Terriers shine brightest at state track meet
CARBONDALE - The Carbondale Terriers boys track team made history this past weekend when it brought home a third-place trophy from the Class 2A state meet in Charleston. It marked the highest placement for a boys team in school history with 36 points. Only Metamora (46) and Cahokia (39) scored more.
Top individual finishers at state from the area were Carbondale sophomore Joseph Frierdich, who won the discus throw at 180 feet, 3 inches; Landyn Mitchell of Christ Our Rock Lutheran in Centralia, who placed first in the 110-meter hurdles (14.11 seconds); and Kehlin Crawford of Flora (first in the high jump at 6 feet, 7-plus inches).
Also placing for Carbondale were senior Calen Lilly, who was third overall in the long jump (22 feet, 10.5 inches); sophomore Jontavious Oliver (third in the triple jump at 45 feet, 6.5 inches); the 4x200 meter relay, third in 1:27.33 (Jontavious Oliver, Javion Oliver, Dewayne King and Mogolodi Kebinang); and 4x100 meter relay, fifth in 42.40 seconds (Jontavious Oliver, Javion Oliver, Christian Caffey and Mogolodi Kebinang).
Marion's standout distance runners - juniors Gabriel and Raphael Greer - tore it up on the track with two thirds and two fifths covering the 1600 and 3200-meter races.
"The biggest things that are going to stick with me are the athletes' commitment to each other and their commitment to achieving more," said Terriers head coach Mykel Gary, now having completed his fourth year with the track program. "These boys all had tremendous battles on and off the track, including adversity at school and/or at home. It took a lot for them to come together to where we are now.
"I'm all about team, which is why we always have good relays," Gary said. "Teaching these boys how to become selfless is among the most important aspects of my job. I want them to understand that there are things greater than them that they have to fight for, and if they can do that, the outcome will be tremendous. And I think they finally figured that out."
Gary hopes the team's success has been a work in progress, and he is confident that more CCHS students will want to become a part of the boys track program in the years ahead.
"I'm hoping so," he said. "We are building. This season's team was the biggest I have had in my four years here. The team was so big this year that I had to make two separate orders for uniforms and warm-ups, and that's a good problem to have."
Senior Mogolodi Kebinang, who ran the anchor leg on both the 4x100 and 4x200 relays, said going out with a higher team placement than any previous team meant a lot to him and his teammates.
"It's been a really long season," he said. "Coach G started out with my class four years ago, so seeing something like this come to fruition now as seniors... it speaks volumes to our work ethic, the trust we have in each other and our coaching staff. There have been so many sacrifices made to get to this point. It's just surreal to bring home a third-place trophy."
Kebinang said he believes the team's success will be a springboard to future success within the program.
"If anyone knows the potential of this team, it's me," he said. "Being a part of this program the last four years, I can tell you this is just the beginning. This program is destined to soar so high. Track and field is by far the high school's best athletic program. Every single year, we produce state athletes. I know that the younger guys are going to keep pushing the program forward."
Following is a breakdown of those from The Southern's coverage area who placed in the Top 25 in each event. Only the Top 10 earn medals.
CLASS 2A
100 Meters
* Tyler Haywood-Anna-Jonesboro, 22nd in 11.04 seconds
200 Meters
* Keaton Koch-Mount Vernon, sixth in 22.14 seconds
* Tyler Haywood-Anna-Jonesboro, 17th in 22.54 seconds
800 Meters
* Zion Wilkins-Carbondale, 10th in 1:56.21
* Jonathan Witzman-Murphysboro, 14th in 1:58.22
1600 Meters
* Raphael Greer-Marion, third in 4:18.23
* Gabriel Greer-Marion, fifth in 4:20.40
3200 Meters
* Gabriel Greer-Marion, third in 9:12.18
* Raphael Greer-Marion, fifth in 9:13.56
* Edgar Garcia-Murphysboro, 13th in 9:33.52
110 Meter Hurdles
