By the time they reach the Class 4 District 1 track and field meet in May, the larger schools from the Jefferson County Activities Association will have competed against each other many times.
The race for conference supremacy on both the boys and girls sides starts with Festus and Hillsboro. The Hawks have won the last two boys JCAA titles, with the Tigers finishing second both times. After placing second to De Soto in 2021, the Festus girls claimed the league crown last spring. The seniors on all of this year’s teams had no freshmen season because COVID-19 canceled spring sports statewide in 2020.
The conference competition “is good for the region. It’s always been that way,” Hillsboro boys head coach Todd Medley said. “We have some of the most competitive cross country and track teams in the state. (Festus boys head coach Chris Partney) and I were talking about the ultimate goal of both teams being on the (awards) podium at Jefferson City,” site of the state meet in late May.
As if to remind the locals there are track powerhouses elsewhere, Rock Bridge swept in from Columbia to win both the boys and girls championships at the McCullough-Douglass Invitational Saturday at Festus. The Bruin boys are the two-time defending Class 5 champions. Still, county athletes competed well among some of the state’s best and JCAA coaches got a good early look at their top athletes.
The Festus boys finished third in the state in Class 4 last year, the Tigers’ fourth state boys trophy in school history. Hillsboro’s boys were three spots back in a three-way tie with Harrisonville and Rolla for sixth, just five points from a team trophy.
Herculaneum is the only local JCAA school in Class 3, and the Blackcat boys and girls will compete in District 2. Grandview, Jefferson and St. Pius X are in Class 2 District 1 and Crystal City is in Class 1 District 1.
Here’s a breakdown of all the JCAA teams except the two from outside the county, Perryville and St. Vincent.
Crystal City
Coach: Dan Fox
Class 1 District 1
State championships: Boys 1948, 1957, 1959; Girls 1984-1989, 1993, 2006
Boys: freshmen Landyn DeRousse (200, 400, 4x100, triple jump), Cohen Compton (100, 200, 4x100), Alex Kuchera (pole vault, 200, 4x200, triple jump), David Parham (shot, discus); juniors Kanden Bolton (100, 4x100, long jump, high jump), Luke Holdinghausen (shot, discus), Antonio Lopez-Ritrovato (shot, discus), Camden Mayes (100, 4x100, long jump, high jump), Caden Raftery (100, shot put, javelin), Seth Senter (shot, discus, javelin), Kanye Wigfall (200, 400, 4x200, pole vault); seniors Sebastian DeGeare (200, 400, pole vault), Hayden Reynolds (shot, discus), Tristen Morales (400, 800, 1,600).
Girls: freshman Payton Dugal (pole vault, long jump, 100); sophomores Lynnlie Bella Marion (shot, discus), Claire Marlow (pole vault, high jump, 100), Sydney Partney (100, 200), Carly Roussin (100, 200, long jump, high jump); juniors Lexi Thurman (100, 200), Katie Tipton (pole vault, high jump); seniors Abbie Edwards (100, discus, javelin), Lauren Hartman (800, 1,600, 3,200), Claudia Lamberti (shot, discus).
Hornet notes: Bolton and Mayes finished second and third at state in the long jump last year. Hartman was about two seconds away from a state medal in the 1,600, and Marlow (pole vault) and Thurman (100) also were state qualifiers.
De Soto
Coaches: Robert Hyde (boys), Ilene Garcia-Mehler (girls)
Class 4 District 1
State championships: Boys 1954, 1956
Boys: sophomore Austin Missey (sprints, triple jump); junior Nolan Sisson (sprints); seniors Trevor Pirtle (long jump, sprints), Dominique Bourn (sprints), Avery Goode (pole vault), Richard Gilchrist (discus, shot put), Isaac Foeller (discus, shot), Isaac Smith (sprints), Joshua Artrip (javelin, sprints), Ethan Patterson (sprints, hurdles), Theron Roland (400, 800).
