If the girls side of prep track and field were like the stock market, you’d take one look at Jefferson County and see a large green arrow pointed up.
The trend is bullish because many local 2024 state medalists are back for more dashes, laps, jumps, vaults and throws, culminating in the state championships in late May at Jefferson City. The 10 schools in the Jefferson County Activities Association are spread across Classes 2-4, with Festus High at the forefront as the three-time defending girls conference champion. Unlike other sports such as volleyball, basketball and baseball, the JCAA doesn’t split into small- and large-school divisions in track and field. The league meet is scheduled for April 30-May 1 in Hillsboro.
One team that for the first time won’t be there is St. Pius X of Festus. The Lancers, charter members of the JCAA, were expelled from the conference in March 2024 but allowed to compete at the league meet one last time. Now they are fully independent across all sports and participating this spring at a number of meets outside Jefferson County, as well as in Class 2 District 2.
For the fourth time since 2017, Jefferson finished second in the state in Class 2 last year. The Blue Jays bring back four hyper-versatile all-state athletes, including the entire quartet that won the state 4x100-meter relay title.
Besides their league dominance, the Festus girls have won the last three Class 4 District 1 crowns and finished fifth in Class 4 a year ago, four points shy of a state trophy. They took first place by more than 30 points in the McCullough-Douglass Invitational that they hosted March 29.
Here is a look at the girls teams from Jefferson County in the JCAA (in alphabetical order).
Crystal City
State titles: Eight (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 2006)
Class 1 District 1 at Dexter
Head coach: Adam Sims (first year)
Starting blocks: The Hornets competed in Class 2 last year, so the drop in class can only help a small group stand out among much larger teams. Sims is eager to see what the 4x100 team of seniors Sydney Partney, Carly Roussin and Claire Marlow and freshman Karly Klamert can accomplish. With the season just underway, their top time is 58.99 seconds. At state last year, Roussin placed eighth in the long jump in 5.18 meters. Roussin also is competing in the 100 hurdles, triple jump and high jump, where she’s already set a personal best this spring at 1.52. She was fifth in the long jump in 4.95 at the McCullough-Douglass meet. Roussin has signed to compete in college at Missouri Baptist University. Marlow is in the high jump and discus and senior Emily Wolfe is throwing the shot and discus.
De Soto
State titles: None
Class 4 District 1 at Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau)
Head coach: Ilene Garcia-Mehler (third year)
Starting blocks: For sheer numbers, nobody in the JCAA can match the Dragons. Scores of underclassmen fill in the slots of every event, portending well for a team that by this time next year will have a completely renovated stadium. But this year De Soto is built from the top down, starting with its own “Bourn identity.” Senior Neoles Bourn, one of the top sprinters in the conference since her freshman year, is ready to get back to the medal stand, where she finished sixth in the 100 in 2023. In the 200, last season Bourn twice broke a 38-year old school record previously held by Kim Kingsland and ran 25.23 at state, good for ninth place. She has signed to continue her career at Lindenwood University in St. Charles.
“She worked extremely hard in the off-season this past winter and continues to lead her teammates as they begin competition,” Garcia-Mehler said.
In the first two meets of the season, at Festus and the Hillsboro Co-Ed Relays, several Dragons set personal records, including sophomore Kennedy Shores (400, 62.73); senior Kyla Cook (javelin, 25.89); sophomore Cira Smith (javelin, 15.66); freshman Elizabeth McClinton (high jump, 4.65); freshman Alexis Slamp (300 hurdles, 53.88); sophomore Elizabeth Bourisaw (1,600, 6:33.42) and sophomore Ava Clark (pole vault, 1.98).
Shores is chasing a school record in the 400 and teams with Bourn and junior Makenzi Missey as three-fourths of a formidable 4x200 that qualified for state a year ago. Sophomore Payton
Stearns is closing in on her 300 hurdles PR. Sophomore Katie Strawhun, an all-state runner in cross country last fall, is aiming at sub-2:30 in the 800.
“(Strawhun) is a fierce competitor and a great teammate,” Garcia-Mehler said.
Senior Charleigh Smith is jumping well so far this season in long jump.
“Our goals this season are to remain healthy, positive, focused, and to continue to work on the little things at practice,” said Garcia-Mehler, who was a Dragon assistant for 12 years before becoming head coach. “We pride ourselves on our work ethic and determination as we rise up to face any and all challenges that come our way.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of this season, as this will be my last one. We’ve begun this season with some great performances already and keeping our goals in mind while we challenge ourselves. The leadership on the team is a reflection of the coaching staff. Coach Sharon Albright has also been a great addition as the hurdles coach, bringing years of experience to the table, and is a great support for the athletes.”
Festus
State titles: One (1985)
Class 4 District 1 at Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau)
Head coach: Wes Armbruster (seventh year)
Starting blocks: Armbruster guided the Tigers to the Class 4 state cross country title in 2024 and he could add a track crown in late May with the help of those harriers. Last spring Festus won state medals in three of the four relays (all but the 4x200) and has all four legs returning from its state-winning 4x100 squad. Sophomore Jahmeshia Patterson set school records in the 100, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x100 and 4x200 and earned state medals in all four events she was entered in. She did not compete in the McCullough-Douglass met.
