It was a historic weekend for the boys’ track and field program at Collegiate School of Medicine and Bio Science.
The Owls won the Class 3 state championship at the Missouri State High School Activities Association state meet in Jefferson City. It was the program’s first state championship. The Owls won the state title by scoring 49 points, followed by second-place Richmond and third-place Lutheran North.
The Owls rode the combination of their talented distance runners and field event jumpers to success throughout the season, a trend that continued at the state championships as those athletes accounted for all of the points.
Senior Owen Garrett won two gold medals, including the 800-meter run in 1 minute 55.63 seconds. Garrett also joined Clyde Jackson-Cameron, Evan Moll and Malik Pratt in winning the 4×800-meter relay in 7:52.92. Garrett also finished seventh in the 1,600-meter run, Moll was eighth in the 3,200 and Jackson-Cameron was fifth in the 800.
In the field events, sophomore Maxwell McFarlane earned medals in all three jumping events. He finished second in the long jump and triple jump. He also finished eighth in the high jump, accounting for 17 points. Senior Moses Mugenyi also earned an All-State medal by placing third in the triple jump.
Lutheran North took home a third-place trophy on the strength of senior sprinter Michael Clark, who won two individual events. Clark won the 200-meter dash in 21.3 seconds, then came back to win the 400-meter dash in 47.39 seconds. He also anchored the Crusaders’ 4×400-meter relay team to a second-place finish in 3:18.49. Clark was joined by Cameron Oliver, Jaquvieon Whitfield and Kai Robinson on the team. The Crusaders also finished fourth in the 4×200.
It was also a banner weekend for the sprinters at Cardinal Ritter College Prep. Senior Manny Ellis finished third in the 100 and anchored the Lions to a pair of state championships in the 4×100- and 4×200-meter relays. The team of Da’Yon Ross, Jaquez Beck, Terrance Jones and Ellis won the 4×100 in 41.82 seconds. Ellis also joined Ryan Richardson-McDavis, Beck and Bryce Clayborn in winning the 4×200 in 1:26.45. The Lions also finished third in the 4×400.
There were two other athletes from St. Louis who won Class 3 individual state titles. Senior Chrishod Sims of Normandy won the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 4 inches. Senior Luka Wangia of Lutheran South won the high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 8 inches. Senior Gary Johnson of St. Mary’s placed second to Wangia with a clearance of 6-7.
The top individual boys’ performer at the state meet was senior Demeterius Thompson of Brentwood, who led the Eagles to a second-place finish in the Class 2 team standings. Thompson scored 38 points by winning three individual events. He won the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.69 seconds, the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 37.97 seconds and the long jump with an effort of 22 feet, 6 inches. Thompson also finished second in the triple jump.
More Boys Class 3 state medalists:
- Kameron Hurst of Lift for Life finished third in the 110-meter high hurdles.
- Jaxyn Buckley of STEAM Academy finished third in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, fifth in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump.
- Xavier Clark of St. Mary’s finished fifth in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.
- St. Mary’s finished seventh in the 4×100-meter relay.
- John Burroughs finished fourth in the 4×400-meter relay.
- Lift for Life finished seventh in the 4×400-meter relay.
- John Burroughs finished second in the 4×800-meter relay.
Area girls shine at state championships
Sophomore Gabrielle Campbell of Bayless took home three Class 3 All-State medals. She won the state title in the 400 in 55.38 seconds. Campbell also finished second in the 200 and 800.
Lutheran North sprinter Genesis Garner won four All-State medals in Class 2. She finished second in the 100, fourth in the 200 and fourth in the 400. She also anchored the Crusaders’ 4×100 relay team to a sixth-place finish.
Junior Brianna Krueger of St. Charles West swept the distance events by winning the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs.
Sydney Lanton of John Burroughs finished second in three events: the 300-meter low hurdles, the long jump and the triple jump.
Ellen Hunigen of Whitfield won the Class 2 state title in the 400. She also ran legs on the Warriors’ second-place 4×200 and seventh-place 4×400.
Large schools take center stage at state meet
The Missouri Class 4 and 5 state track and field championships will be held this weekend at Jefferson City High. The action will begin on Friday with field events at 9:30 a.m. and the running events at 11 a.m. On Saturday, the field events will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the championship running events set to begin at 11 a.m.