Class 3 state track and field: Greg Dennis leads Notre Dame to a tie for eighth place

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The first season running track and field for Notre Dame turned into three All-State medals for Greg Dennis.

The Bulldogs junior was a runner-up and added two more individual medals while teammate Cole Bruenderman also picked up three medals during the MSHSAA Class 3 Track and Field Championships this past weekend at the Licklider Track Complex at Jefferson City High School.

Notre Dame finished with 30 points, eight points away from the final trophy handed out during the two-day meet.

Notre Dame's Greg Dennis poses for a photo after receiving an All-State medal at the MSHSAA Class 4 State Championships this weekend at Jefferson City High School.Cody Thorn ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

Dennis had the top finish for the Bulldogs by taking second in the 110-meter hurdles, finishing in 15.04 seconds which broke the school record. He later added a third-place showing in the high jump, clearing 1.96 meters (6-feet, 5 inches).

“It’s just been fantastic, man. I'm so happy to be here. I couldn't expect anything else, but obviously wanted to come out with a couple of golds,” Dennis said. “Obviously, nothing to hang my head about just to be here and enjoy the state (meet). I owe it all to my coaches, man. They really coached me well and brought me here and I'm very thankful for them. Obviously, it was amazing. I didn't even know I was going to be that good. I was definitely all basketball. But once I came out here and realized I was decent at it, I just kept with it. I want to come back next year and get some medals and hopefully win the thing as a team.”

Bruenderman, another junior, medaled in two jumping events. He took second in the triple jump and third in the long jump.

Notre Dame's Cole Bruenderman competes in the long jump at this weekend's MSHSAA Class 3 State Championships at Jefferson City High School.Cody Thorn ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

He went 13.71 meters (44-11 ¾) in the triple jump on Friday on his third attempt.

“I think I did a very good job, yeah I wish I got first, but you know I'm still happy to take second,” he said. “This was tough competition like today compared to last year; there's a lot of kids that are consistently over 13 meters which was kind of scary coming into this just knowing that if I don't do too well I mean I won't get top eight.”

On Saturday, He jumped 6.70 meters in the long jump (21-11 ¾) to earn another trip to the podium. He was tied for fifth with one jump left and then improved his placing.

“I mean, obviously the third coming in and I got third; I can't be more happier than this,” said Bruenderman, who was just shy of his personal best of 6.71 meters.

Dennis and Bruenderman joined Davis Dow and Jacob Brown on the 4x100-meter relay that took seventh in the finals on Saturday. The team was seeded seventh coming out of the prelims.

Doniphan junior Max Owen also received All-State honors, finishing fourth in the high jump with a mark of 6-feet, 4 and 1/4 inches.

Click here for the full list of results from the Class 3 state championships.