Dora’s Vanatter wins three golds at sectionals, now heads to state

<p class="p1">CAMDENTON – Ashlynn Vanatter has had plenty of success on the track throughout her high-school career.</p><p class="p3">But the Dora senior is hoping the best is yet to come.</p><p class="p3">After winning the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes on Saturday at the Class 1 Sectional 2 meet at Bob Shore Stadium in Camdenton, Vanatter will once again look to sweep those same events at the state meet in Jefferson City May 19-20.</p><p class="p3">“I’ve been there,” Vanatter said. “I know what it feels like. I know what the nerves feel like. I’m going to try not to let them get to me, go out there and have fun.”</p><p class="p3">Vanatter, a Missouri Southern signee, has been on the stage – three times.</p><p class="p3">She swept the 100, 200 and 400 as a sophomore before earning golds in the 200 and 400 last year. She took home a bronze in the 100 as a junior.</p><p class="p3">“I just want to go out there and run a personal best in all my races,” Vanatter said shortly after a dominating performance in the 400.</p><p class="p3">While she didn’t run her best time, Vanatter feels like she is right where she needs to be, time-wise, in the 400 – her strongest event.</p><p class="p3">Vanatter finished the race in 59.94 while the second-place finisher came in at 1:04.35. Vanatter ran a 13.01 in the 100 and a 26.22 in the 200.</p><p class="p3">“I felt really good about (the 400),” she said. “The whole time I was running it, I felt really strong. I thought it was a really good race all-around. Going into state, I’m really comfortable running that time. I think it’s going to continue to improve.”</p><p class="p3">Vanatter wants to enjoy her final meet of her prep career, but she is also eyeing a Class 1 state record in the 400. Heather Jones set the mark of 56.70 in 1988.</p><p class="p3">Vanatter isn’t ruling anything out.</p>

Ashlynn Vanatter

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