JEFFERSON CITY — Hickman’s Tim Cornell picked the best time for his best performance.
Cornell won the 1,600 meters at the Class 4 state championships Saturday at Lincoln University. Cornell, a junior, passed seniors Kevin McNab of Howell North and Jared Kreissler of Truman on the last corner to win.
He finished in 4 minutes, 13.35 seconds to break the school record. McNab was second in 4:14.69.
“He ran very smart race, ran very strong and had the great kick at the end,” Hickman coach Steve Luetjen said. “This is the place where you want to do something like that.”
Cornell finished fourth at last year’s meet in 4:16.9.
The Hickman girls’ team was also successful at the two-day event. The Kewpies earned fifth place with 43 points, improving from ninth last year. Gateway won with 78.
The Hickman boys finished 13th with 17 points. Jefferson City won with 77.5.
This year’s girls’ meet left a bitter memory, though, for Hickman senior Kaela Rorvig, the two-time defending champion in the 400 and the defending champion in the long jump. She finished third in both events; in 56.72 seconds in the 400 and at 17 feet, 3 ¼ inches in the long jump.
She might have done better in the 400 with a little better luck. Luetjen said running in the sixth lane was a big disadvantage for Rorvig, who could not see her opponents behind her. Hazelwood Central junior Lauren Fisher won in 55.42.
Rorvig said she was disappointed with Saturday’s results but is satisfied with her career. She will run track next year at Missouri.
“I’m sad,” Rorvig said, “but I need to move on.”
Rorvig’s best effort might have been when she joined Shannon Butler, Emily Young and Katie McInvale in the 4x400 relay. The Kewpies were in sixth until the last 100 meters, when Rorvig sprinted past runners from Parkway West and St. Joseph’s to help Hickman claim fourth in 4:01.8.
The Kewpies’ Brianne Gallagher, Young, McInvale and Aileen Gallagher finished third in the 4x800 relay in 9:24.11 to break a school record.
Young, a freshman, said she was excited about the Kewpies’ success.
Butler placed third in 100 (12.32), and Brianne Gallagher was fifth in the 3,200 (11:16.64).
Stewart Johnson, a Hickman assistant coach, said he was pleased with how the Kewpies finished the season.
“The effort was wonderful,” Johnson said. “I couldn’t ask for any more. It was a great season.”