Knott, Mattsey, 1600-m relay take top honors at Monticello Invitational
By Fred Kroner
Hayden Knott continued his unbeaten streak as a senior and classmate Brandon Mattsey was involved with two winning performances in the Friday (May 7) 12-school Monticello Invitational.
Knott was triumphant in both the shot put (54 feet, 3 inches) and the discus (157 feet, 4 inches).
Mattsey captured top honors in the 800 meters, recording a time of 2 minutes, 2.93 seconds. He also helped the 1,600-meter relay to a first-place finish.
The foursome consisted of Brady Buss, Mattsey, Tyler Burch and Aidan McCorkle. They were timed in 3:35.21 and had a margin of victory of 1.46 seconds.
Braden Clampitt was the 300-meter hurdles runner-up (46.83 seconds) and McCorkle placed second in the 400 meters (54.31 seconds).
SJ-O had three placers in the 1,600 meters.
Charlie Mabry ran second (4:44.97) and Elijah Mock was third (4:51.37). Also placing in that race was the Spartans’ Logan Wolfersberger (seventh in 4:58.03).
Three SJ-O sprinters scored points, led by fifth-place Buss (11.42). Other teammates trailing him were Burch (sixth in 11.55) and Jonathan Poulter (seventh in 11.74).
Brock Trimble ended fifth in the discus (120-7) and teammate Evan Schmitz was seventh (116-7).
Trimble added a seventh-place ending in the triple jump (35-2). Ethan Blackburn was seventh in the 3,200 meters (11:07.26). Aden Armstrong was eighth in the 800 meters (2:21.20).
Armstrong ran the leadoff leg on the Spartans’ top-placing relay, the 3,200-meter unit. That group finished in third place (9:10.03). Joining Armstrong were Spencer Wilson, Isiah Mock and Luke Stegall.
The Spartans’ 400-meter relay was seventh. Teaming up to secure a time of 45.69 seconds were Buss, McCorkle, Burch and Poulter.
SJ-O’s 800-meter relay placed eighth. Drew Thurman ran first and was followed by Trimble, Justice Wertz and Brody Weaver. Their collective time was 1:44.63.
Officially, the meet was not scored. However, if points had been totaled, SJ-O would have ended third with 101 points. Runner-up Monticello would have had 101 ½ points.
SJ-O will return to action on Friday (May 14) at the Unity Invitational, in Tolono.
