Jumps, relays vault KHS boys to 3rd
BEND IT LIKE BRAXTON – KHS junior Braxton Mecklenburg clears a height in the high jump at the Class 4A state track and field meet in Catoosa. Mecklenburg was the state runner-up in the event. On the right is senior Dynton Townsend, who took part in two
Going into their final race of the day, the Kingfisher boys needed to make two things happen to finish third as a team at the Class 4A state track & field meet.
The Jackets had to beat Holland Hall, which held a three-point lead over Kingfisher, in the race and finish among the top-five.
Done and done. Mason Mecklenburg, Connor Hine, Dynton Townsend and Matthew Stone ran their best race of the season.
Stone crossed the line at the 3:30.69 mark and in fifth place.
Holland Hall was 11th. In a two-team race for the state championship, Kingfisher was tops among the 36 other teams in the field.
Lincoln Christian proved to be the best team with 119 points. Cache was the runner-up with 109.
Kingfisher scored 57 to take third while Holland Hall managed 51.5.
“It was so exciting to see them finish top-five and run another PR (personal record),” KHS track coach Kerri Lafferty said.
All four KHS competitors boasted their best split of the season.
“Dynton had a heck of a race,” added Lafferty. “He put us in a great position going into the last leg.”
Although that was the race that sealed Kingfisher’s fate, it wasn’t the most successful of the day.
The 800 relay team once again set a new school record as it ran to a silver medal.
Max Washington, Stone, Townsend and Mason Mecklenburg finished in 1:30.02.
It was the fourth time the school record has been lowered this season as it started the year at 1:33.12.
Braxton Mecklenburg also earned silver as the junior was state runner-up in the high jump.
Mecklenburg cleared the first three heights without a miss until he reached 6-4.
Once there, he missed his first two attempts before gliding over on his third to tie his PR.
“He was so close on 6-6,” added Lafferty. “His heels clipped the bar on his way down.”
Muldrow’s Trenden Collins won the event at 6-8 and attempted, but failed, to clear 6-10 1/4, which would have set a new state meet record held by, among others, Kingfisher’s Charles Ramsdell.
Stone revisited the medal stand in the long jump as his leap of 21-4 was good for third place.
The senior also earned points in the 400 with a sixth-place finish.
Ben Reherman took fourth in the 110 hurdles while Mason Mecklenburg was fifth in the 200.
Jayden Newkirk racked up points in two different events as he was fifth in the 800 and sixth in the mile.
“It was an amazing day for Kingfisher track and field,” Lafferty said. “These boys should be commended for the way they finished the season.”