Girls: freshmen Kalli Cooper (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Sarah Davis (4x100, 4x200, 200), Clara Gray (4x100, 4x200), Abi Hanneken (4x100, 4x200), Lillian Marschel (200, 400), Makenzi Missey (long jump, 4x100, 4x200), Melody Pigg (discus, shot put), Natalie Rogers (100, 200, 4x100, 4x200), Ashley Theiss (triple jump, high jump, 4x200, 4x100), Dessie Weidner (800, 1600); sophomores Mya Bell (4x800, 4x400), Cheyenne Boley (javelin, shot, discus), Neoles Bourn (100, 200, 4x100, 4x200), Autymn Crady (400, 4x400), Kyla Cook, Sophia Mullins (4x800, 800, 1,600, 3,200), Alexis Roberts (javelin, discus), Charleigh Smith (long jump, high jump, 4x100); juniors Jasmine Ellsworth (pole vault, 800), Ashlynn Jones (discus, shot), Jailey Pigg (1,600, 3,200, 800, 4x400), Richelle Rickermann (800, 1,600); seniors Morgan Broombaugh (javelin, pole vault), Laynee Kitchell (shot, discus), Meghan Mellor (100, 200, 4x100, 4x200), Dominique Mitkos (400, 4x200, 4x400), Ashley Rogers (100, 200), Kiley Smetzer (4x100, 4x200).
Dragon notes: William Kaempfe and Tim Harmon graduated, leaving the Dragon boys and girls without a state returner. Neo Bourn, a top young sprinter, has re-set her personal record in the 200 twice already this year, and set a PR of 13.11 seconds in the 100 at McCullough-Douglass. Mellor was close to qualifying for state last year, placing fifth in the 100 and 200 at sectionals. This is Garcia-Mehler’s first season as head coach.
“These young ladies come to practice each and every day ready to work, building each other up and having fun,” Garcia-Mehler said. “We have two rules we go by, first to have fun, and second to compete. It’s humbling as their coach to be able to see this young team of ladies gearing up to compete this season.”
Hyde said the large group of juniors and seniors have taken ownership of the boys team.
“My expectation is that we show up each day and complete the task at hand in the classroom and on the track,” Hyde said. “We will focus on improvement each day and see where that improvement ultimately takes us.”
Festus
Coaches: Chris Partney (boys), Wes Armbruster (girls)
Class 4 District 1
State championships: Girls 1985
Boys: juniors Amiyas Edwards (jumps, sprints), Cody Evans (throws), Sawyer Partney (throws), Jackson Reese (sprints, mid-distance), Bryson Rhine (distance), Austin Schutte (throws), Jimmy Wacker (distance); seniors Zach Beers (distance), Arhmad Branch (jumps, sprints), Dylan Cawvey (throws), Francesco Colombo (jumps, sprints), Pierfrancesco Ghisu (jumps, sprints), Austin Johnson (pole vault), Reece Johnson (sprints), Ian Schram (distance), Cullen Krieg (distance), Tate Riney (distance).
Girls: freshmen CeCe Hawkins (200, 400), Jessica Hawkins (hurdles, relays, long jump), Olivia Cole (distance); sophomores Rylie Moore (shot, javelin), Makayla DeClue (200), Olivia Gillam (relays); junior Ciara McDonald (javelin, shot); seniors Alexis Biehle (100, 200, relays), Ava Leftwich (3,200), Dari White (3,200), Ella Shy (pole vault), Jeannie Thornborrow (distance).
Tiger notes: The boys team will miss the 40 points Jacob Myers produced (with help from his 4x800 teammates) at the 2022 state meet, with Myers graduating, but the Tigers’ longstanding distance depth should help the team challenge for conference, district and state titles. Johnson is the returning JCAA champ in the 100 and 200 and Branch, headed to Purdue University to play football, will seek to defend his conference title in the triple jump.
“Of course, we always have our eyes on a state plaque,” Partney said. “That is always our goal at the beginning of each season. We are going to try hard to bring Festus its fifth plaque. All of the other meets (season and postseason) along the way are designed to get our athletes to that end goal.”
Shy is the defending JCAA champion and a two-time state qualifier in the pole vault, placing third at state (3.27 meters) last year. She also qualified in the 100. Biehle owns conference and district titles in the 100 and 200 and is a two-time state qualifier. Armbruster said DeClue is the most improved athlete in the program. The Hawkins twins were dominant on their middle school team last year.
“Our goal every season is to become the best version of ourselves individually and as a team, while also remembering to enjoy the journey,” Armbruster said. “If we do those things, we will be a factor at the end of the season.”
Grandview
Coach: Josh Holland
Class 2 District 1
State championships: None
Boys: freshmen Wyatt Keim (sprints, sprint relays), Isaac Walker (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 100, 200, 400), Brendan Martin (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, pole vault), Reece Biggers (jumps), Cameron Brooks (jumps); sophomores Hayde2n Pruitte (3,200, 1,600), Owen Potter (throws), Zander Tallent (throws), Tyler Fox (sprints); juniors Ethan Ottolini (throws); seniors Royce Haynes (100, 200, 400), Paul Windes, Tyler Pruitte (300 hurdles), Ty Maxey (jumps).
