The Festus boys and girls track and field teams were champing at the bit to indoctrinate their newly remodeled stadium on Saturday when they hosted the McCullough-Douglass Invitational.
The Tigers swept the team championships as the boys edged Poplar Bluff 123-115 and the girls scored 96 points to hold back Jefferson (81 points) and third-place De Soto (79).
Festus boys coach Chris Partney runs the bullpen during what had been called the Early Bird meet, and Partney said he couldn’t believe his eyes most of the day when looking at the new grandstands and many other improvements to the stadium completed last fall.
“Just having bathroom and concession access really helped out,” Partney said. “Those were things that were hiccups. Now it’s a much better environment. Sometimes I wonder if I’m at Festus. When I first started here, we had that red dog gravel as a track. To go from that to this, with more changes coming, it’s been exciting.”
Equally exciting is senior Max McDaniel every time he steps on a cross country course or track. McDaniel won his first individual crown and led the Tigers to their fifth straight Class 3 state cross country championship last fall.
On Saturday, McDaniel had former Tiger Michael Karls’ meet record of 4:21 in the 1,600 in his sights. McDaniel surged to the lead after the first quarter mile and kept expanding it as the race went on. His final kick in the last quarter mile brought him across the finish line in 4:25.07.
“I feel like it was a really good race,” he said. “I had a plan to run it under 4:20. I did really good for the first two laps. I was right on to what I wanted to do and was solo by that point. The third lap was a little rough and I tried to go as hard as I could. I felt like I was going to fall over at the end.”
McDaniel was fourth in Class 4 in the 1,600, 11th in the 3,200 and ran a leg on the 4x800 state qualifying team last season. He showed another talent on Saturday when he blew the doors off the field in the 800 with a time of 2:04.50.
“I’m really excited to run the 3,200 this season,” McDaniel said. “I feel like I’m in shape to do it. A lot of guys are helping push me.”
Partney said McDaniel is already in late-season form.
“A lot of the boys from the state championship cross country team have worked their butts off and are at the top of their game,” Partney said. “The other kids see that and work harder in practice. For once in a long time, we’re going to be able to support those distance runners with jumpers and sprinters.”
Many of McDaniel’s teammates from cross country are filling in the open and relay distance events for the Tigers. On Saturday, Simon Ogle was third in the 800, Jonah Krieg was third in the 1,600 and Alec Whitener came in fourth in the 3,200.
In Friday’s 5,000-meter run, Nathan Wolk came in second for the Tigers in 17:23.26. Jacob Pauly was second in the 100 hurdles in 15.73 seconds on Saturday. Pauly also runs the 300 hurdles.
Other notable finishes for Festus were its 4x800 relay (second place), 4x1,600 (third) and distance medley (first).
The rest of the Tigers to win medals on Saturday were Pauly, who was third in the high jump with a leap of 5-8; Austin Coale, sixth in the pole vault (11-0) and second in the javelin (142-2); Jaylan Watson (sixth, long jump, 19-7.5); Cayden Glaze (fifth, triple jump, 40-1) and Austin Anderson (third, javelin, 141-9). Glaze topped 42 feet in the triple jump last year. Watson, a senior, was fourth in the state last year in the long jump at 22-2.75.
Senior Reece Montgomery is throwing the shot 47 feet for the Tigers, and Partney said Montgomery’s goal is 50 feet by the end of the year. That would put him close to the eighth-place throw at state a year ago.
“We’re starting off in a good place,” Partney said. “We’ve had to deal with limited practices outdoors like a lot of other schools. We came out today and put up some decent times. I’m excited for the season.”
The Festus girls captured the title Saturday without winning one event. That speaks volumes about the Tigers’ depth through 19 events.
First-year head coach Wes Armbruster added juniors Bria Garmon and Abby Rickermann to an already-experienced cast. Garmon will contribute in the sprints, jumps and relays, while Rickermann is a sprinter.
“Abby has quickly established herself as one of the fastest athletes on our improving sprint group,” Armbruster said.
Junior Abby McMillin is a two-time state qualifier in the triple jump. On Saturday, McMillin was second in the event with a jump of 36-2, three feet longer than her state jump in 2018. McMillin is also a starter on the basketball team.
“She is in tremendous shape to start the season,” Armbruster said. “I fully expect her to be one of the top jumpers in the area, while also having the speed to compete in the sprint relays.”
Senior Jenna Oetting was a sectional qualifier in the javelin last year, but will only compete in sprints this season. Another first-team all-league basketball player, Oetting brings a competitive edge to the Tigers on the track, Armbruster said.
Junior Alexa Sumpter has made huge strides in the throws. Sumpter’s 120-foot throw in the discus is one of the top distances in the area, Armbruster said. Sumpter also will compete in the shot.
Seniors Maddie Welsh, Melissa Wolk and Bailey Moore and junior Sophia Leftwich were on the second-place team at state cross country last year and give Festus power and stamina on the track this spring in the distance events. Wolk finished second in the 1,600 and fourth in the 3,200 on Saturday.
Junior Lydia Henderson and sophomores Natalie Mazur and Blair Baumer were all members of the 4x100 and 4x200 relays last year that qualified for sectionals. Sophomore Tristan Foulk is a sprinter and hurdler and Armbruster said she’s the most improved athlete on the team this year.
