Helias' Albertson closes career in style

Sets another school record at state track and field championships

School record, school record, school record.

The last three track and field meets have been something special for Emma Albertson.

Albertson, a senior at Helias, wrapped up her career Friday at the Class 4 state track and field championships by taking fifth and setting another school record in the girls shot put at Adkins Stadium.

"Three times in a row," Albertson said with a smile and a state medal hanging from her neck.

Albertson first set the Helias mark at the district championships, finishing first with a toss of 40 feet, 3.25 inches. Then at sectionals, Albertson again finished first with a throw of 40-7.5.

On Friday, Albertson recorded a throw of 41-.25 on the fifth of her sixth attempts. It was her best throw of the day by more than a foot.

"I am getting my foot underneath me, which allowed me to turn further and throw further," Albertson said. "And now I have the record up to 41 feet."

Winnetonka senior Deenia McMiller won the event with a toss of 42-8.5.

Albertson will be attending the University of Central Missouri, but won't be participating in track. She thinks she'll miss it.

"Probably a little bit," Albertson said. "There's something about the competitiveness, but I believe college for me is just going to be college."

Albertson's finish has the Lady Crusaders tied for 13th after the first day with four team points. Ste. Genevieve is first with 18, while West Plains and Winnetonka are tied for second with 13.

On the boys side, Helias picked up points in the first running event of the day.

The foursome of Chandler Luebbert, Colden Imhoff, Joe Randazzo and Elliot Knernschield combined to take fourth in the 4x800-meter relay with a time of 8:02.38.

"This is a great way to end the season," Knernschield, the lone senior of the four, said. "My teammates and I really wanted to get a medal at state and we accomplished that. My teammates all ran a great race."

Luebbert, a junior, ran the first leg in 2:02, while Imhoff, a freshman, finished in 2:01. Randazzo, a junior, finished his leg in just more than two minutes before Knernschield crossed the line in 1:57.

"We were looking to break eight minutes, but that was a good time," Knernschield said.

Knernschield will be running cross country and track at Central Methodist next season. Knernschield was eighth in the Class 3 cross country championships last fall at the Oak Hills Golf Center.

"It's been a great senior year," Knernschield said.

Helias is tied for 10th after the opening day with five points. Potosi is first with 16 points, while Festus, Kearney and Rockwood Summit are tied for second with 10.

Tyler Schrimpf of Helias also competed in a final Friday. The junior finished 11th in the pole vault, clearing 13-9.

Helias had three runners in preliminaries Friday.

On the boys side, Malik Davis (110-meter hurdles) and Blake Veltrop (400-meter dash) failed to advance to today's finals.

On the girls side, Anna Vollet did not advance in the 100-meter dash.

With the final two scheduled hours of running events called off due to weather Friday, Vollet will now run in the 200-meter dash at 4:07 p.m. today. There will be two heats run, with the fastest eight times earning medals.

Weston Porter will also compete today for Helias. The senior will be taking part in the boys javelin, an exhibition event, at 3 p.m.