Zack Woods will have teammates at the 2018 sectional track meet.

In 2017, Woods was the lone McDonald County athlete to qualify for sectionals. But he will be joined by six teammates who qualified in four other events at this year's sectionals set for Saturday in Carthage.

Woods, a junior at McDonald County High School, improved his place by one over last year on Saturday in the Missouri Class 4 District 6 Track and Field Championships by taking second with a height of 13-3. Sam Repcher of Carl Junction won the event by clearing 14-0.

"Zack didn't rest on his laurels after making it to state last year," said coach Henri Whitehead. "He came to offseason and worked hard. He is a great leader for all the vaulters. He cleared 13-3, but we still think he can get to 14-feet this year. He has not hit his peak yet."

Leading the other two of the boys' qualifiers is Peyton Barton, who took second in the discus with a throw of 147-0, just two inches behind the winning throw of 147-2 by Zeke Wall of Carl Junction.

What makes Barton's accomplishment even more remarkable is that this is the first year he went out for track and never took up the discus until the start of the track season in late March.

The boys' team's other qualifier is Elliot Wolfe, who took third in the shot put with a throw of 46-3.5. Isaac Johnston of Neosho won the shot with a toss of 53-8.

"Peyton is kind of one those guys that the sky is the limit," Whitehead said. "We knew he had a lot of talent, but he is a little rough around the edges. He can throw much farther if he just puts it all together. Elliott has been pretty consistent all season. I wasn't surprised he qualified, but it was good to see him do it."

Rounding out McDonald County's top eight finishers were the 4x800 relay team of Elijah Habert, Cale Adamson, Garrett Spears and Alex Guadarrama in fifth with a time of 8:33.51; Michael Williams, seventh, long jump, 20-0; Cole DelosSantos, seventh, 300 hurdles, 45.17; and Corbin Jones, eighth, 100, 11.97.

McDonald County finished in ninth place in the team race with 31 points. Carthage won the boys' team title with 157 points. Carl Junction was second with 137, followed by Webb City with 117.5, West Plains 74, Neosho 48, Logan-Rogersville 46, Parkview 34, Glendale 32.5, McDonald County 31, Monett 27, Nevada 23 and Aurora 9.

Girls

Cassadi Dowd led the Lady Mustangs by qualifying for sectionals in two events. Dowd took fourth in the 800 in a time of 2:31.6 and also ran the anchor leg of the 4x800 relay that was also fourth (10:28.75).

"Cassi came in last year not ready to compete against district-level competition," said coach Darbi Stancell. "This year, she worked hard in the offseason and met her goal to advance to sectionals. I am very proud of her. I think we will see her set a PR (personal record) at sectionals. She has been a great leader for the distance runners."

Dowd was joined on the 4x800 by Ragan Wilson, Adyson Sanny and Addy Mick. Wilson added an eighth place in the 800 in a time of 2:39.85.

"The girls' relay went out and took care of business," Stancell said. "Still, not all four ran their best times. We need everyone to run their very best to advance to state. I know they all have more in them and I think they can all PR at sectionals. They haven't run their best race yet."

Caitlyn Barton just missed joining her brother at sectionals by taking fifth in the pole vault by clearing 9-0. Kelly Brennand also scored in the pole vault by clearing 8-0 to tie for seventh.

The other two girls' top eight finishers were Emily Landers who took sixth in both the shot put (34-1.5) and discus (104-9) and Ruby Palomo who took seventh in the 100 hurdles in a time of 17.86.

McDonald County was 10th in the girls' team standings with 24.5 points. Webb City won the girls' team championship with 137 points. Carthage was second with 107, followed by Carl Junction with 95, West Plains 87, Monett 84.5, Parkview 73, Nevada 49, Neosho 37, Logan-Rogersville 33, McDonald County 24.5, Glendale 6 and Aurora 5.