KHS boys track: Meck battles in high jump; Max 4th in 200
KHS SPRINTER Maximus Washington, center, pushes down the stretch of the 200 meter dash finals at the 4A state meet. Washington finished fourth in the event. [KT&FP Staff Photo]
The narrowest of margins kept Maximus Washington from running in the finals of the 100 meter dash at last weekend’s Class 4A track and field state championships.
In his preliminary race at Catoosa High School on Friday, the Kingfisher High School senior finished in 11.20.
Combining the two heats, Washington’s time was ninth-best and a mere .01 second behind Holland Hall’s Nick Jones, who was eighth.
“Max was disappointed that he missed out in the finals,” said KHS head coach Kerri Lafferty.
“He didn’t have a great start and in the 100, it’s critical to get out of the blocks and go.”
Fueled by that disappointment, Washington ran the 200 meter prelim in 22.45, which qualified for the finals.
In the finals, when the runners made the turn and hit the home stretch, Washington made up ground.
He passed Plainview’s Jose Ortiz at the wire and nearly caught Lincoln Christian’s John Washington.
His time of 22.47 seconds was good for fourth place and a spot on the medal stand.
“He was more determined than ever to make it in the 200 after missing out on the 100,” Lafferty said. “Once he did, it was a great race and finish to his career.”
That accounted for five of Kingfisher’s 13 team points at the meet.
The other eight belonged to fellow senior Braxton Mecklenburg.
For the second straight year, Mecklenburg finished as state runner-up in the long jump to Muldrow’s Trenden Collins.
As a sophomore, Collins cleared 6-8 in winning the state meet, but hadn’t done better than 6-4 in 2022.
Mecklenburg had won every meet in his senior season, including setting a PR of 6-7 earlier this spring.
However, during the regional meet, Mecklenburg’s spikes caught on the surface, wrenching his knee and ankle.
A Pittsburg State signee, Mecklenburg spent the week rehabbing his injuries.
“It was unfortunate,” Lafferty said. “He was in a boot all week, so he didn’t have the opportunity to practice jumping at all.”
Still, Mecklenburg joined Collins in being the only two jumpers to clear 6-4.
Mecklenburg couldn’t quite get over the bar at 6-6. Collins did on his third and final attempt to claim gold.
“Mentally and physically that had to be tough for him and I know he was disappointed he wasn’t able to jump at his best,” Lafferty said.
“However, a silver medal at the state meet is nothing to be disappointed about. It’s incredible.”