MONTICELLO — Running on their home track, the Monticello track and field boys and girls track teams were looking for their second consecutive 5A-Southeast Conference titles.
But a combination of a lack of numbers and Crossett bringing and strong boys team and a girls team that could compete for a state title left Monticello in second place in each division.
Crossett won the girls division with 240.5 points, Monticello finished in second with 145.5. White Hall was fourth with 60.5 points and Watson Chapel came in sixth place with 37.5.
The Crossett boys team racked up 217 points and Monticello was next with 117.5. White Hall was fourth with 95 points and Watson Chapel claimed fifth place with 42.
Monticello coach Marty Davis was still happy with his squad, though.
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“It was a good day for us (Thursday),” he said. “The thing that we knew would hurt us would be our numbers.
“Our expectations were to win it again this year, but our numbers were down a bit this year and you can’t take anything from Crossett.”
Crossett coach Sirl Wright was a bit surprised by the boys team, but he knew the girls team had a chance to have a big day.
“We have been having a mediocre year for the boys, but ultimately they pulled it together and they looked pretty strong,” he said. “As for the girls, we knew we have a pretty good team.”
Crossett’s strong day started from the very beginning as it won all 12 of the field events to get out to a commanding lead.
Once the distance events started, that is when Monticello started to shine. The girls and boys team each won their leg of the 3,200-meter relay. The boys had a time of 9 minutes, 10.82 seconds, while the girls ran a season-best time of 11:36.20.
“We were very pumped and we knew we could do it,” said Sarah Claycomb, who was a part of the relay. “We believed in each other and it was teamwork.”
Claycomb then went on and piled up a bunch of points on her own. The freshman won the 800 (2:41.07), 1,600 (5:46.87), and the 3,200-meter runs (12:48.04), giving her four events to run in during her first state track meet.
By the end of the day, Claycomb was had mixed emotions of exhaustion and excitement.
“I am tired and it’s very exciting,” she said. “I feel very accomplished and I am very proud of myself.
“You have to believe in yourself but you can’t just expect it. It helped to be nervous and it helps me go faster.”
Claycomb was not the only freshman making an impact for the Monticello. On the boys side, Zach Williams was a part of the 3,200 relay and he won the 1,600-meter run (5:00.09).
“Before the race, I was real nervous, and I just had to go out there and do what I had to do,” he said. “In the really, we didn’t know how that would turn out because (Helena-West Helena Central) beat us last time, so I guess we did what we had to do.”
Williams also finished third in the 800 (2:15.37) and fourth in the 3,200 (11:52.69), giving the freshman four events to compete in at state.
SedreAumna Griddine won the girls 300 hurdles for Monticello in a time of 50.19 seconds.
Watson Chapel’s Josh Balentine finished third in the 200-meter dash (22.60) and fourth in the 100-meter dash (11.21). For the girls, Alyssa Anderson was second in the 800 (2:45.18) and third in the 1,600 (6:12.41).
For White Hall, Thomas Johnson finished second in the 3,200 (11:36.25).