JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Bennett Hager showed his resourceful side in turning to the internet when he needed some instruction on the proper technique in sending a javelin flying.
The South Callaway senior profited from his online investment Friday when he medalled in the javelin with a fourth-place heave of 159 feet, 11 inches at the Class 2 state track and field championships at Jefferson City High School's Adkins Stadium.
"It's kind of hard because since it's a new event you don't really have any coaches," Hager said to the News Tribune's Jason Strickland. "So I pretty much taught myself. I sat at home for hours just watching YouTube and learning how to throw.
"I came in with a good throw (Friday), but didn't quite get my furthest throw that I wanted. Ending up with fourth, I'm happy with that."
Hager also took fourth in the javelin at 145-7 when the event was an exhibition at last year's state championships.
Woodland senior Bruester Young locked up the first state title in the javelin Friday with a distance of 173-11.
"It's a cool experience," Hager said. " Seeing all these new guys competing against them is just awesome."
Hager ended up as a two-time state medalist Friday after he tied for eighth place in the pole vault at 12-6. He had previously cleared 13-3 this season, but noted that he is still bothered by a groin injury he suffered at the start of the season.
Meanwhile, New Bloomfield's quartet of senior Zain Culwell, junior Clay Walker, sophomore Bailey Crane and junior Payton Culwell delivered a pair of medal performances Saturday. The group took second in the 800-meter relay in 3 minutes, 27.24 seconds, finishing behind state champion Cleveland NJROTC's winning time of 3:25.68.
The Wildcats' unit also came in sixth in the 800 relay in 1:33.20. Crest Ridge collected the state title in 1:30.91.
Walker earned a state medal Saturday in the 200 by taking sixth in :22.72, while Payton Culwell was a medalist in the 400 with his eighth-place time of :52.07. Payton Culwell also placed 11th in the javelin at 134-0.
South Callaway sophomore Wyatt Hager finished 10th in both the javelin (135-7) and pole vault (12-6), while junior Landon Horstman was 11th in the triple jump (40-10 1/2) on Saturday and junior Kaden Helsel came in 12th in the long jump (19-1 1/4) on Friday.
Junior Hunter Schroer was 14th in the shot put (41-0) on Saturday and 15th in the discus (116-8) on Friday. Junior Austin Meyer took 14th place in the high jump (5-8) on Saturday. The Bulldogs' 400 relay of Horstman, Helsel, Meyer and senior Andrew Buckner didn't make the cut for the finals, placing 14th (:46.86) in Friday's preliminaries.
Crane was unable to make Saturday's finals in the 400 for New Bloomfield, coming in 16th (:54.43) in the preliminaries. Crane, Walker, senior Bradley Roddy and junior Austin Carrier failed to reach the finals in the 400 relay, taking 11th (:45.97) in the preliminaries.
South Callaway came away with a pair of medalists in the Class 2 girls' division. Junior Adrian Mann took seventh in the 100-meter hurdles in :16.85 on Saturday, while junior Kaci Jordan finished seventh in the triple jump at 33-8 on Friday.
Jordan placed 14th in the long jump at 13-9 1/2 on Saturday. She was two spots behind junior teammate Ashley Potter, who was 12th at 14-1.
South Callaway freshman Raeghan Meyer just missed out on a medal in the pole vault, placing ninth at 8-8.
New Bloomfield sophomore Samantha Haas also fell short of medalling in the triple jump Friday, coming in ninth at 33-1.
The Lady Wildcats' 800 relay of Haas, sophomores Parker Pitzen and Mackenzie Garrett, and junior Mckenna Rackers failed to qualify for the finals, taking 15th place in Friday's preliminaries with a time of 1:57.46.