But Heacock didn’t compete and the Jefferson’s girls track and field team felt her absence. The Festus girls outdistanced the Blue Jays 96-81 to win the team championship. Heacock could have made up that 15 points just by running her two best events: the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.
Heacock fractured her left foot while competing for the Jefferson County Jets after cross country season ended last fall. Heacock’s foot was placed in a cast for two weeks. She’s been going through physical therapy, and was cleared to practice on Thursday (March 21).
After finishing second in the state in Class 2 to New Covenant Academy by one point in 2017, the Blue Jays qualified for 14 of the 19 events but settled for runner-up status again in 2018, nine points behind Knob Noster.
In both seasons, Heacock scored the most points (28 in 2017, 26 in 2018) for Jefferson and she parlayed that success into a track and field scholarship at Wichita State University.
Heacock won the school’s first state championship of any type in 2017 when she came in first in the 100-meter hurdles. Last season, she repeated in that event and added a second crown in the 300 hurdles.
This spring, Heacock will again compete in both hurdle events, plus the other two events she qualified for state last spring, the long jump and 200.
Jefferson head coach Alex Rouggly said easing Heacock back into the lineup is his utmost priority. He said she might not run the hurdles until the Jefferson County Activities Association championships on April 24-25.
“We’re going to play it extremely smart with Anna,” said Rouggly, who’s guided the Blue Jays among the state’s elite. “When we found out she had a stress fracture, we’ll need her come districts. It’s going to be a gradual process. The way she goes about her business, we know she’s going to be in shape.”
Senior Taya Allen has been right behind Heacock in both hurdles events, capturing four state medals, including finishing third in the 300 the last two springs. Allen also was part of the Blue Jays’ 4x100 relay that was sixth in 2018. She has committed to Maryville University.
“Taya is another pure track athlete,” Rouggly said. “She is a leader via example by her continued hard work ethic and positive mentality. Taya has high expectations for herself this spring, and she should.”
Senior Jenna Courtois is a three-sport athlete (volleyball, basketball, track and field) and has been part of the state-qualifying 4x100 relay the past two seasons. She qualified for state in the long jump last season and also does the triple jump.
“We are fortunate to have many kids who are multi-faceted athletes on the track, and that can be said for Jenna,” Rouggly said. “She is seen as a leader by her teammates and the coaching staff.”
Senior Jordan Heacock, Anna’s twin, and junior Cheney Ervin are the distance leaders. Jordan has signed with Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. Jordan competed in three state events last year – the 1,600, 3,200 and 4x800 relay – and placed ninth in the 3,200 and 4x800. Ervin was part of the 4x800 state team.
Jordan ran the 3,200 in Jefferson City in 12:40.09. Running a sub-12-minute two-mile is her goal this year.
“I’m going to push a lot harder. That (ninth place) hurt last year,” Jordan said.
Junior Abi Chipps was on the Blue Jays’ 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams and also ran in the 100 last spring. An all-state softball player three times over, Chipps said she’s eager to win a state medal in the 100.
“I’ve been focusing on coming out of the blocks harder,” Chipps said. “Getting the lead early in the race is important for me. I want to be able to maintain my top speed all the way through. It’s hard coming in that good of shape and not dying the first 70 meters.”
Senior Kendall Runzi was part of the state-qualifying 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams. Seniors Ashley Edmond (pole vault) and Alexis Armstrong (throws) and sophomore Catryn Cattoor (throws, sprints) are all vital if Jefferson is to move up one notch in the team standings in Jefferson City.
Armstrong has made it to sectionals twice in the shot put and javelin.
“Catryn is one of the strongest females to ever walk through our halls,” Rouggly said. “Alexis has a great shot at equaling, if not surpassing, those accolades this spring.”
A crop of freshmen – Maddie Edmond (sprints, vault), Kyla Allen (sprints, hurdles, jumps), Payton Cattoor (mid-distance, sprints), Kierston Vandeven (sprints) and Chelsea Badger (mid-distance, distance) – represent the next wave.
“Hopefully I’m not chewing on my own words later in the season, but I feel like this is as deep as the girls have been since I’ve been here,” said Rouggly, who enters his fourth season. “That group we had two years ago was deep.”