Hannibal boys make hay at Mark Twain Relays, convincingly win team championship

PALMYRA, Mo. — Landyn Essig had a sneaking suspicion Tuesday might be a special day when he and the Hannibal track and field team arrived at the Mark Twain Relays at Palmyra High School.

“All we were waiting on was the weather to get better, and we knew what we had to do,” Essig said. “It was our first meet where we’ve actually had some good weather, so I had a good feeling about it.”

Essig and the Pirates used those good vibes to run away with a team title. The Pirates finished with 154.5 points and were the only boys team to eclipse 100 points.

“I know we have a lot of athletes who have been working hard to get what they want,” Essig said. “They came out here and got what they wanted today. It was very nice seeing it and being a part of it.”

Essig’s contributions to the Pirates’ fruitful day included a first-place finish in the long jump, a second place finish to his teammate Kade Hoskins and a personal-best 11.41-second dash in the 100 meters, and a victory as the first leg in the Pirates’ 4×100-meter relay team, which beat its seed time by .13 seconds.

Both Essig and Hoskins set personal marks in the 100 meters. Hoskins beat Essig to the line by .11 seconds to establish a PR of 11.3 seconds.

Hoskins said that competition from Essig gives him an extra jolt.

“We push each other every day at practice,” Hoskins said. “We’re always running with each other. We just push each other to be our best.”

Essig felt like he had a chance to catch Hoskins.

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

Hoskins never let off the gas pedal and kept bragging rights over Essig.

“I felt pretty comfortable,” Hoskins said. “It was a good race. I know he’s fast. He could have, but I didn’t want him to catch me.”

The Pirates’ 4×100 relay quartet, which included Essig, Hoskins, Chance Whiteside and Dallas Baker, beat Pittsfield by .79 seconds. Those same four also won the 4×200 relay in 1 minute, 34.07 seconds. All told, the Pirates won seven events, three more than any other school.

 “It’s nice to see everything fall into place,” Essig said.

Quincy finished second with 95 points, 14 clear of Jacksonville in third and 21 ahead of Palmyra in fourth.