Festus Trackster Max McDaniel Wins State, Adds Dream Team Athlete of the Year to Trophy Case

(FESTUS) Festus senior Max McDaniel has taken home his first Dream Team Track and Field Athlete of the Year award.

Area coaches voted for Max for the honor after he clinched Class 4 state championships in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs and anchored the Festus state champion 4×800 meter relay team.

Because of a tornado that ripped through Jefferson City two days prior to the Class 4 meet, all events were reduced to just one day and the location was changed to Washington High School. Max was forced to accomplish these state titles in a six-hour time span and for him, it was definitely a different experience.

 
Max, Jonah Kreig, Dominik Kayser and Simon Ogle made up the 4×800 meter relay team. Max says that the entire coaching staff believed all along that he and the rest of the guys were going to win state.

 
As Max looks back on his life within the Festus community and his time at Festus High School, Max is quite proud of what the Tiger family represents.

 
Max runs with that final thought about not being different from anybody else and has some parting wisdom for all of his track and field peers.

 
Max finishes his Festus career with a cross country championship, three Dream Team Cross Country Runner of the Year awards, two individual track state championships, one relay team state title and again, the 2019 Dream Team Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Max McDaniel will be furthering his distance running career at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

For the full Max McDaniel interview, click here.