Junior Elsa Muellersman was the lead leg on the 4x100 and took third in the conference in the shot put.
“She has added some range to her sprint work this season and will be major player in the 200 and 4x200 relay as well,” Armbruster said.
Senior Makayla DeClue was the third leg on the 4x100.
“Makayla is the unquestioned leader of our sprint group,” Armbruster said.
Junior CeCe Hawkins was a member of the 4x400 relay that finished eighth at Jefferson City in a school-record 4:06.25. She’s expected to continue contributing to the relays and open 200 and 400.
Teams that challenge for state titles usually are loaded with versatile, multi-event athletes, and senior Olivia Gillam, sophomore Kinzie Kerr and freshman Hadley Munoz fit the bill. Gillam is a sprinter, and Armbruster said she, like DeClue, is not always among the top open times because she’s so valuable to the relays. Kerr qualified for state last year in the triple jump and was third in 10.36 in a deep field at the McCullough-Douglass meet. Munoz has exceeded expectations and earned her chance to contribute in races from the 200 to the 800, both hurdles events and all four relays.
As usual, the Tiger distance runners are a key strength of the team. Sophomore Lucy Boyer was the Tigers’ top runner (third place) at state in cross country and was on the 4x800 relay team as a freshman. She PR’d by 23 seconds in the 3,200 (11:43.56) at McCullough-Douglas, breaking into the top 10 times in school history.
“Every conversation about the top distance runners in Class 4, needs to include Lucy,” Armbruster said.
Juniors Katelyn Thurman and Olivia Cole and sophomore Kendall Counts are all-state in both sports and sophomores Ella Jo Jokerst and Bailee Tolbert were on the 4x800 state team. Senior Camrynn Gildea has set PRs this season in the 400 and 3,200.
Thurman’s confidence is growing as she strides toward elite status.
“While Lucy gets a lot of the attention, Katelyn is equally as talented,” the coach said.
Cole opened the season at near-PR levels in the 800 and 3,200.
“She is often overlooked as a member of a talented group, but she can race with anyone in the area.”
The returning JCAA champ in the discus, junior Leinna Smith, and senior Rylie Moore, an all- state performer in the javelin in 2023, give Festus a strong 1-2 punch in the throwing events. Moore spent last year rehabbing from an injury but swept the conference throwing events her sophomore year. Smith opened the season by finishing second in the discus at McCullough-Douglass in 34.29. Armbruster said he thinks sophomore Keeleigh Hankings, one of a large group of young throwers ready to contribute at the varsity level, could go far with the javelin in the postseason.
Senior Alex Yates finished seventh in 3.12 in the pole vault at last year’s state meet.
“We want to become the best versions of ourselves,” Armbruster said. “If we can do that individually and collectively, we will be a factor in the postseason.”
Grandview
State titles: None
Class 2 District 2 at Lutheran North
Head coach: Josh Holland (third year)
Starting blocks: Senior Catherine Wakeland set school records at the Jefferson Blue Jay Invitational on April 1, running the 100-meter dash in 12.58 seconds and the 200 in 26.35. Wakeland, who won medals in the 100 and 300 hurdles at the Class 2 state championships last May, also is competing in the 4x200 and high jump. She surpassed 1,000 career points on the school’s basketball team this winter.
“Catherine is the best female athlete that has ever walked the halls of Grandview,” Holland said.
Senior Brooke Lunsford was eighth in the state (10.19) in the triple jump and holds school records in that and the long jump, but also knows her way around the track.
“She is a vital part of our 4x200 team this year,” Holland said. “She starts the race and gets her team into a good position.”
Last year, senior Eylse Weinke was an alternate on the 4x200 and 4x400 state relays. Now she is the second leg of the 4x200 and also is in the long and triple jumps.
Senior Katie Terrell has been to state three times in the 3,200.
“She is always training,” the coach said. “The entire team combined does not run as much as this amazing athlete,” Holland said.
Also competing for the Eagles are junior Morgan McClelland (800) and seniors Sydney Riddle (discus), Kiley Kostro (pole vault) and Raquel Guillen Marco (hurdles, pole vault).
Herculaneum
State titles: One (1983)
Class 3 District 1 at Dexter
Head coach: Kyle Davis (sixth year)
Starting blocks: Davis has won state titles with the Blackcat boys and girls cross country teams; the girls were second in Class 3 in 2024. His daughter, Claira, a junior, was on that squad and set a 21-second PR in the 3,200 (12:30) at the Festus meet. Davis and sophomores Finley Hamtil and Emerson Reeves return to compete in the 4x800, which qualified for state last year.
