Helias junior Matthew Malmstrom came into the final day of the Class 4 state track and field championships Saturday with one goal: Become a state champion.
Malmstrom achieved his goal in the boys 110-meter hurdles, erasing an early deficit to take the lead in the final steps and grab the title.
Tauny Gore was glad to be back at the state championships. And very happy to finish back on the medals podium. Gore, a Helias senior, capped her high-school track career Friday with a third-place finish in the Class 4 girls long jump at Adkins Stadium.
They are ready to throw some big numbers at trying to win state honors. A total of 29 athletes from Helias will take part in the Class 4 track and field state championships today and Saturday at Adkins Stadium.
The Liberty: Wentzville Eagles have nothing to lose. “We expect them to come in and play hard because it really is the start of a second season,” Helias coach Chris Hentges said as the Crusaders (7-2) open Class 5 District 4 play tonight against the Eagles (3-6) at Ray Hentges Stadium. “Teams that struggle in the regular season, they can go into districts thinking they have nothing to lose. It’s coach-speak, but it’s true.”
On a night where the Helias honored some of its first teams in football program history, the current Crusaders put on a show. Helias scored seven first-half touchdowns Friday night, then added a last-minute field goal before halftime for good measure, on its way to a 59-13 victory against the Vianney Golden Griffins at Ray Hentges Stadium.