Abby Casper had never run the 200 meters before this year. And she definitely didn’t enjoy it.
“She would literally before every 200 come up to me and say, ‘I’m sick to my stomach. I don’t think I can do this,’” said her mom, Dana McCloud. “She would get so nervous.”
The 2015 season nearly complete, now it’s her favorite – and most successful – event.
Casper sped past the field in the 200 at Saturday’s Class 3 District 3 sectional at Eldon High School en route to a convincing victory. Along with a runner-up finish in the 100 meters, the Houston sophomore qualified for two events in this weekend’s Missouri State High School Activities Association state championships in Jefferson City.
Casper missed qualifying for state in the 100 by one place last year. She left no doubt this year – the top four finishers qualify – and added the victory in the 200 for good measure.
“I’m happy that I’ve made progress,” Casper said. “I wasn’t happy about not qualifying last year.”
In the fourth lane for the 200 at sectionals, Casper blazed past the four runners in front of her as she turned the corner for the final 100 meters of the race.
From there, she sprinted to the finish line with a time of 27.62 seconds. Grace Brune of Fatima was second in 27.85.
“I had worked a lot on the corner – pushing through with knees high and fast arms,” Casper said. “In previous races I could see someone from the corner of my eyes in my peripheral vision. When I checked going into the final 100, I couldn’t see anyone.”
Not bad for someone who had to be convinced to run the race at the beginning of the year.
“I never thought I was good at it,” Casper said. “I kind of dreaded it because it was longer.”
Casper started slow in the 100 meters but was able to gain speed midway through the race. Her time of 13.33 was just behind winner Abbey Eskens of Blair Oaks (13.07) and just in front of Brune (13.74)
“The beginning of my race – my drive phase – wasn’t as powerful as I had practiced for it to be,” Casper said. “It took me a little longer to get to full speed.”
After identical finishes from districts to sectionals in both events, Casper has her sights set on earning all-state in both. Preliminary rounds are Friday. The top eight finishers advance to the Saturday finals and earn all-state honors.
Casper believes she will need to run the 200 in about 26 seconds and the 100 around 12.5 seconds to make the finals.
“I want to make it to the final race in both events,” Casper said. “With my seedings and what I know I’m capable of, I know it’s attainable. Now I just have to do it.”