (134-5), Kaleb James in the 110 hurdles (16.96) and Austin McCracken in the 100 (11.87).
