Landen Chapman was 2-for-2 heading into Saturday’s Class 2 boys 3200.

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The Paris junior won his first career state championships on Friday in the Class 2 state meet at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City after winning the 1600 with a school-record time of 4:20.07 and then the 800 with a school-record time of 1:56.58. Chapman finished fourth in the 3200 the next day but set a school-record time of 9:50.58. Mia Kendrick earned a state medal in her freshman year with a sixth-place time of 25.82 in the 200.

The Class 1 cross country runner-up Chapman owned all those previous records, head coach Gary Crusha said, but proved yet again why he is a “one-in-a-few-generations” athlete.

“I can’t tell you in my 21 years as head track coach that I’ve ever had a kid participate in a meet where he is in competition for three titles,” Crusha said. “The first two got there, and you think about, ‘Man, he has a chance at three.’ Not many athletes have that opportunity.”

Crusha said it is even more impressive considering Paris track and field moved up to Class 2 this season, which meant Chapman was seeing different and harder competition. Chapman was doing so well that Crusha said it was mathematically possible for him to rise to a team podium spot. If Chapman won the 3200, he would have 30 points, which is what fourth-place New Bloomfield and East Buchanan had.

Chapman was about two and half seconds faster than his previous 800 time, about 10 seconds faster in the 1600 and about 15 seconds faster in the 3200. He said was pushed by all of the new runners he was seeing.

“Moving to Class 2 and seeing harder competition really helps,” Chapman said. “In Class 1, my competition was seeing (McAuley Catholic’s) Michael Parrigon at state. This year, I’ve been able to go to districts seeing (Clark County’s) Mason McDaniel. He really pushed me harder.”

McDaniel won the 3200 after he finished fourth in the 1600 behind Chapman during the previous day. Earlier in the day, Chapman finished 13th in the 4x800 relay with a time of 8:45.97 along with Owen Buie, Hayden DeOrnellas and Logan Mitchell.

In the 1600, Chapman said the runners ahead of him would not let him pass around the corner and emptied his tank with about 200 meters left for one last sprint down the home stretch. After the 1600, Chapman surprised himself in the 800.

Chapman said he escaped the pack in the beginning of the race and encountered a situation similar to the finish of the 1600. Another runner was ahead of Chapman on the last lap only for him to overtake his opponent for first place down the home stretch. At state cross country, Chapman showed some life down the stretch to just beat out Parrigon for second place.

“It was the same with the 1600,” Chapman said. “I slingshotted around that corner and got him. I always have something left for that kick.”

Chapman said the 800 became more of a focus this season after seeing his times improve with each meet until he reached the previously considered unattainable time on Saturday. 

“I was talking to (distance) coach (Doug) Buie today about Landen saying if he didn’t have the 1:56 in him,” Crusha said. “The thing is, with Landen, you don’t run for times, you run to win. Times take care of themselves. He has the heart of a champion.”

Kendrick showed her talent on the girls side by medaling at state as a freshman. She has accomplished much this season for Paris, Crusha said. She owns the 100 and 200 school records and set the 4x200 relay record time of 1:48.22 on Friday with Gretchen and Sophia Crusha and Ava Crain. The relay team missed the podium by one place in a difference of 0.21 seconds. 

Paris has had an all-weather track for two years following years of having a gravel track and has broken 10 school records during that time, according to Crusha. Having better facilities like that has helped but Crusha thinks athletes like Chapman and Kendrick could break those records on any surface. 

The sport is track and field and Kendrick embodies that by also having a state-qualifying season in the long jump. After exerting her legs in the 200 final and receiving her medal, Kendrick ran over to the long jump and finished 15th with a distance of 4.56 meters. 

“Paris has never had a female sprinter like her,” Crusha said. “She owns all those records as a 15-year-old freshman. She’s the fastest woman athlete in Paris history.”

Crusha said Kendrick is “quiet and reserved” but is competitive and finishes races the right way. He said he will have fun coaching her in the future and looks forward to state next year.

“I told her she’s going to be a sophomore next year so we’re going to leave those nerves at home,” Crusha said. “In the running events, I don’t think it affected her that much. In the field event, it’s more about steps and timing.”