Affton Girls Take Crown Again at Conference Track Meet

The girls track team defended its championship in the Suburban East Conference Meet on Thursday at McCluer South-Berkeley.

And that is quite an accomplishment for the Cougars.

"The conference is just so good," Affton coach Tim Hill said. "Last year, the state champs from both Class 3 (McCluer South) and Class 4 (Ladue) came from this conference."

Those teams were not at full strength on Thursday, sitting out some key runners, but it was a good day at the track for the Cougars.

"This was nice, but the real focus is on districts," Hill said. "That is the one we really want to win."

Affton will have the home-field advantage as it hosts the Class 3 District 2 Meet on May 14.

Juniors Taylor Porter and Cheyenne Hoerr are looking forward to what lies ahead. Porter won the 100-meter dash and the long jump on Thursday. She broke her own school record in the long jump, with a leap of 16 feet 11 inches. Porter had set the previous record last year at the conference meet with a jump of 16 feet 8 inches. Her time in winning the 100-meter dash on Thursday was 13.02 seconds.

Porter qualified for the state meet in each of her two previous seasons—in the 100 as a freshman and in the 100, long jump and 4x200-meter relay last year.

"I still have a lot of work to do, but I am happy with where I am right now," Porter said. "My goal is to win state in the long jump."

Hoerr was all-state last year, finishing sixth in the 400 meters. She also qualified in the 4x200. Hoerr was conference champion on Thursday in the 400 and 300-meter hurdles. She ran a 58.61 in the 400 and 46.65 in the 300-hurdles.

"I have been going at a steady pace this year," Hoerr said. "I am healthy and feel that I am on schedule. I was happy to get sixth at state last year, but this year I want to be standing higher on the podium."

also had an outstanding day for the Cougars. Ford won the 100 hurdles (15.43) and the triple jump (37-1), and was second to Porter in the long jump (16-7).

Taylor Shinabargar was another double-winner at conference for the Cougars, capturing both throwing titles. She threw 32 feet 10 inches in the shot put and 103 feet 8 inches in the discus.

Kara Klemp was also a conference champion with her 9 foot pole vault.

In one of the most competative events of the conference, senior Minek Ford's won the boys 100-meter dash. Ford, a transfer from North Carolina, ran the dash in 11.3 seconds at conference. His season best is 11.1 seconds, and last year he ran a 10.8 in North Carolina. He missed going to the state meet there by just one place.

"Being so close last year gives me a lot of motivation to get to state this year and do well," Ford said. "I think it is there for me. I really want to get there and place in the top eight."

Kyle McAllister was the other boys champion at conference for the Cougars. He won the pole vault, which was contested Wednesday at Affton, by clearing 11-0.

Ladue won the boys conference meet.