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Tiger soph Beshore nets Class 4 All-State honors, places eighth in 1600 meters at championship meet
Nevada High School sophomore Calli Beshore put the cherry on top of a magnificent track season with an eighth-place finish in the 1600 meter run at Friday’s Missouri Class 4 track-and-field championship meet in Jefferson City.
Beshore, who clocked an official time of 5:20.75, netted All-State accolades with the top eight finish.
“She ran a great race,” said NHS assistant track-and-field coach Ryan Watts.
Watts, who is also the head coach of the NHS cross country team, helped guide Beshore to six consecutive gold medals during the fall XC season. Beshore increased her season-long total to 24 after capturing 18 golds during the spring track season.
“Racking up a total of 18 golds throughout the season at such a young age is extremely impressive, and should be considered one of the best individual athletic achievements Nevada has ever seen,” began Watts. “Her ability to bring her best effort and compete at such a high level, week-after-week, at such a young age is rare, and is a testament to how hard she works when the spotlight isn’t on.”
Watts, who specializes in distance running, said Beshore’s work ethic is second-to-none.
“Everyday at practice, no matter how difficult the workout is, or how much is asked of her, she buckled down and gave everything she had, and that resulted in her awesome performances on race day.”
Watts said prior to Friday’s meet he relayed to Beshore that she needed to run her race, and not let other runners “dictate her approach. “
“And that’s what she did,” noted Watts. “She got out fast, and ran her fastest quarter (mile), and then fastest 800-split of the season. Getting out fast and into the top group early was critical for her to get on the medal stand.”
Watts said the competition was fierce.
“The girls mile field is as tough right now as it’s ever been,” he said. “So in order to medal, it was going to take a great effort, and that’s just what she delivered. She attacked the race and made sure she was in the top eight to get her first state track medal, and cap off what was a great season. To get a state medal against such a tough field is a tremendous accomplishment, magnified by the fact that she is still just a sophomore.”
Watts said it was an honor to have been a part of Beshore’s special season, and to be able to witness gold medal after gold medal nearly every time she laced up her shoes.
“She racked up more golds in one season than many runners get in a career,” summed up Watts.
Beshore was so good this season, that she shattered her own 2-mile (3200 meter) record, an event she narrowly missed qualifying for in the state meet.
“And what is so refreshing is that she remains coachable and humble,” said Watts. “When someone achieves that much success, as a coach you worry that it might go to their head. But not with Calli. She is the same hard-working, sweet kid she was at the beginning of her freshman year. Her approach to racing, and her willingness to learn, is going to allow for even more success. I truly believe we have just scratched the surface of what she will ultimately achieve.”