Jackets dominate Watonga meet
Hine loses record, gains gold; Mecklenburg, Stone continue to shine
KHS SENIOR Matthew Stone hands the baton to Mason Mecklenburg during a relay at last weekend’s meet in Watonga. The duo combined for seven gold medals and were part of a new school record. [Photo by Chris Simon/www.simon-sports-photos.smugmug.com]
Connor Hine
Connor Hine missed out on a new school record, but made up for it with some gold.
Hine’s sacrifice plus seniors Matthew Stone and Mason Mecklenburg combining for seven gold med als in five events led the Kingfisher boys to the team title Saturday at the Watonga High School and Middle School Track & Field Meet.
The 800 meter relay has a new school record for the second time in less than a week.
Stone, Mecklenburg, Max Washington and Dynton Townsend won the event in 1:32.40.
The time broke the mark of 1:32.64 set April 19 at Elk City.
Mecklenburg, Washington and Townsend were part of that mark along with Hine.
However, Stone took Hine’s place at Watonga to allow Hine to get his crack at the open 800.
Hine made it pay off with a gold medal performance.
He nudged teammate Jayden Newkirk to win gold in 2:09.07. Newkirk crossed .37 second later.
“He’s such a versatile runner,” coach Kerri Lafferty said of Hine. “He made a huge sacrifice for the team, so I was glad to see him win that.”
Mecklenburg won the 100 and 200 meter dashes and Stone claimed individual gold in the long jump.
The two also joined forces to help the Jackets to a first-place finish in the 1,600 meter relay.
All told, KHS scored 168 points to beat runner-up Thomas by 40 points.
Woodward was third with 93.5. Cashion finished seventh overall with 30 points.
Mecklenburg ran the 200 in 23.16 seconds to edge Cashion’s Max Brown, who crossed in 24.06 for silver.
His 100 time was 11.59.
Stone, who was also the runner-up in the 400 to give him four medals on the day, jumped 20 feet, 5 inches to claim the long jump.
His best leap was 1/2 inch better than Woodward’s Taelen Laird.
Townsend and Hine were also part of the winning mile relay team.
Newkirk didn’t go home without gold as he won the mile run.
The Jackets also got a pair of gold medals in field events outside of the long jump.
Kase Simon set a personal record to win the pole vault as he cleared 8-6.
Sophomore Harrison Evans’ throw of 38-9 in the shot put garnered him a first-place finish.