Friday didn't start quite as well as South Callaway's Bennett Hager had hoped. Hager, competing his his third and final Class 2 state track and field championships at Adkins Stadium, cleared 12 feet, 6 inches in the pole vault.
The senior had cleared as high a 13-3 during the season, but a groin injury from the start of the season is still limiting him in that event. But despite not being at his best, he got a state medal out of it with a tie for eighth place.
To end the day, Hager stood on the podium again, this time as a fourth-place finisher in the javelin. His first throw was his farthest, 159-11.
"I came in with a good throw, but didn't quite get my furthest throw that I wanted," Hager said. "Ending up with fourth, I'm happy with that."
Hager placed fourth in the javelin last year when it was an exhibition event, finishing with a throw of 145-7.
"It's a cool experience," Hager said. " Seeing all these new guys competing against them is just awesome."
His throw of 159-11 on Friday would have won the state championship last season, but this year's champion - Bruester Young of Woodland - threw 173-11.
"It's kind of hard because since it's a new event you don't really have any coaches," Hager said. "So I pretty much taught myself. I sat at home for hours just watching YouTube and learning how to throw."
The state record also fell in the Class 2 girls javelin, as Jessica Sader of Knob Noster threw 137-10 to beat last year's record of 134-6.
South Callaway Lady Bulldog Kaci Jordan won a state medal in the triple jump, placing seventh at 33-8. Jordan will move to the long jump pit today.
Landon Horstman (triple jump), Ashley Potter (long jump), Hunter Schroer (shot put) and Austin Meyer ( high jump) are all in action for South Callaway today.
The first day of the meet started well for Eugene and Linn.
Eugene's girls 4x800-meter relay team of Nicole Koetting, Lexi Dickerson, Jodi Polly and Rylee Kempker placed third in 10:09.75. Close behind was Linn's Lindsey Lebel, Audrey Froning, Harley Nale and Mariah Bryan in fifth in 10:15.95.
It was the first of three all-state performances for Eugene and first of two for Linn.
Jasmine Evers of Eugene was sixth in the discus with a throw of 116-5, which was her first toss of the competition. A smile and a high-five was in order.
"I came in and had trouble in the last couple days in practice and just had to slow my mind down and slow my routine down just to get it perfect," Evers said. "If I wasn't happy with it, that's OK, top eight is great."
Evers will be back throwing today in the shot put. She's seeded 11th at 34-3.25, but said she threw a 38 in practice.
"I'm ready for tomorrow," she said.
Fellow Eugene thrower Allyssa Puckett also earned a state medal with a seventh-place finish in the javelin with a throw of 111-9. She'll compete in the shot put today.
The Lady Eagles also had a relay team and an individual advance to today's finals. The 4x400 relay team of Koetting, Mikayla Payne, Dickerson and Polly advanced after running the third best time in Friday's preliminaries (4:13.42). Polly also advanced to the finals of the 400-meter dash with the eighth best time in prelims (1:00.99).
Eugene will also have Taylor Ousley participating in the long jump today.
Cole Stephens of Linn is a first-time all-state athlete after taking sixth in the 800 in 2:01.17, a personal record for the sophomore.
Stephens made sure to put himself in position for a medal on the first lap, posting a time of 58.29 seconds.
"The first lap was really fast compared to other races I've run," Stephens said. "I just tried my best to not get boxed in and tried weaving through people."
This was Stephens' first chance to run as an individual at state after competing with the 4x400 and 4x800 relays last year.
"It's really exhilarating," he said. "It's a whole different ballgame. It's a lot more fun and kind of scary at the same time, but it's definitely worth it."
The 4x800 team of Ethan Oidtman, Noah Voss, Logan Klouzek and Chase Jones will run today. Also competing for Linn today are Nale (800), Lindsey Lebel (high jump), Audrey Froning (high jump) and Carmella Rackers (shot put).
Russellville distance runners Harrison Frank and Anthony Bertucci stepped to the podium Friday, both getting a fourth-place finish.
Frank ran the 800 in 2:00.05, while Bertucci ran the 1,600 in 4:35.68.
Frank was seeded first in the 800 but eventual champion James Allen of NJROTC finished in 1:56.79.
"I knew it was going to be a close race," Frank said. "We were all there together. I know some of these kids have run faster before. We were all pretty even, so I was just fighting for a spot."
This was Bertucci's third straight year running in the 1,600 at state. He finished fourth last year as well. Using his experience, he stayed toward the back of the pack early in the race. He was in 10th after the first lap.
"I know people are going to take out really strong, because that's just what everybody does at state," Bertucci said. "They have that adrenaline rush. I try to hold back as much as I can until I have enough energy to make my surge to pass."
Bertucci and Frank will return to the track today, running in the 4x800 with Austin Roe and Beau Bryant. They are seeded first.
"It would be awesome (to win)," Frank said. "It's way better to win as a team."
Bertucci will also run the 3,200 today.
"It's a big relief," Bertucci said of only having one event Friday. "Most meets are event after event after event. The way state is set up, it's perfect. You can get it out of the way and rest."
Russellville's Makenzie Schwartz ran four preliminaries Friday, advancing in both hurdle events.
Tipton's Isaac Ashton won a state medal with a seventh-place finish in the 1,600 in 4:38.77. He'll join Kodie Dick, Dalton Weaver and Macen Mannering in the 4x800 today. Weaver will also compete in the triple jump.
New Bloomfield didn't have any medalists Friday, but will have two individuals and two relays running today.
Zain Culwell, Clayten Walker, Bailey Crane and Payton Culwell recorded the third-best time in the 4x400 prelims to advance to the finals. The same group had the fifth-best time in the 4x200 prelims to advance.
Walker also advanced in the 200, while Payton Culwell will run in the 400 finals.