The Poplar Bluff Mules and Lady Mules track and field teams will be well-represented at Saturday’s Class 5 sectional meet at Hillsboro.
On the boys side, Darius Graham won district titles in the long jump, high jump and triple jump, while Alex Larkins won a district title in the javelin.
Graham and Larkins will be joined at sectionals by Isaiah Nevel (long jump, high jump and triple jump), Kolyn McBride (400 meters), Spencer Nunn (110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and pole vault), Patrick Slack (110-meter hurdles), Neco Gaddy (discus), the 4x100-meter relay team (Xzavir Jones, McBride, Graham and Colt Clifford), the 4x200-meter relay team (Brenden Durden, Dereck Burton, Clifford and Jones) and the 4x400-meter relay team (Durden, Mason West, Jones and Nunn).
On the girls side, Koryenna Williams won district titles in the 100 meters and 200 meters, while Kennedy Zgaynor won a district title in the javelin. They will be joined at sectionals by Trynitee Watkins (100-meter hurdles and high jump), Kelsey Kramer (long jump), Lilly Wilson (pole vault), Bella Halliburton (shot put), the 4x100-meter relay team (Hannah Tinsley, Williams, McKinzie Kendle, Watkins) and the 4x200-meter relay team (Tinsley, Keeley Reynolds, Watkins, Williams).
“We’ve been trying to get the program to where it maintains this kind of success year in and year out,” Poplar Bluff boys track coach Jeff Mannon said. “We go to big meets every year, so these kids get used to it. The kids are used to performing on a big stage. We preach the team aspect to track, which is hard to do with as many individual aspects of it are. We celebrate every team point possible that we can.”
Graham and Nevel have been a potent 1-2 punch in the jumping events this spring, just like they were last season.
“Those two kids have been awesome,” Mannon said. “They’ve come out and they’ve been great team players. Last year, they had a competition where they were cheering on each other and they cheer on their teammates.They’re what you’d want out of some senior leadership’s on the team.”
With five teams — three boys and two girls — competing this weekend, the relay teams have been another strength this spring for the Mules and Lady Mules.
“The kids have just been grinding all year and working hard,” Mannon said. “I’m just excited to see where they’re at. … All I can ask for is the kids to have a chance to go out and perform, and see what they’ve got.”
Williams has been a stalwart for the Lady Mules this season as a sprinter.
“Kory’s just a really good kid,” Mannon said. “We’ve been close to Kory for a long time home — my daughter and her are pretty good friends. She just does everything she can at practice to do what she can to make herself and her teammates better. … She’s just one of those kids that you wish you had 100 of them.”
Meanwhile, Zgaynor continues her dominant senior season and is looking to make it back to state.
“She’s a really humble kid who celebrates everybody else’s successes too. But it’s fun to watch what she’s done over the last few years and I’m excited to see what she’s going to do at SEMO next year after sectionals and state.”
Mannon complimented Watkins’ maturity this season.
“She’s grown up a lot the last year,” Mannon said. “The last year she’s she’s matured a lot attitude-wise. She’s really pleasant to be around. (Girls track coach Beth) Lewis calls her Smiley all the time because she’s just walking around smiling nonstop.
“But she’s put the work in. She’s grown up a lot from last year going into this year and became a better teammate.”
Meanwhile, Nunn has been one of the Mules’ most versatile competitors.
“(Spencer is) one of those kids that will do anything you ask him to,” Mannon said. “We’ve put him on each of the relays and separate points in the year and we put him in the open 400 (meters). So there’s not many events that he hasn’t dabbled around with this year.”
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