Blalock runs away with two Poplar Bluff records

Poplar Bluff's golf team picked up its third tournament title of the season Saturday, while Hanna Blalock broke two school track records Friday.

At the Potosi Invitational, Blalock won the 1,600-meters in 5 minutes, 16.84 seconds, breaking a record set by Mary Kalich in 1986 by 9.26 seconds. She later broke her own record in the 3,200, finishing second in 11:33.16, nearly 30 seconds faster than her previous best time.

"She is looking great for this time of the season," Poplar Bluff coach Lance Bell said. "Those times put her in some elite company in the state."

At Eagle Lake Golf Course in Farmington, the Mules beat Parkway South 312-322 for the top spot in the 18-team tournament Saturday. Lindbergh (323) was third, followed by CBC (326) and Seckman (329). Poplar Bluff was coming off a ninth-place finish earlier in the week but had four earn medals by placing in the top 15.

"Good things happen when you work hard," Mules coach Billy Pyland said.

Nick Langley, a sophomore from Parkway South, earned medalist honors with a 1-under-par 71. Trent Hillis led Poplar Bluff with a round of 75, picking up birdies on Nos. 1 and 15.

Corey Poteet carded five birdies and three pars to finish at 78. The senior had consecutive birdies starting on No. 5 while Zack Stricker finished a stroke back at 79 thanks to 11 pars.

Cameron West shot an 80 while senior Josh Rathbun birdied No. 15 and finished with an 87 on a windy day.

BOYS TRACK

The Mules finished second Friday at the Potosi Invitational as the host finished with 145 points to Poplar Bluff's 105.

The 800 and 1,600 relay teams won along with hurdler Zach Ferguson, who won the 300 in 40.56 and finished second at 110 with a time of 15.46.

"Ferguson ran like a mad man all day," Bell said. "If he keeps this up, he is going to be hard to beat."

The 800-relay of Ferguson, Jordan Chaligoj, Damon Bower and Greg Coble won in 1:32.99 while Ferguson, Brent Wagner, Josh Freeman and Chaligoj won the 1,600 in 3:32.66. Coble, Chaligoj, Bower and Kerey Smith finished second in the 400-relay in 45.41.

"I was very happy with our (1,600) relay," Bell said. "They keep getting better and better."

Chris Kilgore was second in the high jump clearing 6-feet followed by Smith at 5-6. Coble was second in the long jump with a leap of 19-11.5 and was fifth in the triple jump at 40-3 while Kilgore was sixth at 17-9 in the long jump.

Bill Turner finished third in the discus at 129-10.

Bower was third in the 100 at 11.34 followed by Smith at 11.48 for sixth. Smith also finished eighth in the 200 at 24.56 and Freeman was fifth in the 400 at 54.87.

Travis Blalock finished third in the 1,600 at 4:39.6 and fifth in the 3200 at 9:57.61, both personal-best times for the sophomore.

GIRLS TRACK

The Lady Mules finished eighth with 53 points as Hannah Blalock and Rebecca Piland each won an event Friday.

Piland won the long jump with a distance of 16-0.75 and finished second in the triple jump at 33-3 and the high jump by clearing 4-8.

Julia Huck was third in the 1,600 at 5:59.1 and eighth in the 3200 at 13:30.68. Jordan Widman was eighth in the high jump, clearing 4-2, while Mariah Cooper was eighth in the discus with a throw of 83-1.