The big schools take center stage this weekend at the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 3-4 State Track and Field Championships in Jefferson City.
The action gets underway on Friday with field events at 11 a.m. and running prelims at noon at Dwight T. Reed Stadium on the campus of Lincoln University. The championship running events will begin at noon on Saturday.
As usual, here are a few of the storylines to watch as we head into an exciting weekend of state track.
Quest for a four-peat: The Hazelwood Central boys are seeking a fourth consecutive Class 4 state championship. The Hawks qualified athletes in nine events, including three individuals in the 400-meter dash. Without an individual star, the Hawks will try to win again with teamwork like they did last year. Central will get some good competition from its Suburban North Conference rivals McCluer North and McCluer.
Charles Jones: The Cardinal Ritter junior electrified the crowd last season with a Class 3 state-record performance in the 800 of 1 minute 49.9 seconds. He is back to make another run at Billy Rainey’s overall state record while anchoring the Lions’ 4×400 and 4×800-meter relay teams that won state titles last year.
Ezekiel Elliott: The John Burroughs star looks to close out a tremendous athletic career by leading the Bombers to a Class 3 boys state championship. Elliott will be the favorite in the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles. He has also qualified for the 100 and 200. The Bombers also have some good athletes entered in the field events as well.
Class 4 Girls Battle Royal: There will be some serious competition in the Class 4 girls team standings, which went down to the final event a year ago. Francis Howell is seeking a repeat state title behind the excellence of senior sprinter Whitney Adams. Hazelwood Central and McCluer North are taking excellent crews to state as well. Central is led by junior sprinter Ashley Henderson while McCluer North returns state champion hurdler Kimberlin Simon. Both teams have dynamite relays.
Metro Catholic Heat: The Metro Catholic Conference has produced three of the state’s top sprinters this season in Raymond Wingo of SLUH and the CBC duo of Jamal Robinson and Jonathan Parker. Wingo turned in a winning time of 10.67 at the Class 4 Parkway North Sectional last weekend. Robinson and Parker both ran 10.7 at the MICDS Sectional. Robinson ran 21.60 while Parker turned in a 21.62 in the 200 while the Cadets won the 4×100-meter relay in a sizzling 41.98. From the West side of the state, expect some stiff competition from Roy Bey of Raymore-Peculiar, who ran 10.69 in the 100 at his sectional meet.
Maya Cody: Lutheran South has not been known as the place to find top sprinters, but that has changed with the emergence as this talented sophomore. Cody will enter this weekend’s Class 3 meet as one of the top sprinters in the field. She has qualified as a sectional champion in the 100, 200 and 400. Her sectional-winning time in the 400 was 56.64 seconds.
Defending State Champions: Several local athletes are back in Jefferson City this weekend to attempt to repeat as individual state champions. Class 4 Boys: Aaron Mallet (McCluer North), 110-meter high hurdles; Josh McDonald (Timberland), discus, Noah Kauppila (Marquette), 3,200-meter run. Class 4 Girls: Nataliyah Friar (Holt), triple jump; Whitney Adams (Francis Howell), 400-meter dash; Valeska Halamicek (Francis Howell), 800-meter run; Kimberlin Simon (McCluer North), 300-meter low hurdles. Class 3 Boys: Charles Jones (Cardinal Ritter), 800; Amos Bartelsmeyer (MICDS), 1,600. Class 3 Girls: Jordan McClendon (John Burroughs), Soldan.
