The Triple Crown is a vaunted title in the world of sports but Clark County High School one-upped that moniker. It has a Quadruple Crown winner in Kaden Hamner.
Hamner capped his incredible senior season when he won the 100-, 200- and 400-meters races in "dominating fashion," according to his coach and ran on the winning 4x100 championship relay team Saturday at the Missouri State High School Athletic Association Class 2 track and field meet at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo.
Hamner helped the Indians finish second in the team race with the help of Mason McDaniel's third- and fourth-place finishes and the 4x800 relay team's eighth-place run.
The Indians totaled 52 points to East Buchanan's 56 points. West Platte was third with 44 points.
"I was so impressed with all of our athletes at state," Clark County coach Ethan Allen said. "They were extremely focused and worked hard to be their best."
The 4x1 relay team with Hamner and fellow seniors Jonny Shinn, Konner Westercamp and Callan Wheeler ran a 43.1 to set a school record, then ran a 43.37 in the finals to win.
"Kaden's most impressive performancewas anchoring our 4x100 team," Allen said. "He got the baton in third or fourth place and passed everyone to win it without a doubt of who was first. The crowd erupted as he took off down the backstretch. It was awesome."
Hamner, who has committed to run for the University of Missouri, broke his own school-record times in the 200 and 400. He had coveted the 100 record and finally ran it down with a 10.7 prelim time and a 10.66 finals.
"I was very happy," Hamner told KHQA TV. "If you told me at the start of the year that I was going to win the 100 at state I'd have said, 'no way.' It feels awesome."
His time in the 200 twice set a meet record. He ran 21.63 in the preliminaries then 21.52 in the finals. Hamner broke the MSHSAA Class 2 200-meters record was set in 2014 at 21.65 by Michael Wells of Cleveland NJROTC.
The preliminary 400 was at 48.44 then the finals was a 48.21.
"This takes a lot of stress off me," Hamner said. "I feel that pressure but I use it to go out there and win.
McDaniel's 4 minutes, 31.04 seconds time in the 1600 meters was good for fourth place and edged out fifth place by 3/10th of a second with an amazing kick. McDaniel was the only non-senior in the top five finishers. He is a sophom*ore.
"Mason had a huge weekend, setting school records in both of his events," Allen said. "He ran a 1:10 last lap to go from 10th to 4th in the 1600 which was so impressive to see his grit and determination."
Two seniors finished ahead of McDaniel in the 3200. His third-place time was 9:55.42.
Each of Hamner's wins was worth 10 points, McDaniel scored 11 points, the 4x1 win was 10 points and the 4x8 earned a point.
McDaniel, junior Austin Day, Wheeler and junior Gavin Schuetz ran to eighth in the 4x2 with a time of 8:28.49, 10 seconds faster than the 8:38.82 they ran to qualify for state.
Last season, Hamner dropped his preliminary time by two seconds in the 400, but this year he dropped his preliminary time in all three races.
Two other Indian relay teams that ran at state both finished 10th.
The 4x2 posted a time of 1:33.09 with senior Josh Davidson, Wheeler, Lucus Eddleman and sophom*ore Brennan Fuller.
The 4x4 ran a second faster than its sectional time at 3:33.83 with Shinn, Schuetz, Wheeler and Day.
Three other Indians seniors finished their athletic career at the state meet.
Clint Chamley's best discus toss was good for ninth at 130 feet, 5 inches.
Maggie Weaver placed 10th in the 800 meters in 2:28.14.
Lucus Eddleman's best long jump of 19-6 1/4 was 13th.
Clark County sophom*ore Irelynn Plenge was 11th in the pole vault.
"I feel so lucky to have been a part of this amazing group of athletes and to be a small part of their success," Allen said. "They have worked so hard this season and it showed at the state track meet. I am extremely proud of all of our athletes throughout the year because it truly took everyone to get us to where we finished."
