Woods Vaults To State Competition

The McDonald County High School track team batted a thousand at the Missouri Class 4 Sectional 3 Track and Field Championships.

The Mustangs qualified only one person to sectionals, but that one earned a state berth with a fourth place finish.

Zack Woods, a sophomore, cleared 12-6 in the pole vault and will represent the Mustangs at next week's Missouri Class 4 State Track and Field Championships at Lincoln University in Jefferson City.

"It feels pretty good," Woods said. "I was pretty nervous and the wind messed me up a little. I am a little bit upset about just clearing 12-6, but I made it through."

Woods cleared 11-6, 12-0 and 12-6 without a miss, but missed all three attempts at 13-0, including two when he had enough height, but just nicked the bar on the way up.

Carl Junction's Harrison Huhn and Sam Repsher along with Gabriel Kurtyz of Camdenton were the only three vaulters to clear 13-0. Huhn won the event with a vault of 14-3. Woods and two others, Tristan Greenfield of Marshfield and Nash Harvey of Helias Catholic all cleared 12-6, but Woods was the only one of the three to be clean before going out at 13-0.

"It's pretty awesome for Zack to be going to state," said Cody Hobbs, the Mustangs' vaulting coach. "He didn't jump that high today, but he was consistent. The key was getting over his first three heights without missing. We need to figure out what pole to move to next is the big issue. We need to get him on the 14-foot pole, but his plant is not quite ready for it yet. He has to get it because he's blowing through our biggest 13-footer pretty bad. That's all we are going to do at practice this week -- make sure to jump it until he gets on it."

For head coach Bruce Stancell, having Woods qualify for state is fitting after Stancell took too many athletes to state to mention over the years. This will be Stancell's 25th and final year to lead the Mustang track team.

"I am very proud of Zack," Stancell said. "He works very hard and we are proud of his accomplishments. He gets to continue next week and we will see how he does at state."

Woods has high expectations for himself at state.

"I am ready to go," Woods said. "My goal is 13-6 or 14-0."

The boys' Class 4 pole vault is scheduled to start at noon on Saturday, May 27.