Victorious Vaulter: Lander Leads 3 All-State Track Tigers

Republic’s Haven Lander had never beaten pole vault rival Elleigh Spragg of Rogersville — until it counted most. At the state meet Saturday afternoon, Lander cleared 11’6″ to win the Class 4 state championship.

Lander, a junior, has now been all-state three years in a row. She finished sixth as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore. But Spragg and Lander have developed a rivalry as the two best vaulters in southwest Missouri, and it was a rivalry that Spragg had gotten the better of over the past two years.

Saturday, with the state’s best vaulters in the field, Lander and Spragg again stood out. They were the only two to clear 11’0″. Lander went first at 11’6″, and cleared the bar on her first vault. Then she watched as Spragg missed on all three of her attempts.

“I was kind of in shock because I expected her to clear it,” Lander says. “When she didn’t, it didn’t fully hit me that I actually just won state. I didn’t really realize it until I was about to go again that I had actually won.”

Lander says Spragg is a friend–but their rivalry has been a driving force this season.

“It just motivated me to do better, knowing that she’s beaten me all year. It gave me the drive to push even harder in practice. I think that really helped.”

Lander’s pole vault championship comes exactly 50 years after Ralph Hagewood won Republic’s only other pole vault state title, in 1966. He won both the indoor and outdoor championships that year.

Jerney Medals Again

Jerney Jones was back on the medal stand in the long jump this year, although not on the top. After winning the long jump last year, with a jump of 22’6″, Jones jumped 22’2″ Saturday, earning fifth place. The long jump field was stronger this year, led by Alexander Ugbah of West Plains, who jumped 23′ 1.5″.

“I struggled early and didn’t jump very far,” Jones says. “I finally got a 22’2″, which got me fifth, but I just couldn’t jump very far today.”

Canfield Runs Best-Ever Time to Take 6th

Philip Canfield says he had already accomplished his season goal by qualifying for the state meet at all. He was determined to put in his best effort, whether that meant an all-state finish or not.

Turned out he saved his best for last. Canfield ran a personal-best time of 9:43.64 to take sixth place in the 3200m run.

“I was just ecstatic to be here, (to) get the experience, (to) get to run on this track,” he says. “I was just going to see what I can do today. If I got all-state, I got all-state. If I didn’t, I didn’t, so it was kind of a shock.” (Listen to more of the post-race interview below.)

Rackley’s Late Kick Falls Short

Down the homestretch of the 800m run, Treydon Rackley was closing fast on Ryan Parson of Farmington. As they approached the finish line, Rackley leaned forward to edge ahead of Parson — but it was a split-second too late. Rackley finished 9th — one spot out of the all-state medals — by only 25 ten-thousandths of a second.

Friday’s Results

Republic’s 4×100 and 4×200 girls relay team of Autumn Garner, Lander, Lauren O’Hara, and Avy Powell-Qualo competed Friday. In the 4×200 prelim, they finished in 1:47.47, but didn’t qualify for the finals. That was their second-best time of the year, slower only than their time at sectionals, which set a new school record.

In the 4×100, Republic ran a 50.91. That was a personal best, but not fast enough to qualify for the finals. Garner is the lone senior on the team. The other three will be back next season.