We at Ameritime Sports are proud of the team-first atmosphere surrounding the many programs that we cover. It’s a respectful and humble culture that leads to success on a variety of spectrums, but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to shy away from championing an individual who had a truly impressive performance within the week. In this case, we’re celebrating several individual efforts for a team that had an undoubtably remarkable season.
We’ve teamed up with the good people at Pettus Automotive to bring you a feature that will highlight student athletes’ outstanding individual and team performances. Whether on the gridiron, golf course, diamond or hardwood, there is always someone doing something special. And we thought you’d all like to know about it.
This week the honor goes to the Festus Boys Varsity Track and Field team, who won their first ever State Championship this season. The Tigers had participants in 13 of the 19 events for the week and racked up an impressive 76 points to edge out their heavily-favored rivals, the Hillsboro Hawks.
Now while this was certainly a team victory, it was the result of several individual efforts, and we wanted to call out those impressive performances.
Below are the school records set this season:
800 Meter – Ian Schram (1:53.17)
Long Jump – Arhmad Branch (23-4.5)
Triple Jump – Arhmad Branch (47-1)
Javelin – Tyler Shepherd (175-7)
4 x 100 Relay – Avery Edwards, Hunter Bates, Arhmad Branch, Reece Johnson (42.24)
4 x 200 Relay – Avery Edwards, Hunter Bates, Arhmad Branch, Reece Johnson (1:28.48)
Three JCAA Conference records were set as well. See below:
800M – Ian Schram (1:56.06)
Long Jump – Arhmad Branch (22-9)
Triple Jump – Arhmad Branch (47-1)
The individual efforts are staggering. Schram won two State titles in the 800 and 1600 as well as two 2nd place finishes in the 3200 and 4 x 800. Branch won a State Title in the Long Jump on his final jump of the competition, and he finished 3rd in the triple jump and 2nd in the 4 x 100 & 4 x 200.
Austin Johnson finished 3rd in the Pole Vault at the State Meet, and Cody Evans and Shepherd both broke school records at the Sectional meet, finishing 1st and 2nd. Not to mention the 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 relay records that Edwards, Bates, Branch and Johnson broke were 20 and 30 years old respectively.
The Tigers also managed to do all of this without Cullen Krieg, one of the best mid-distance/distance runners in the State, who was unfortunately lost to an injury right before Districts. But the rest of the boys stepped up and were able to bring home the first State Title in program history.
Excuse the pun, but it was a heck of a run.
Thanks to Pettus Automotive for making this possible, and congratulations to the Festus Boys Track & Field team on a fantastic, historical season. Pettus Automotive Squad of the Season: Festus Track & Field
arhmad branch, Auston Johnson, Avery Edwards, Cody Evans, Cullen Krieg, Featured, Festus, Festus Boys Varsity Track and Field, Hunter Bates, Ian Schram, Player of the Week, Reece Johnson, track and field, Tyler Shepherd