Wayland High School junior Evie Mathis finally has accomplished what she seemed destined to do — win the Division 2 state championship in the pole vault.
Mathis claimed the state title despite not clearing her personal best height. Her leap of 11 feet nine inches bested all comers Saturday at Hamilton High School. However, she has cleared 12 feet several time in her career and her best performance was 12-6. Before Saturday, she was state runner-up twice and she won a national title while a student at Wayland Middle School.
It was the second time in the past year a Wayland High School student has captured a state championship. Adam Huff won the state crown a year ago in the discus. But Huff had a bad day in his attempt to repeat as discus champion. He threw a little more than 150 feet and had to settle for 17th place. Wayland’s other state qualifying thrower, Ashton Kuhlman, was 15th in the shot put at 49-5.
So the Wayland girls scored 10 points on Mathis’ championship performance. No other Wildcat scored in the meet, neither male nor female.
The Hopkins girls’ squad posted nine points by placing in two events. Kambria Moored scored a fifth-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles in 46.29 seconds and she, Annika Ford, Ellarie Baugh and Riley Homrich took fourth place in the 400-meter relay.
Other notable Viking performances:
• Ninth – Riley Homrich – 100m
13th – Luke Klinge – Pole Vault
13th – Kambria Moored – 100m Hurdles
18th – Clayton Kerber – 300m Hurdles
24th – Keilah Bonga – Discus.
Martin sophomore Veyda Conley finished eighth in the 3200-meter run at 12:02.03 and she was 11th in the 1600 in 5:30.5.
