Tigers claim final SWC championship, Lady Tigers place 2nd

For 29 years, one name has been synonymous with Neosho High School track and field — Harry Lineberry.
   

Lineberry, who is retiring from teaching this year but will stay on as a coach, helped guide the Neosho Lady Wildcats to another conference championship on Thursday at Cardinal Stadium, during the 25th and final Southwest Conference meet.
   

Lineberry was there for the first.
   

“It feels great,” Lineberry said. “It’s a shame both of our teams couldn’t win it together, but our girls did a great job and our boys really stepped up. I’m proud of them.
   

“It’ s a great way to finish the Southwest Conference.”
   

Both Neosho and Carthage, which won the boys’ division, successfully defended its title on a warm and windy day.
   

“It’s certainly the year of weather,” deadpanned Carthage coach Andy Youngworth. “It’s been extreme in temperature, wind, rain and everything else we have had to deal with.
   

“With the distance kids, you didn’t worry about time, you just worried about place. They at least had somebody to draft off of. The kids who ran the 400 (meter relay), or that ran lanes the whole way ... it was pretty tough.”
   

The Tigers ran away with the boys’ championship, garnering 141 points — 79 points better than McDonald County. The Mustangs, who, along with Nevada, will along with Nevada, will become independent for the next school year, tallied 62 points. McDonald County was followed by Neosho (63), Nevada (44) and Webb City (65).
   

“Our boys team comes out and scored 64 points,” Lineberry exclaimed. “I am really happy for them.”
   

Carthage’s boys used a balanced attack throughout the regular season to score points in several events. The strategy, once again, worked to perfection at the conference meet.
   

“Overall, with both the boys and girls, I’m just extremely pleased,” said Youngworth.
   

Carthage was able to scratch out points in all 18 events, allowing the Tigers to run away from the five-team field quickly. Neosho used a similar philosophy to capture the girls’ championship.
   

“Our girls team just went above and beyond tonight,” Lineberry said. “They’re great kids and have worked hard. Most of our points are coming from our freshmen.”
   

The Lady Wildcats scored points in 15 events, compiling 120 to pull away from Carthage. The Lady Tigers chalked up 70 points to improve one spot from last season.
   

Before the meet, Youngworth felt second through fifth would be determined by only a few points.
   

“We could have easily been fifth,” Youngworth explained. “I split up the relays a little bit. Kori Gregory ran three open events and I asked a lot from the younger kids.”
   

Second through fifth place was separated by only 14 points. The Lady Tigers finished two points ahead of McDonald County, which compiled 68 for third. Nevada (61) took fourth and Webb City (56) finished fifth.
   

“You never end up having a perfect meet, but we were able to scratch enough points,” Youngworth said.
   

The Tigers scored 10 or more points in five events: the long jump, 100 dash, 1,600 run, 300 hurdles and 3,200 run.
   

“We were able to score in every event and a lot in the open events,” Youngworth said. “Matthew Martin took fourth in the pole vault and was able to scratch some points.
   

“That really helped out.”
   

The Tigers and Lady Tigers are off until 11 a.m. next Saturday for the district meet at Nevada. Carl Junction was originally the host site, but construction forced the meet to be shifted to Nevada.