The track and field season in the St. Louis area is now underway. Here a few of the top athletes to watch this spring as the road to the state championships in Jefferson City and Charleston, Ill. begins.
Boys
Marcus Davis (Hazelwood Central): The Class 4 state champion in the 400-meter dash returns to lead the Class 4 state champions.
Charles Jones (Cardinal Ritter) – Talented senior is one of the nation’s top middle-distance performers. Two-time Class 3 state champion in the 800.
Noah Kauppila (Marquette) – The returning Class 4 state champion in the 800 and 1,600 who is coming off a stellar cross country season.
Martivus Mitchell (Collinsville) – One of the area’s top throwers who returns after earning All-State honors in the shot put in Illinois.
Khalen Saunders (Parkway Central) – Football standout who was the Class 4 state runner-up in the shot put.
Ja’Mari Ward (Cahokia) – One of the top young jumpers in the nation. Ward won the Class 2A state championship in the long jump.
Michael Wells (Cleveland Naval Jr. ROTC) –Outstanding senior sprinter who was a four-time state champion at last year’s Class 2 state meet. Signed with Oklahoma.
Raymond Wingo (SLUH) – Missouri football recruit who was the Class 4 state champion in the 100-meter dash.
Girls
Jasmine Berry (Belleville West) – An Illinois All-State performer who medaled in both the 100-meter high and 300-meter low hurdles.
Maya Cody (Lutheran South) – Talented junior sprinter who won the Class state title in the 400-meter dash and led Lancers to runner-up finish at the state meet.
Aaliyah Covington (Edwardsville) – Basketball standout who is also one of the top throwers in the area in the shot put and discus.
Kristen Dowell (Edwardsville) – Excellent hurdler who earned All-State honors in both the 100-meter high and 300-meter low hurdles.
Ashley Henderson (Hazelwood Central) – Led the Hawks to the Class 4 state title after winning state titles in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
Hannah Long (Eureka) – Tremendous distance runner who won the Class 4 state titles in the 800, 1,600 and 4×800-meter relay.
