Another exciting season of track and field in the area is upon us with some of the best talent in the country residing right here in the STL. Here is a look at some of the top returning track athletes in the St. Louis area.
Boys
Willie Johnson (East St. Louis) – After not getting to compete at the IHSA state championships because of his team was disqualified from the postseason, Johnson made up for it by winning championships at the national level. He was the national champion in the 400-meter dash at the AAU Junior Olympics in August. Earlier this month, Johnson was the national champion in the 400 at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York.
Brandon Miller (John Burroughs) – The sensational junior performer broke a 31-year old state record last year when he won the Class 3 800-meter run in an overall state-record time of 1:49.55 seconds. Miller has been setting records at the high school and grassroots level for several years.
Justin Robinson (Hazelwood West) – The talented junior was the Class 5 state champion in the 200 and 400 at last year’s state meet in Jefferson City. He also helped the USA to a silver medal in the 4×400-meter relay at the World U-20 Championships during the summer. He turned in a 46-second leg to help the USA rebound from a dropped baton to finish second.
Malik Stewart (Maplewood) – Excellent junior distance runner who was the Class 2 state champion in the 1,600-meter run as a sophomore. He was also the state runner-up in the 800-meter run. He led the Blue Devils to a second-place finish in the Class 2 team standings at the state meet.
Josh Sutton (MICDS) – The most dominant sprinter in the Class 4 ranks. He returns after winning individual state championships in the 100- and 200-meter dashes as a junior last season. Sutton is headed to Tulsa next season on a track and field scholarship.
Jameson Williams (Cardinal Ritter) – An Ohio State football recruit, Williams also led the Lions to the Class 3 state championship in track. At the state meet, he turned in the improbable double by winning state championships in the 400-meter dash and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in back to back races.
Kemeric Winston (Trinity) – The senior sprinter won four gold medals and led the Titans to a second-place finish at the Class 3 state championships. Winston won individual state championships in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and anchored the Titans to state championships in the 4×100- and 4×200-meter relays.
Girls
Alicia Burnett (Parkway North) – She is a transfer from Fort Zumwalt South who sat out here sophomore year due to transfer. As a freshman, she swept the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash state championships at the 2017 Class 4 state meet. She is also a phenom on the summer track circuit in national competition.
Madison Fuller (John Burroughs) – Very talented senior sprinter who returns after missing her junior season due to injury. She was the Class 3 state champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes as a sophomore. Fuller has signed with Vanderbilt on a track scholarship.
Jhordin Galmore (MICDS) – The senior sprinter helped lead the Rams to the Class 4 state championship last season. She won individual state champions in the 200- and 400-meter dashes and also ran legs on the Rams’ state champion 4×100- and 4×200-meter relay teams.
Sydney Juszczyk (Trinity) – Talented sophomore performer who was the Class 3 state champion in the javelin. She also earned all-state medals in the 100-meter high hurdles (second) and the triple jump (sixth) at the state meet as a freshman.
Jada Moore (Pattonville) – The talented senior sprinter returns after winning the Class 5 state championship in the 100-meter dash in 11.93 seconds. She also finished second in the 200, fifth in the 400 and anchored the Pirates’ 4×400-meter relay team to a second-place finish. She was also a state champion in the 200 as a sophomore.
Michelle Owens (McCluer North) – The talented junior continues the Stars’ great tradition of hurdlers as she follows former state champion Jasmine Barge. Owens was the Class 5 state champion in the 100-meter hurdles. She was also an all-state performer in the long jump.
LaQwasia Stepney (Belleville West) – An outstanding combination hurdler-jumper who has already signed with Nebraska. She was the Illinois Class 3A state champion in the long jump as a junior last season. She was also a top three finisher in the 100-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter low hurdles at last year’s state meet in Charleston.
Courtney Williams (Nerinx Hall) – One of the top overall sprinters in the state, Williams was the Class 5 state champion in the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.43 seconds. She also took home state runner-up honors in the 100 and third-place in the 200 at the state meet.
