Charleston’s McBride, Mattoon’s Cook double-winners in Apollo Conference track & field meet

By Tim Taylor

An ankle injury clearly did not hinder Charleston’s Makenna McBride.

After a weeklong break from running in order to heal, the CHS senior returned to capture both the 100- and 200-meter titles in the Apollo Conference track and field championships Thursday evening.

McBride ran 13.61 to win the 100 meters by .15 seconds and then posted a 27.19 to win the 200 by 1.04 seconds.

Mattoon’s Maya Cook, continued her great season by becoming conference champion in both shot put and discus. In shot, she threw 11.39 meters, or about 37.36 feet – almost a full two meters beyond her closest competitor. In discus, she unleashed a throw of 27.21 (89.27 feet).

With the cold and wet conditions on Thursday, the high jump and pole vault events were moved inside because of slippery conditions.

High jump is usually a quiet event, but with the event moved indoors, the competitors had a large crowd cheering them on. Mattoon’s Matthew Gordon followed through on his top conference ranking with a personal-record clearance of 6 feet, officially 1.83 meters.

“I feel awesome,” Gordon said. “I was telling coach that as we were coming in here that I’m feeling six feet today. And I did it.”

A large crowd cheers to encourage Matthew Gordon in his attempt to clear 6 feet for the Apollo championship.

Gordon appreciated the crowd’s support as he attempted his winning jump.

“The environment was awesome,” Gordon added. “It was great. There’s never a crowd like this for high jump. It got my adrenaline pumping, and I was just feeling really good today.”

Two Charleston seniors became Apollo Conference champions in high jump and triple jump. Wyatt Strader leaped 6.20 meter (20.34 feet) to win the long jump by nearly a foot while Jacob Flight bounded 12.51, or 41.04 feet, in the triple. Mattoon’s Dylan Sledge finished .56 meters back for a PR of 11.95.

CHS’s Wyatt Strader races down the track in his winning attempt in the long jump.

MHS’s Sam Bradbury won the shot put with a heave of 15.34, or 50.32 feet, and he also placed third in discus at 35.98 meters.

Mt. Zion easily won the girls and boys team championships. Mattoon’s boys team took this and Charleston finished fifth.. Mattoon’s girls team garnered fourth while Charleston earned sixth.

Other notable performances:

Mattoon’s mens 4×200 and 4×800 teams placed second, and the 4×100 and 4×400 teams came in third.
Mattoon’s Imani McGee got second in long jump, and Charleston’s Olivia Conn placed third.
At pole vault, Charleston’s Zac Stout cleared a personal record of 3.75 meters to get third.
MHS’s women’s 4×100, 4×200, and 4×400 teams placed third, and its 4×800 team earned fourth.
Mattoon’s Cale Kimbro placed third in the 200.
MHS’s Brock Davee came in third in the 3,200 and fourth in the 1,600.
Charleston’s Alex Stout placed fourth in discus.
In the 100m hurdles, MHS’s Logan Crist got fourth.
CHS’s Jacob Flight earned fourth in long jump and fifth in high jump.
Mattoon’s Gracie Willingham came in fifth in the 300 hurdles.
Charleston’s women’s 4×200 and 4×800 teams earned fifth.
At long jump, MHS’s Dylan Sledge came in fifth.
CHS’s Aerielle Ecker got fifth in the discus.
Mattoon’s Oaklie Layton placed fifth in the 3,200.
MHS’s Ryleigh Grayson came in fifth in the triple jump.