Ware ends high school track career with bright spot at Nike Elite event

sports@standard-democrat.com

ST. LOUIS -- After a strong showing at the Class 2 state track meet last month, recent Charleston graduate Devonte' Ware put the finishing touches on his high school career Thursday when he compted in the Nike Festival of Miles in St. Louis.

Competing in the 100-meter dash, Ware put up a time of 10.94 seconds to earn fifth place among some of the best runners in the surrounding states.

"I thought I did well," Ware said of the achievement. " I ran one of my better times against some tough competition. It was a good way to end my high school career."

Ware was among those chosen from Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and Iowa to compete in the UMB Bank Boys 100 Meter Dash event and put up a good enough preliminary time to be selected as one of the final 16 runners in the finals.

"It was a good way for him to wrap up his career for us at Charleston, being selected for that," Charleston head track coach Brett Blackman said. "There was some good times and some tough competition. You had to run below 11 seconds to get into the finals, which is tougher than what the state competition was."

Wares achievement in the all star event come just a few weeks after he helped the Bluejays win first place in the 4x200 event at the Class 2 state championship in Jefferson City.

Individually, Ware took home second place in state in both 100 and 200 meter dash. His 10.94 second run in the 100 at the Nike event bested his run at the state meet of 11.17 seconds.

Ware second place showing in both the 100 and 200 events at state mirror his success of his junior year, when he also took second in both.

"He did a tremendous job for us at the state track meet for us, coming back and winning the 4x200," Blackman said. "He was pretty much undefeated all year in the 100 and 200 dashes. He long jumped for us too because we had some injuries and it was a way to pick up points to win track meets.

"You look at what he's done the last two years and he's scored anywhere from 30 to 40 points per meet for us."