Girls: freshmen Faith Nahlik (4x100, 100, 200, 100 hurdles), Kaylee McClelland (shot, discus), Morgan McClelland (400, 800, 1,600); sophomores Catherine Wakeland (4x200, 4x400, 4x800, 400), Katie Terrell (800, 1,600, 3,200), Brooke Lunsford (long jump, triple jump), Elsie Weinke (100, 200), LylleyAnn Rickey (1,600, 800, 100 hurdles), Sydney Riddle (shot, discus); juniors Alexis Walker (discus, javelin, shot), Natalee Vogelsang (800, 1,600, 3,200); seniors Maggie Boker (4x100, 4x200, 4x400, 300 hurdles), Anna Belle Wakeland (4x200, 4x400, 400, high jump), Bridgett Morris (4x100, 4x200, 4x400), Danielle McClune (4x100, 4x200, 100, 200), Savannah Patterson (4x100, 4x200, 4x400), Taylor Walker (throws).
Eagle notes: This is Holland’s first year as head coach, succeeding Joe Cagel. Anna Belle Wakeland, the latest Eagle to score more than 1,000 career points in basketball, would love to show it’s not her only high-performing sport and get to state in the high jump. Her sister, Catherine, was a state qualifier last year in the 400, as was Terrell in the 3,200. Boker was second in the state in the 300 hurdles and is the school record holder in the event. She also helped power the 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams to state medals. The Eagles finished 10th in Class 2 but were just 12 points out of team trophy contention and look to fly higher in 2023.
“We have some of the best girl athletes ever to grace the halls of Grandview,” Holland said. “I would take on any team and any class with this group.”
Herculaneum
Coach: Kyle Davis
Class 3 District 2
State championships: Boys 1979, Girls 1983
Boys: sophomores Luke Bice (javelin), Cam Harris (sprints, 4x200), Nate Wright (1,600, 4x800); juniors Damian Luther (4x800, middle distance), Jacob Moreland (throws), Ashton Parrish (distance), Sam Vaughn (distance); seniors C.J. Asinger (para 200, 800), Lucas Bahr (sprints, relays), Carter Cox (sprints, 4x400), Josh Diebold (distance), Payne Hawkins (sprints), Clark McCullough (sprints), Gage Meyers (sprints, 4x200), Hunter Meyers (sprints, 4x200), Michael Moloney (pole vault), James Mouyassar (throws), Logan Petri (sprints), Keith Vance (1,600).
Girls: sophomore Gretchen Sutton (high jump); juniors Lyndsey Bray (sprints), Lexi Howell (pole vault), Kendall Huber (4x800), Amia Moore (sprints), Eddyson Reeves (pole vault, hurdles); seniors Maria Castillo-Orellana (relays), Skyler Christopher (sprints), Ella Hoskins (jumps, sprints), Camilla Moore (relays), Breanna Thebeau (throws), Raven Vance (distance, relays), Lilian Wilson (hurdles).
Blackcat notes: Both Herculaneum squads feature exceptional multi-sport athletes. Reeves, an all-state wrestler, was seventh in the state in the pole vault in Class 3 last year. The Vances are all-state cross country runners. Bahr was one of the most dynamic football players in the county at wide receiver last fall. Paralyzed from the waist down, Asinger, who also wrestles, is a state champion in the para 200 and 800 and one of the most inspirational athletes on any team. Football two-way standout Moloney, sixth in the state in the pole vault a year ago, is the last in the long line of athletic Moloneys to graduate from Herky.
“We have a core group of all-state returners, so expectations are high,” said Davis, who has coached Herculaneum’s boys and girls cross country teams to state titles. “Not only expectations, but just excitement in general. This is a fun, motivated group. They love track, they love competing and they love having fun. As always, we aim to compete for district championships and take a full bus to the state championships. The sprints department would love to go after some 20-plus-year-old school records.”
Hillsboro
Coaches: Todd Medley (boys), Dina Holland (girls)
Class 4 District 1
State championships: None
Boys: sophomores Preston Brown (throws), Landon Pogue; juniors Payton Brown (sprints, throws, hurdles), Nick Marchetti (sprints, hurdles), Dalton Ross (hurdles, sprints), Chase Sucharski (sprints, jumps), Greg Mann (distance), Clayton Schneider (distance), Aidan Belcher (distance); seniors Jonah Allison (distance), Josh Allison (distance), Jimmy Mann (distance), Gavin Vaughn (distance), Mitchell Lutes (sprints, hurdles), Blake Larson (sprints), Noah Holland (sprints), Harrison Voyles (sprints), Alex Whaley (jumps), Nick Doerner (throws), Caden Taylor (throws), Dean Roubidoux-Osejo (sprints).
