In just 2.4 seconds, three school records fell at the 76th Mineral Area Relays at Herculaneum April 6.
With a final surge at the finish line, Farmington senior Evan Fuller won the 1,600-meter run in a school record of 4:13.33. Right behind him were Festus sophomore Carson Driemeier (4:13.84) and Herky junior Nate Wright (4:15.76), also the best-ever times at their schools.
The accomplishment means more than usual considering the rich running tradition at Festus and Herculaneum, especially in cross country, with a combined 37 state championships, boys and girls. Driemeier finished third in the Class 5 state cross country meet back in November, one place ahead of Fuller, and helped lead the Tigers to their 11th boys title. At Herculaneum, he destroyed his previous personal-best in the 1,600 by 10 seconds.
Driemeier said his former teammate, Festus 2023 graduate Ian Schram, had told him the school record “was going to be a cakewalk for you.”
“I went out there and did what I could,” Driemeier said. “I came across (the third lap at 3:14) and knew I had to take off and hold on to (Fuller or Wright) because I knew they’d bring me where I needed to be. It’s great to know I have my kick.”
Wright, fourth in the state in Class 3 a year ago in the 1,600, also was part of a state cross country champion team in 2021 (Class 3) and consistently pushes his friendly rivals from Festus. He eclipsed the 1989 mark of 4:16.5 held by Skeeter Rankins. Wright held off two Dexter runners by two seconds to win the 800 Saturday in 1:56.82. He was sixth at state in the 800 last year.
“Going into the season, my goal was to get the record, but that’s not the end goal, (which is) to place at state,” Wright said. “(Fuller and Driemeier) came through strong the first two laps and (on) the third lap, they both kicked into gear the last 100. I didn’t know it was that fast.
“That first lap goes by quick. I don’t like getting out too quick in the mile. Second lap, you don’t think about that one. I focus on the third lap and up the effort. The fourth lap comes naturally. The last 200 is what you have left in your legs.”
Despite those record-setting performances, the Hillsboro boys flexed their depth and balance over the 19 events to win with 112 points. The Hawks finished second in the state to Festus last season (Class 4). The Tigers, who had a much more complete lineup at Herculaneum than they did two weeks earlier at home for the McCullough-Douglass Invitational, placed second with 98 points. Farmington (88) was third and Herculaneum (72) fourth.
Festus head coach Chris Partney will tinker with his lineup all season as the Tigers defend their first title in the sport. Driemeier could work his way into the 800.
“When you’re breaking distance records at Festus, (the 1,600) was Michael Karls’ record (4:15.38 in 2015), who was one of the best I’ve been around in the state, and (Driemeier) was only a few seconds off the 3,200 record (9:04.08 in 2012) by Drew White, who went on to run at Mizzou,” Partney said. “Hunting down those records as a sophomore, I have no doubt he’ll get Drew’s eventually. (Driemeier) was great as a freshman at the state meet. If he stays healthy, he’s going to do big things this year. We’re going to see where he’s at in the 800, and do the smart thing for him.
“(Fuller) is fantastic. At the state meet, we really are going to want those points, and that kid’s going to be in the way. That’s cool to see them run together.”
Jefferson County Activities Association teams had the top five finishers in the boys 3,200. De Soto sophomore Carson Koerber won in 9:43.54, followed by Hillsboro senior Clayton Schneider (9:56.29), De Soto freshman Cruz Anders (9:58.38), Festus junior Lucas Campbell (9:59.72) and Herculaneum senior Ashton Parrish (10:40.14).
Hillsboro flashed its strength in the hurdles with senior Dalton Ross winning the 110-meter high hurdles in 15.26 and taking second in the 300 intermediate hurdles in 40.60. Sophomore Clayton Brown medaled in both events as well (fourth in the 110, third in the 300).
The Hillsboro boys appear ready to defend their state 4x800 title, winning at Herculaneum in 8:16.11, 24 seconds faster than second-place Farmington. This year’s Hawk foursome consists of Greg Mann, Aiden Belcher, Clayton Schneider and Landon Pogue.
Hillsboro junior Preston Brown won the javelin in 54.30 and was third in the long jump in 5.92. The Hawks also had the top two pole vaulters in juniors Tyler Blake in 3.73 meters and Aiden Oelzen in 3.50.
Hillsboro is doing something right in its vault training because the top two girls at the Mineral Area meet also were Hawks. Sophomore Maleah Lambrich and junior Caroline Kohler went 1-2 at 2.90 meters, with Lambrich winning on fewer attempts. Both failed tries at 10 feet (3.04 meters).
“I freaked out; it was not great,” Kohler said about her last attempt of the day. “I kicked the bar and landed on it and hurt both my wrists and was unable to continue. It’s a split-second overthinking. Getting that school record is a big stress. Getting over that is going to take more jumps and becoming more familiar with that height.”
Lambrich said she and Kohler clear 10 feet all the time in practice.
“It’s just really a mental thing,” Lambrich said. “The sport’s all mental, really. It takes an athletic person to do it, but you have to be mentally strong, too. I like it because there’s always something new to learn and you’re never done getting better.”
The coaches encouraged Kohler to do the pole vault because of her gymnastics background.
“I fell in love with it,” she said. “It’s challenging and there’s so much to learn. But it’s thrilling being in the air and soaring over a bar. It’s unmatched.
“We push each other,” she said of Lambrich. “She’s amazing to have as a teammate and I love her so much.”
Hillsboro head coach Dina Holland said Lambrich and Kohler each have two years of varsity experience and are similar in style and performance.
“They’re great teammates,” Holland said. “They support each other; they want each other to be successful. I think they both will get there (10 feet). That’s my prediction. They’re going to pop one out. They’ve both hit 9-6 several times now, so it’s going to happen.”
The Festus girls won all four relays and earned the team title with 163.5 points. Parkway Central was second with 133 and Farmington was third with 76.
De Soto (49) and Hillsboro (46) were next.
“It shows our depth in our sprints group,” Festus girls head coach Wes Armbruster said. “We can rotate eight or 12 girls through our relay teams. The thought is if you’re good at relays, it reflects on your overall team strength.”
Tiger freshman Jahmeshia Patterson continued her torrid streak in the 100, winning for the second time this season at Herky, this time in 12.4 seconds. Patterson also won the 200 in 25.18, was second in the 100 hurdles in 15.81 and won the long jump in 5.11 to post 38 points.
“She’s in the conversation to test school records in 100, 200 and long jump,” Armbruster said. “When I first took the job, I didn’t think any of those could be broken. Suddenly, the landscape has changed, and the boys team, in a weird way, gave confidence and drive for the girls to chase a state championship trophy.
“(Patterson is) very raw in the hurdles; it’s technique-based and she still has a load of work to do. Her 100 time is the second-fastest time in the state.”
Festus senior Ciara McDonald won the javelin in 38.06 meters. She has reached the 39-meter mark already this spring.
“She’s been consistent for us even as a freshman and sophomore, but at the back half of last year, she and Rylie (Moore) took off at the right time,” Armbruster said. “With Rylie out (with an injury), she has put pressure on herself to fulfill that mantle.”
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