By Mark Jurgena
It was a solid weekend in Carterville for the Collinsville Middle School boys track team as they brought home a pair of state championships from the SIJHSAA Class L state finals meet.
The 7th grade 4×200 meter team won the 7th grade state crown with a time of 1:41.52. That mark set the SIJHSAA 7th grade state and the CMS school record.
They beat out runner-up Fairview Heights (Pontiac) who ran a time of 1:42.19.
On the relay team were LaShawn Wright, AJ Richardson, Colton Seton, and Zaire Smartt.
“We thought the 7th grade 4 x 200 relay had a great chance since they had the top time out of the regional,” said CMS track coach Darin Lee. “The exchanges were super and setting the state record is quite an accomplishment for these four runners.”
TrailBlazer Gregoree Ballinger won the state championship in the shot put with a mark of 46’ 3”. His school record throw outdistanced JaShawn Staples of Mt. Vernon (Casey). Staples marked at 45-4.
“Greg Ballinger won the shot put with a big three foot PR on his last throw,” said Lee. “Greg really improved in practice the last week.”
The shot put at the Jr. High level is eight pounds while in high school it is 12 pounds.