Girls: sophomores Ellisa Emms (100, 200), Ava Mora (100), Jillian Woods (200, 400), Erin Brandenburg (400, 100 hurdles), Emily Wright (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles); juniors Lauren Nichols (200), Krysta Miller (jumps); seniors Sydney Buettner (100), Anna Crosby (800, 1,600), Cassidy Herget (high jump, javelin), Lexi Wallis (pole vault).
Hawk notes: The boys 4x800 team of the Allison twins, Mann and Vaughn set the school record in 8:00.44 last year, and Medley said school records are in danger in the 100, 200 and 4x200. If the Browns win medals in the javelin and the state cross country champion distance runners do their part, the Hawks can fill in the sprinters and hurdlers to challenge for a state trophy and cap off a banner year in Hillsboro athletics. Herget was seventh in the state in the high jump in 1.53 meters, and Miller, Wright and Buettner were all state qualifiers.
“Expectations for this season, as one can imagine, are extremely high, and let’s just leave it at that,” Medley said. “At this point in time, after reading article after article, I just hope we live up to the expectations everyone else has set for us.”
Jefferson
Coach: Nicole Boyer
Class 2 District 1
State championships: None
Boys: freshmen Logan Vandeven (sprints, sprint relays), Matthew Waltmann (sprints, sprint relays), Seth Whitener (sprints, sprint relays), Aiden Usery (high jump, triple jump, sprints), Carter McCabe (shot, discus), Caden Menkhus (800, 1,600), Grant Neel (shot, discus), Alex Roth (shot, discus), Levi Heacock (high jump, 800, 1,600, hurdles), Gavin Green (sprints, sprint relays), Lucas Eddington (shot, discus, javelin), Tyler Crader (sprints, sprint relays), Aiden Allen (discus), Noah Buehler (jumps, relays); sophomores Joseph Manno (sprints, sprint relays), Karson Haefner (sprints, sprint relays, jumps), Nathan Eddington (jumps, sprints, relays), Hunter Bushnell (sprints, sprint relays), Logan Donjon (400, 800, 1,600, 3,200); juniors Carter Krodinger (sprints, sprint relays), Alex Breeze (400, 800, 1,600, relays), Brandon Burford (sprints, sprint relays); seniors Konner Armstrong (shot, discus), Hayden Beck (400, 800, 1,600, 4x800), Nate Bernatow (shot, discus), Jess Blankenship (100, 200, 400, relays), Ian Ehrhardt (800, 1,600, 3,200), Kayden Rundel (pole vault, 110 hurdles, javelin), Sean Usery (sprints, sprint relays), Cole Van (pole vault, javelin).
Girls: freshmen Mia Tindall (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800), Lacy Weiss (800, 1,600), Gabi Peterein (400, 800, 1,600), Lorelai Poultney (800, 1,600), Annabelle Richardson (shot, discus), Emerson Selsor (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800), Addison Meyer (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800), Ryleigh Johnson (sprints, sprint relays), Ella Hueter (sprints, sprint relays), Louise Duepner (discus, javelin); sophomores Megan Wood (shot, discus, 4x200), Mady Barbagallo (javelin), Lacy Clatto (pole vault, long jump, 100, 4x100), Payton Easter (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800), Ayla Karch (800, 1,600, 3,200), Lia Ott (triple jump, sprints, sprint relays), Maggie Wrigley (100, 200, high jump, sprint relays; senior Paige Wagner (javelin).
Blue Jay notes: This is Boyer’s first season and she has a huge roster to sort through. Armstrong is the defending JCAA champion and school record holder in the shot put and discus and just missed winning a Class 3 state medal in the shot put in 2022. The Jefferson boys 4x400 relay finished fourth in the state. Wood qualified for state in the shot put and Wrigley in the 200. They are already leading veterans on one of the youngest girls teams in the JCAA. The Blue Jay girls finished second at state (Class 2) for three straight years, 2017 through 2019.
“I expect that our team is going to do quite well this season, specifically on the girls’ side,” Boyer said. “We have several extremely talented athletes that should score points in open events, which should set us up to do well as a team.”
St. Pius X
Coach: Therese Ruble
Class 2 District 1
State championships: None
Boys: freshmen Daniel DeGeare (shot put, discus, 4x400), Braeden Caldwell (800, 1,600, 4x400); sophomore Justin Lehn (shot, discus, 4x100); juniors John Whitman (200, 400, 4x200, 4x400), Andrew Hentz (800); seniors Blaise Cheaney (3,200), Matt Miriani (100, 200, 4x100), Bryce Schrader (100, 200, 4x100, 4x200).
