QUINCY — As Amick McClelland closes out her high school track and field career, she gets one last hurrah at Flinn Stadium.
McClelland took part in the Missouri vs. Illinois track meet as part of the team from the Land of Lincoln, capping it off with a win in the girls 1,600-meter run.
“I made a lot of friends with girls from other schools, so just getting to be on the same team as them is nice,” said McClelland. “Just one more track meet.”
Those friendships McClelland developed has been beneficial in multiple ways, with the Blue Devils senior ticketed to run track for the University of Evansville.
“You can be friends with your competitors, but you can still compete really well with them,” said McClelland. “Being friends with people you compete with at meets is a good way to push yourself to do better at races.”
McClelland was one of 10 QHS senior athletes competing in Friday’s track meet, which also included Sadiya Hodges, Joshua Herring, Treyden Humphrey, Justin Kappner, Jason Percy, Carter Schenk, Bailey Schinderling, Reed Steiner and Anna Venvertloh.
McClelland competes in the 800 and the 1,600-meter runs, as well as a relay race.
“The season went okay,” said McClelland. “I PR’d quite a lot in the 1,600. Then in my 800, I didn’t really run how I wanted to, but it was okay. I qualified in the 4×8 for state.”
Percy set a new meet record in boys pole vault with a 13′ 4″ high mark, closing out his career in style with the Blue Devils.
For Quincy Notre Dame senior Joe Warning, this is the first official high school track meet for him since the Raiders do not have a track team. It’s the first time a Raider has competed in this meet.
“It means a lot to be able to be the first athlete from QND to go compete in this track event,” said Warning. “You know it’s kind of crazy because I just graduated and this is my first high school track meet.”
The QND senior made the most of it by winning the boys 1,600-meter run.
Warning will stay local, heading off to Quincy University to run track and cross country.
“I’m having a fun time representing my school,” said Warning. “Being the first athlete means a lot to me because it’s my senior year. I’m very proud to be competing. Even though we don’t have track, I’ve had a great experience.”
South Shelby senior Callie McWilliams won girls long jump and long jump on Friday after taking fourth in the Class 2 state meet last month in triple jump.
McWilliams also was part of two Lady Birds relay teams that competed at state.
“It definitely boosted my confidence because I got PRs in both events,” said McWilliams. “(High school) was amazing. I loved every second of it and I can’t wait to go off to college and do some big things there.”
McWilliams has committed to State Fair Community College’s track and field team.
“I’m looking forward to meeting other kids from the state and having them on my team,” said McWilliams. “I’m also looking forward to jumping.”
McWilliams’ South Shelby teammate Gabe Bowen also won a pair of events, winning the boys 110-meter hurdles and javelin.
Pittsfield had four girls compete in Friday’s meet, Michelle DeJaynes, Madison Frieden, Hazel Hill and Hannah Williams.
The Saukees girls 4×400-meter relay team made it to the state meet this season, which Frieden was part of. She also competes in the triple jump.
“It’s fun at this meet,” said Frieden. “You recognize a lot of faces from different teams. Especially since I’m not doing track in college, I’m really excited to compete one more time.”
Frieden has committed to John Wood women’s basketball and enjoyed her high school career with Pittsfield.
“I wanted to do track just looking at it as a way to get better at my other sports,” said Frieden. “Then, I ended up really enjoying it. I had some of my best memories from track, so it ended up a really good experience.”
Her Pittsfield teammate Tucker Cook, won both the boys discus and shot put.
West Hancock’s Nolan Gooding won the boys long jump, triple jump and 100-meter dash.
Other winners on the boys side include Payson Seymour’s Jordan Martin in the 400-meter dash, Palmyra’s Daniel Dames in the 200-meter dash and Payson Seymour’s Neal Dittmer in the high jump.
Illinois won the boys 4×100-meter relay, while Missouri won on the girls side.
Scotland County’s Kwyn Halmin won the high jump, 100 and 200-meter dashes.
Other winners on the girls side included Winchester’s Brylee Lawson in discus and Clark County’s Ava McKay in pole vault.
The Illinois boys won 75-40 to move to 5-2 all-time over Missouri, while the Illinois girls won 52-43 to move to 4-3 all-time over Missouri.
Longtime track coach Nick Koetters has helped organize the Missouri vs. Illinois track meet for the past nine years, along with several other area coaches.
The meet is used as a way to raise money for Special Olympics.
“There’s no entry fee for these kids to participate,” said Koetters. “We take donations at the door. I put my mom out there because she likes to talk, so she can get all that money from them. We have raffle prizes if you donate. Anything we make, we give away to the local Special Olympic group.”