Junior Macy Pope was fifth in the state in the discus (35.79) and Kyle Davis said she’s chasing the school record in the event. Senior Jill Jarvis is the school record holder in the javelin. Senior Gretchen Sutton competes in the high jump and junior sprinter JoJo (Mackenzie) Lawson has started fast with a PR of 13.05 in the 100 at the Jefferson meet.
Hillsboro
State titles: None
Class 4 District 1 at Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau)
Head coach: Dina Holland (28th year)
Starting blocks: Almost half of the 46 Hawks are freshmen, and like De Soto, they are led by an all-state senior. Emily Wright, one of the most talented, versatile athletes in the JCAA, scored in the 100 and 300 hurdles, long jump and javelin at Festus. She was a 2024 state qualifier in both hurdles and the javelin. Her sister, Lyla, a freshman, continues the family’s legacy in the hurdles, throws and jumps.
Senior Maleah Lambrich was sixth in the state in the pole vault in 3.12. She opened this season at 3.05, good for fifth at McCullough-Douglass.
Freshman Nico Brooks, an all-state wrestler, is doing the sprints and triple jump.
Senior Shaye Holland (sprints) and sophomore Kendall Holland (sprints, throws) are Dina’s daughters. The school’s family connections also include the Woods – Jillian, a senior sprinter, and twin sophomores Sadie (distance) and Tessa (sprints).
Jefferson
State titles: None
Class 2 District 1 at Scott City
Head coach: Paul Lipp (first year)
Starting blocks: Seniors Lia Ott, Margaret Wrigley and Megan Wood and sophomore Zoie Bradley won the state 4x100 relay last season in 49.05. Wrigley was second in the conference in the 100 and 200 before coming in fifth (100) and third (200) at state. Wrigley also placed second in the state in the long jump in 5.61. She’s signed to compete in the heptathlon at Pittsburg State University in Kansas.
Wood has signed to play indoor and sand volleyball at the University of Tennessee at Martin. She set a school record when she won the shot put at Festus in 11.05. Ott also competes in the triple jump and Bradley is in the 100 and 200 (sixth in the state in both) and 4x200. Ott has signed to play softball at Jefferson College.
The Blue Jays finished third at their Invitational on March 31-April 1. Bradley won the 100 in 12.57 and took second in the 200 in 26.71. Sophomore Lorellei Brown was third in the 100 hurdles in 17.97 and fourth in the 300 hurdles in 54.39. Wood won the discus in 27.23 and freshman Isabella Gregory was fourth in 26.29.
“I look forward to seeing them take home another (state) plaque,” Lipp said.
St. Pius X
State titles: None
Class 2 District 2 at Lutheran North
Head coach: Therese Ruble (eighth year)
Starting blocks: Last year Ruble’s daughter, Elena, set the school record and won the conference title when she launched the javelin 38.49. She followed that by finishing sixth at state in 36.45. The Rubles were part of the school’s state championship volleyball team last November. Elena also is competing in the 100, 200 and 4x100, in which the Lancers qualified for state and just missed the medal cut.
Junior Harper Gass, a qualifier for state in the 400, is running the open sprints and on the 4x100.
Others competing for the Lancers are seniors Anna Bierman (100, 300 hurdles), Bridget Flanagan (100 hurdles, high jump) and Maliyah Underwood (discus, shot put); juniors Robin Taylor (800, 1,600, 3,200) and Macie Cain (shot put, discus); sophomores Renee Hanneken-Callahan (high jump, 100, 200, 400, 4x100) and Sophie Wilson (800, 1,600, 3,200) and freshman Payton Hubbard (800, 1,600, 3,200).
Windsor
State titles: None
Class 4 District 2 at Windsor
Head coach: Stephanie Dueker-Richmond (eighth year)
Starting blocks: Hosting the district meet should help the Owls progress in the postseason. Only their 4x200 relay made a state appearance last year. But Dueker-Richmond, who doubles as the girls volleyball head coach in the fall, said the mixture of 10 upperclassmen and 26 underclassmen could be the right combination to add more events.
Senior Keira Dixon, junior Natalie Krause and sophomores Shealee Mancuso and Tyaleatha Schenck return after setting school records last year in the 4x100 and 4x200.
“I would bet they break those records again this season, as each is starting better than they ended,” Dueker-Richmond said.
The coach also said she’s looking forward to watching the development of the distance tandem of sophomore Chloe Lammert and freshman McKenzie Robbins.
Windsor has a plethora of young throwers, led by sophomore Jayden Estes. Seniors Kenzie McCoy (jumps) and Arianna Mercado (sprints) have impressed their coach early on.
“And I’m excited to get ‘jack of all trades’ Mackenzie Kerley (junior) off the injured list,” Dueker-Richmond said. “I look for big things from hurdler/sprinter Kiley Johnson (sophomore) as she continues to improve and senior Lily Pauley looks to have her best season as a vaulter.”
Sophomore Alyssa Brockmeier has shown improvement and freshmen Ella Montgomery, Lauren Breeze, Hailee Chapman, Molly Midkiff and Emma Alaniz are all looking to work their way into bigger roles on the varsity.