Girls: freshmen Brooke Blankenship (200, 400, 4x200, 4x400), Harper Gass (100, 200, 400, 4x200, 4x400), Elena Ruble (javelin, long jump, 100, 4x200); sophomores P.J. Krodinger (200, 400, 4x200, 4x400), Emma Johnson (triple jump, long jump), Hannah Leftridge (triple jump, long jump); seniors Hanna Burch (shot, discus), Reagan Edwards (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800), Michaela Eimer (1,600, 3,200, 4x800), Rachel Eimer (800, 1,600, 4x800, 4x400), Blaise Cheaney (3,200), Katie Rakers (4x400), Sophie Schappe (4x800).
Lancer notes: Burch holds the school record in the shot at 10.66 meters and is a returning state qualifier in the shot and discus. She has signed with University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis for both track and volleyball. Rachel Eimer was all-state in cross country last fall and is a returning state track qualifier in the 1,600 and 4x800. Edwards, Michaela Eimer and Schappe went to state last year in the 4x800. Elena Ruble, the coach’s daughter, holds the school record in the javelin (29.06) set at the Potosi Invitational on March 17. Cheaney is a returning sectional qualifier in the 3,200 and Caldwell was a state qualifier in cross country last fall. Whitman finished first in the 400 at Potosi.
“We are a young team, but the seniors we have are good leaders,” Coach Ruble said. “Our team is growing bigger every year. We are getting stronger as a team and increasing our depth. The long-term goal is to get as many athletes to state as possible. We just need to stay healthy, get stronger and work to improve day by day.”
Windsor
Coach: Jeff Stoffey (boys), Stephanie Dueker-Richmond (girls)
Class 4 District 1
State championships: Boys 1978
Boys: sophomores Layton Hollis (200, 400, high jump, long jump), Will Kalisch (pole vault); juniors Noah Harman (100, 200, 4x100, 4x200), Michael Becker (triple jump, 4x200, 4x400), Claytin Blassingame (hurdles, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400), Colin Carter (throws, long jump), A.J. Patrick (4x100, high jump, triple jump), Brenton Shirk (triple jump, long jump), Alex Sullivan (200, 400, 4x400); seniors Nick Daugherty (3,200, 4x800), Dylan Runge (shot, discus).
Girls: freshman Natalie Krause (sprints, relays, jumps); sophomores Keira Dixon (sprints, relays), Hannah Jarnegan (sprints, relays, hurdles, javelin), Abby Lanfersieck (hurdles), Kenzie McCoy (hurdles, jumps, sprints), Mia Nilsen (sprints), Ashley Perkins (sprints, relays), Gracie Pryor (jumps, sprints); juniors Kylie Alaniz (sprints), Katie Boyster (distance, triple jump), Maggie Bunton (sprints, high jump, javelin), Syd Green (jumps, pole vault), Mariah Guseman (long jump, sprints), Kailynn Hunter (sprints), Adrianna Mancuso (sprints, every relay), Morgan McKenzie (distance), Riley Merchant (distance), Delaney Rapp (vault, sprints), Sophia Williford (vault, jumps); seniors Kaylyn Copeland (triple jump, sprints, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400), Alyssa Crossen (jumps, sprints), Madelyn Mancuso (sprints, every relay), Madison Williams (sprints, relays), Abby Holland (throws), Reagan Daly (throws), Emma Lawson (throws), Maddie Patrick (throws), Olivia Plesons (distance).
Owl notes: Becker has gone past 40 feet in the triple jump already this season. Stoffey said Carter is one of Windsor’s best all-around athletes and will be the team’s top javelin thrower. Daugherty advanced to state in the 4x800 and 3,200 last season and will take aim at Bradley Ahrens’ 3,200 school record of 9:56.40. Harman ran 11.19 in the 100 last year, just .02 off the school record. Harman won the Potosi Invitational this month in 11.41. On the girls side, Lawson (javelin) and Holland are returning state qualifiers.
“We are a nice mix of some returning hard-working veterans and younger, yet talented underclassmen,” Dueker-Richmond said. “I hope the two will mesh nicely and mold us into a complete team by the end of the season.”
“Last season, we were able to win two track meets (Perryville and Potosi),” Stoffey said. “I’m hopeful that we can win at least one or two this season. While we graduated quite a bit of talent, we bring back an extremely solid core.”