Mexico’s boys relay teams almost ran the table, Raef Yager took gold in high jump and Meonaisa Sidique continued her winning ways in the girls 400 at Friday’s Ron Whittaker Bulldog Classic.

In addition to the wins, the Bulldogs earned five seconds and a third. And Morgan Grubb’s pole vault effort matched the first place mark.

But it was the near sweep in the boys relay events that stood out.

The 4x200 team of Jordan Mitchell, Anthony Shivers, Ian Williams and Keeley DiBlasi finished in 1:33.50, ahead of Hannibal in a thriller. The 4x400 lineup of Keeley DiBlasi, Evan DiBlasi, Williams and Tyler Quinlan ran a 3:38.40 to beat Hermann and the rest of the field in a confident performance.

“I knew we could go faster,” Williams observed.

In the distance relay, Quinlan, Meki Owens, Thomas Peuster and Race Azdell put in a 9:03.30 to top Southern Boone.

Only the 4x100 side failed to reach the top of the podium. And they took second, a tick behind Moberly.

“We would have won if we got the first hand off right,” Keeley DiBlasi said.

Still, with Williams, Dante Billups and Shivers keeping pace, it was a tight race. Another few meters and it might have gone Mexico’s way.

“I thought I was going to get him,” Shivers said.

Shivers took another second in the 200 meter dash, crossing a mere two-tenths behind Hannibal’s Aneyas Williams with a 23.34.

“I just can’t catch a break,” Shivers observed. “I need to work on finishing.”

Grubb’s near miss in the pole vault left him frustrated. “Today’s not a good day for me,” he noted.

On Thursday in practice he cleared 12’06. On a wet surface Friday his 11’09.75 put him in a tie at the top with Michael Vorkink of Kirksville. But the Tigers’ vaulter took fewer attempts to reach the mark and was awarded the win.

Yager had a clear victory in high jump at 5’09.75. He was hampered by a nagging injury, but took the win in stride.

“That’s pretty good, considering,” he said.

Mitchell crossed second in a shoulder to shoulder race in the 100. Blake Depkus of Southern Boone nipped him 11:34 to 11:44. Billups ran fifth.

Williams added a bronze with his performance in the 300 hurdles, an event also won by Depkus.

Others claiming top five finishes for the boys were Quinlan (800 run), Peuster (1,600), Guy Fairchild (3,200), Kanye Nunnelly (long jump) and Alex Wilson, who beat out teammate Caleb Prater for the fifth spot in shot put.

As is her habit, Sidique starred in the long sprints in the girls competition. Teamed with Alexis Smythe, Cora Ransom and Sydney Turlington she earned second in the 4x400.

When it came to the individual 400, her time of 1:00.64 topped the board.

“That’s what I do,” Sidique pointed out. “I don’t like losing.

She is targeting a 57:00 finish before the post season championships begin. “I’m getting better day by day,” she added.

Not far behind Sidique in the 400 was Smythe, who clocked a 1:08.34 to come in fourth after winning her heat.

“It was my first time running it,” Smythe explained. “It was a good one, but my legs hurt.”

Pole vaulter Rylea Miller took third, clearing 6’06. The 4x800 team also picked up a third, but in a three team event.

Top fives on the girls side were Sydney Turlington (800 meter run), Messiah Simpson (triple jump) and Emma Nowlin (discus). The 4x200 team also finished fifth.