Saxony Lutheran's Fritsche earns all-state honors in 400 meters at Class 2 state track meet

Saxony Lutheran's Brandon Fritsche finished less than a second behind the champion to grab third place in the 400 meters at the Class 2 state track and field meet in Jefferson City, Mo.

Fritsche, a junior, ran the fourth fastest time in Friday's preliminary, crossing the line in 50.99 seconds. He finished in 51.03 to grab third in Saturday's finals.

Saxony Lutheran senior Nicole Hemmann was seventh in the 100 hurdles.

The meet marked the end of Scott City standout Brandon Shemonia's high school career, and it did not end as he envisioned. He helped the Rams' 3,200 relay team place sixth, but he couldn't finish at full strength.

"I got the baton and we were in seventh or eighth place -- I can't remember," he said. "I felt fine the whole way through. I was running good and I believe I was on pace for a 1:58, which would have been a PR. I started kicking with about 120 left, and I passed a kid. I'm going to pass two more kids to put us in fourth, and all of a sudden, my calf just knotted up really bad. I kind of limped home to the finish."

Saxony Lutheran's Nicole Hemman clears the final hurdle during the 100 hurdles Saturday at the Class 2 state track and field meet in Jefferson City, Mo. (CHRIS AUCKLEY ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian)

He went and received his medal with teammates Tyler Adams, Eric Essner and Luke Keesee before going to the trainers tent.

"They felt it and they thought it was just a little easy cramp," he said. "So that's what we thought, so I went back to the hotel and iced down. I tried walking it off. And when I got back to the track, I went to the athletic trainers again, and my calf had swollen up. They said it was almost the tightest they've ever seen a calf. They said the other muscles were coming over to protect the spot that was injured. They thought it was either a partial tear or severely strained."

Shemonia, who already signed to run at Southern Illinois next season, decided against competing again at the state meet.

"They said if I would have tried running, I could be out up to six months," he said. "I scratched everything. It kind of stunk because I saw the other times in the other races, and my PRs and my regular times are all faster than what won state."

One of the worst parts for Shemonia was walking over to the official to announce his intention to skip the 3,200, 800 and 1,600.

Scott City junior Eric Essner sprints down the home stretch during the 800 preliminaries Friday at the Class 2 state track and field meet in Jefferson City, Mo.

"It was pretty rough having to sit there and just know that I wouldn't be able to run," he said. "I had to walk up to the official and tell him I was scratching and watch him scratch my name out. Knowing it would have been my last track meet, but it's a pretty good feeling getting all-state for the 4x800 and not be injured and help my teammates."

Shemonia must be content with one state championship, which he won at the Class 2 cross country meet in November.

"A state championship would have meant a lot to me, but I'm hoping for bigger and better things on the next level," he said. "I didn't want to risk that."

Samantha Ratledge led Kelly with a ninth-place finish in the triple jump.

BOYS

Scott City senior Austin Atchley competes in the 400 preliminaries at the Class 2 state meet Friday. He finished 12th in the event.

Finals

3,200 relay -- 6. Scott City (Tyler Adams, Eric Essner, Luke Keesee, Brandon Shemonia), 8:25.48

3,200 -- DNS, Shemonia, SC

400 -- 3. Brandon Fritsche, SL, 51.03

Preliminaries

110 hurdles -- 12. Jeremy Engelhart, SL, 16.07

400 -- 4. Fritsche, SL, 50.99; 12. Austin Atchley, SC, 52.36

800 -- 11. Eric Essner, SC, 2:04.41; DNS, Shemonia, SC

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GIRLS

Finals

Triple jump -- 9. Samantha Ratledge, K, 32-4 1/4

High jump -- t-14. Morgan LeDure, K, 4-8

100 hurdles -- 8. Nicole Hemmann, SL, 16.45

Discus -- 11. Katie Koonce, K, 100-5

Preliminaries

100 hurdles -- 7. Hemmann, SL, 16.29

300 hurdles -- 14. Hemmann, SL, 50.38