* Keaton Koch-Mount Vernon, sixth in 15.21 seconds
* Jaydin Brooks-Marion, 25th in 15.71 seconds
300 Meter Hurdles
* Logan Tanner-Murphysboro, 18th in 40.67 seconds
4x100 Relay
* Carbondale-fifth in 42.40 seconds (Jontavious Oliver, Javion Oliver, Christian Caffey and Mogolodi Kebinang)
4x200 Relay
* Carbondale-third in 1:27.33 (Jontavious Oliver, Javion Oliver, Dewayne King and Mogolodi Kebinang)
* Mount Vernon-fifth in 1:27.56 (Tyler Carter, Spencer Sledge, Alex Knappier and Keaton Koch)
4x400 Relay
* Carbondale-10th in 3:22.09 (Jontavious Oliver, Mogolodi Kebinang, Javion Oliver and Dewayne King)
* Murphysboro 16th in 3:24.28 (Jonathan Witzman, Logan Tanner, Nolan Guetersloh and Noah Cook)
4x800 Relay
* Herrin-seventh in 7:52.92 (Miles Ellet, Nolen Frost, Maddox Burks and Mason King)
* Mount Vernon-19th in 7:59.21 (Rowan Wilford, Jayden Jones, Liam Brandon and Trace Elliott)
High Jump
* Karter Oliver-Mount Vernon, 11th at 6 feet, 4.75 inches
Long Jump
* Calen Lilly-Carbondale, third at 22 feet, 10.5 inches
* Zackary Carter-Carterville, 10th at 21 feet, 7 inches
* Reginald Wilson-Carterville, 18th at 21 feet, 0 inches
* Jeremiah Vaughn-Murphysboro, 25th at 20 feet, 6.75 inches
Triple Jump
* Jontavious Oliver-Carbondale, third at 45 feet, 6.5 inches
* Josh Ellis-Herrin, 10th at 44 feet, 1 inch
* Jeremiah Vaughn-Murphysboro, 12th at 43 feet, 7.25 inches
* Zackary Carter-Carterville, 13th at 43 feet, 3.25 inches
Pole Vault
* Spencer Sledge-Mount Vernon, fifth at 14 feet, 9 inches
* Jonas Schaldemose-Murphysboro, ninth at 13 feet, 11.25 inches
* Mason Howton-Harrisburg, 16th at 13 feet, 5.5 inches
Shot Put
* Jaxson Smith-Carterville, sixth at 54 feet, 11.5 inches
Discus
* Joseph Frierdich-Carbondale, first at 180 feet, 3.75 inches
* Michael Surburg-Marion, eighth at 158 feet, 2.5 inches
* Zeke Langan-Carbondale, 22nd at 147 feet, 8 inches
In Class 1A, the only area school to crack the Top 10 in team scoring was Christ Our Rock Lutheran of Centralia with 26 total points, good for sixth place overall. Flora was 29th and Johnston City and Nashville tied for 36th followed by Pinckneyville (53rd) and Chester (74th).
100 Meters
* Tory Nelson-Cairo, 25th in 11.23 seconds
200 Meters
* Kehlin Crawford-Flora, 10th in 22.06 seconds
* Dequan Woods-Sparta, 20th in 22.84 seconds
* Justin Johnson-Fairfield, 22nd in 22.92 seconds
400 Meters
* Christian Queen-Pinckneyville, 12th in 51.48 seconds
* Gabe Coffman-Chester, 23rd in 53.28 seconds
3200 Meters
* Zach Teel-Pinckneyville, 25th in 10:20.42
110 Meter Hurdles
* Landyn Mitchell-CORL, first in 14.11 seconds
* Jack Carnine-Johnston City, 12th in 15.24 seconds
* Gauge Schlake-Christopher/Z-R, 21st in 15.71 seconds
* Cole Hamson-Hamilton County, 25th in 15.97 seconds
300 Meter Hurdles
Jack Carnine-Johnston City, 13th in 41.10 seconds
4x100 Meter Relay
* Flora-18th in 43.66 seconds (Reiston Croy, Isaiah Keller, Dayton Harmon and Kehlin Crawford)
4x200 meter relay
* Chester-seventh (Donnie Sabo, Gabe Coffman, TaShawn Palacio and DannyWorley)
4x400 Meter Relay
* West Frankfort-21st in 3:34.34 (Quentin Osburn, Brenden Waddell, Camden Woolard and Aiden Taylor)
4x800 Meter Relay
* Fairfield-20th in 8:27.63 (Kanyen Lingafelter, Ashton King, Treyton Lewis and Skylar Bladel)
High Jump
* Kehlin Crawford-Flora, first at 6 feet, 7.5 inches
* Gannon Turner-Nashville, 12th in 6 feet, 1 inch
* Quentin Osburn-West Frankfort, 21st in 6 feet, 0.75 inches
Long Jump
* Brody Wilt-Pinckneyville, 11th in 21 feet, 8.5 inches
* Isaiah Keller-Flora, 14th, 21 feet, 3.5 inches
* Gauge Schlake-Christopher/Z-R, 25tth 20 feet, 7.25 inches
Triple Jump
* Brody Wilt-Pinckneyville, fifth in 44 feet, 7.75 inches
* Brenden Waddell-West Frankfort, 11th in 43 feet, 3 inches
* Trevin Skropka-Christopher/Z-R, 17th in 42 feet, 2 inches
Pole Vault
* Mason Lowther-Flora, Tied for 18th at 12 feet
* Trevin Skropka-Christopher/Z-R, Tied for 25th at 11 feet.
Shot Put
* Sam Blumhorst-Nashville, second in 57 feet, 5.75 inches
* Carson Murrah-Johnston City, third in 56 feet, 10.75 inches
Discus
* Carson Murrah-Johnston City, ninth at 155 feet, 1 inch
* Sam Blumhorst-Nashville, 16th at 146 feet, 10.5 inches
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