Parker Eshelman photo

William Jewell College junior Aaron Mick hurdles a water pit yesterday during the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase competition at Walton Stadium on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus. MU’s track-and-field teams are hosting the eighth annual Missouri Relays this weekend, with more than 1,900 college and high school athletes in town to participate.

Less than 50 meters to go in a 3,200-meter race. Both the Hickman school record and Rock Bridge’s best runner within reach. Time to find one more burst of energy.

Sam Masters responded, churning past Missouri recruit Phillip King and knocking a second off the Kewpies’ previous best in the event with a time of 9 minutes, 21.8 seconds.

And after all that, he only finished fourth, a testament to the strength of yesterday’s field during the first day of competition at the Missouri Relays.

Potosi’s Josh Mathis, the defending Class 3 state champion in the event, finished in third place, behind teammate Josh Thebeau and Christian Brothers senior Dan Quigley. Mathis set a blistering pace, running the first mile in 4:31, but it was Quigley who seemed to keep getting stronger and crossed the line in 9:08.91 - 10 seconds faster than Mathis’ meet record from last year.

And Masters couldn’t have been happier with the pace they set. He and King stayed with the leaders until the final lap, and the end result left Masters in great position at the finish.

"I wasn’t even thinking about King. I was shooting for the record," Masters said. "I’m lucky he was right there with me, otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten that time."

For his part, King wasn’t exactly happy with being passed at the line, but he welcomes the thought of a season-long challenge from a runner he regularly beat with ease during the cross country season.

"It surprised me. He’s come a long way," King said.

Masters’ performance added to an already solid showing by Hickman on the meet’s opening day. The boys 3,200 relay team finished second to perennial long-distance powerhouse Potosi, and the Kewpies girls opened the day with a first-place finish in the 800 relay.

Hickman senior Asia Walker overcame a strained quadriceps and took second place in the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 7¼ inches. She might have taken the event title, but a little confusion in her stride led to a fault on a jump that several onlookers estimated to be more than 17 feet.

"Normally, I jump off my left leg, and I jumped off my right," Walker said. "I knew I was about to scratch, and I was just trying to get a jump in."

The collegiate competition was highlighted by Missouri’s strong showing in the hammer throw. Junior Jason Morris, the Tigers’ school record holder in the event, broke the stadium record with a throw of 214-6 that ranks second on his personal-best list.

"After a long day of waiting around, that’s not an easy task," Missouri throws coach Brett Halter said.

On the women’s side, Missouri junior Shernelle Nichols finished sixth with a toss of 178-3, an important mark because it’s the third event she’s qualified to compete in at the NCAA Regional meet. She qualified in the shot put and discus last week.

MU sophomore Angela Potrykus took second place in the 3,000 steeplechase with a time of 10:59.30.

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