Mike Wells closed out a spectacular career at Cleveland Naval Jr. ROTC in high style at last weekend’s Missouri Class 2 State Championships in Jefferson City.
The senior sprinter won three individual gold medals in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes. He also finished second in the long jump, an event he just started competing in three weeks ago. He finished with 38 points to lead the Commanders to a third-place finish in the Class 2 team standings.
Wells’ winning times were 10.87 in the 100, 22.3 in the 200 and 49.11 in the 400. The rainy conditions during Saturday’s finals kept him from posting faster times, but he did set a new Class 2 record in the 200 when he posted a 21.65 in Friday’s prelims.
Wells finished his career at Cleveland as a nine-time state champion. He led Cleveland to the Class 2 state championship as a sophomore in 2012. He will continue his track career at Oklahoma University next season.
Lutheran St. Charles girls repeatÂ
Lutheran St. Charles’ girls repeated as Class 2 state champions, scoring 63 points to easily outdistance the competition. Courtney Rogers finished first in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. She also anchored the Cougars’ 4×400 and 4×800-meter relay teams to state titles. Hannah Leippen won the 400 and finished second in the 200.
Still a championÂ
Brentwood sophomore Sophie Rivera repeated as the Class 2 state champion in the shot put and discus. Rivera won the shot put with a heave of 45 feet 8 inches and the discus with a throw of 129 feet 11 inches.
Relay winnersÂ
The girls from McKinley Classical and Metro each won state championships in the 4×100-meter relay. McKinley’s team of Jamila Ricketts, India Abernathy, Sky Parker and Lindsey Griffin won the Class 1 title in 51.78 seconds. Metro’s group of Joella Gillespie, Karis Gamble, Elizabeth Hagen and Tiana Jackson won the Class 2 state title in 50.54. McKinley’s Parker also finished second in the open 200 while Metro’s Jackson finished third in the 100 and sixth in the long jump.
Three-time medalistÂ
Maplewood’s Essence Brewer was a three-time medalist in the Class 2 girls meet. Brewer finished fourth in the 100, third in the 200 and fifth in the 400. Maplewood’s boys finished second in the 4×100 and 4×400. Marquis White finished eighth in the 200 while Devon Williams was eighth in the triple jump.
Brentwood’s boys finished third in the Class 2 4×100 while Carnahan was fourth in the 4×100.
Class 3 and 4 State ChampionshipsÂ
Class 3 and 4 State Championships are this weekend
The big schools in Missouri take center stage this weekend at the Class 3-4 State Championships in Jefferson City on the campus of Lincoln University. Friday’s prelims begin at 11 a.m. with the championship finals beginning on Saturday at noon.
Quest for third titleÂ
Cardinal Ritter’s Charles Jones will resume his quest for his third consecutive state title in the Class 3 800-meter run. Jones is also gunning for the overall state record of 1 minute 49.89, set by Springfield Parkview’s Billy Rainey in 1987. Jones is also competing in the open 400.
McCluer North girlsÂ
McCluer North’s girls will be taking a strong contingent of sprinters and hurdlers to the Class 4 state meet, led by junior hurdler Jasmine Barge. Lutheran South and McCluer South-Berkeley will battle for trophies in the Class 3 girls’ competition, along with defending state champion Ste. Genevieve and its strong group of distance runners.
Long contenderÂ
Eureka’s Hannah Long will be one of the top contenders in the Class 4 girls 800, 1,600 and 3,200 and 4×800. On the boys’ side, Lafayette’s Dylan Quisenberry and Marquette’s Noah Kauppila are top contenders in the 800 and 1,600.
Hotly contestedÂ
The Class 4 boys 4×400-meter relay will also be hotly contested with defending state champion CBC and 2013 runner-up Hazelwood Central fielding strong teams once again. The Hawks are also the three-time defending state champions in the team competition. Hazelwood Central girls’ standout Ashley Henderson will try to repeat in the 100 and 200.
