The plan is there is no plan.
Helias sophomore Kylie Frank's favorite event is the 800-meter run.
"I'm really bad at pacing myself and the 800 is a race where you just run as hard as you can and see if you can hang on," Frank said.
She hung on Saturday to take fourth in the Class 4 state track and field championships at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
"I just wanted to be on the podium," Frank said. "I went into the race thinking top eight would be nice. So I'm quite happy."
The 16 runners hung together through the first lap of the race. But while many in the field slowed on the second and final lap, Frank was able to hang with the lead pack to earn the medal with a personal-record time of 2:16.12.
"I think everybody wants to do better," Frank said. "But it was a good finish."
Frank has two years to perhaps move up in the final standings.
"Hopefully I will do better next year and maybe win it," Frank said. "That would be nice."
It was Frank's second medal of the championships. She was a member of the 4x800-meter relay team that finished seventh Friday, along with teammates Kaitlyn Shea, Molly Light and Lanie Hentges.
The final race for the group - Shea is a senior who has signed to run at Southeast Missouri State and Light is a junior who will attend St. Francis Borgia in Washington next year - was more than a bit sentimental.
"It was an emotional race," Frank said. "I usually don't get emotional about track, but we were psyched."
Earlier Saturday, Shea finished seventh in the 1,600-meter run with time of 5:07.40 to eclipse her own school record. She also was 16th in the 800.
The Lady Crusaders finished 18th in the final Class 4 team standings with 14 points. Poplar Bluff was first with 61, followed by Ste. Genevieve (54), Lutheran South (47) and Grandview (45).
III
The Helias boys competed in two events Saturday.
The 4x800-meter relay team of Chandler Luebbert, Joseph Randazzo, Thomas Asmar and Elliot Knernschield finished 10th in 8:16.04.
Collin Caywood of the Crusaders was 15th in the long jump at 19 feet, 2 1/4 inches.
Grandview won the Class 4 state title with 65 points. West Plains was second (53), followed by McCluer (51) and Raytown South (48).
Additional coverage of Saturday's competition:
Lady Jays' Roberson returns to the podium
Jays' Schwartz takes fourth in 3,200
Squires' title seals trophy for California
Pair of overall marks fall on final day of state track
Prep Track: Class 3-5 state championship results
Additional coverage from Friday's competition:
Records fall at track and field championships
Roberson claims Class 5 shot put crown
Blair Oaks scores in two events
California's Pickering beats nerves to win title
Southern Boone's Crow advances in two events