Other new faces are freshmen Kinsey Benack (sprinter) and Allison Faerber (1,600, 3,200) who was also on the cross country team. Sophomore Demi White was derailed by injuries last year, but should be part of the distance group.
“It’s hard to really know what to expect from our group just yet,” Armbruster said. “We will find out a lot about ourselves in these early-season meets. Our talent level has improved and the kids are working hard.
“Traditionally, we have been known for being very good in the distance events and throws. We hope to continue that success, but as you can see from cross country season, the (other) conference teams and coaches are among the best in the state. We are going to have to find a way to take the program to the next step.”
Martin gone, not forgotten
How do you replace someone like Isaiah Martin?
In the four years that Hillsboro 2018 graduate Isaiah Martin competed at the Class 4 state track and field championships, he earned 10 medals. He was the state’s first Class 4 javelin champion. Now he’s competing at Purdue University.
Without their main scorer for the last three years, the Hillsboro boys showed the tank isn’t empty after coming in third place with 59.5 points at the Lindenwood Les Petites Cotes Invitational in St. Charles on Saturday. Trinity captured the title with 96 points.
At the invitational, senior Isaac Readnour provided a glimpse into what should be a rosy season for the Hawks, who were seventh in Class 4 in 2018. Readnour is the only member of Hillsboro’s deep state team to return.
At Lindenwood, Readnour was third in the long jump at 20-10, a half foot behind teammate William Vogler. Readnour tied for third in the triple jump (44-8), was second in the 110 hurdles (15.71) and fourth in the 300 hurdles (44.87).
“We plan on being very competitive in every we meet we compete in,” head coach Todd Medley said. “As it stands right now, the field holds a slight edge over our track events, but it’s a very slight edge.”
Other key returners are senior Robert Doerner, juniors Michael Wright, Cameron Cozart and Noah Pool and sophomores Sam Wright and Zach McNees. Michael Wright is a distance runner and was second in the 1,600 on Saturday in 4:42.82. Owen Tindall, Jordan Cage, McNees, Doerner and Dan McCallister will each compete in the throws. Readnour and Johnny Vogler are in the jumping events.
Readnour, Pool, Vogler and Sam Wright are the team’s top vertical and horizontal jumpers. Vogler was sixth in the high jump at 5-9 on Saturday.
“We will have many compete over the course of the season for spots in the relays come district time,” Medley said. “This year, I have many options to choose from and it’s too early to speculate on which teams have state potential.”
Seniors Kelsey Boyd and Halle Roland return to lead the Hillsboro girls as two of the top throwers in the conference.
Roland qualified for state in the javelin last season and finished ninth. She holds the school record in the event with a throw of 143-10. She’ll also compete in the long and triple jump and was second at Lindenwood in the javelin with a throw of 124-2.75. Boyd will compete in the shot put and the discus and came in fourth in the shot put on Saturday with a throw of 36-2.25.
“We will lead by our throws in the javelin and the shot put,” said head coach Dina Holland, who enters her 22nd year. “I have pretty high expectations for us. We have a lot of hard work to put in, and I believe the girls are capable of doing it.”
Senior Emma Hirstein (400, 800) and sophomore Emma Wright (800, 1,600) are two of the top returners. Maya Wright (100, 300 hurdles), Payton Bingman (200, 400) are joined by distance runners Emily Hoese, Brianna Barton, Marissa Barton and Breanna Langrehr and sprinter Xhanae Jones. Wright, Elaine Readnour and Kayla Vanhorn are in the high jump for the Hawks. Carmen Shultz, Kiah Wuest and Keagan Carey are in the pole vault.
“We have a lot of younger girls who will be filling in some important slots in our field events,” Holland said.
Owl boys second at Potosi
Windsor’s boys and girls teams both posted strong second-place showings at the Trojans Invitational on March 19.
Individual champions for the boys were sophomore Michael Wolcott in the triple jump (39-10.5), junior Seifeldin Elkhashab in the discus (145-5), shot put (44-4) and javelin (154-4) and sophomore Andy McCrory in the 200 (24.15). For the girls, junior Shawna Hromnak won the pole vault (7-6).
Many other Owls came in second or won medals.
Head coach Jeff Stoffey said Elkhashab hit the weight room hard this offseason.
“He has the potential to win any given meet in any or all three of those events,” Stoffey said. “I’m really excited to see what he can do this season because I know he has enormous potential.”
Senior Luke Stallings is one of the team’s top jumpers in the triple, high and long, although he didn’t have his best day at Potosi. His seventh place in the triple jump was his best finish there. Last year was Stallings’ first as a jumper.
“He is a key senior leader for us this year,” Stoffey said.
Senior Alex Ahrens “loves to run” and is a top distance runner, Stoffey said. Junior Austin Henry is in “phenomenal shape” after a strong wrestling season, and Stoffey said Henry is key to the team’s sprint relays, and he will be in the triple jump.
Sophomore Drew Evans competes with Elkhashab in the throws, and Stoffey said the competition is making Evans better. They’re joined by Noah Schaeffer and Ethan West.
“Our throwers should score a ton of points for us this season. Everything’s a competition for them,” Stoffey said. “Drew is the type of kid you have to pull away from the throwing ring because he never wants to stop practicing.”
The 4x100 and 4x200 teams are comprised of Wolcott, Alex Barton, Henry and McCrory. Barton is Windsor’s No. 1 tennis player this spring, but Stoffey said he’s going to participate in a number of track events as well. Logan Chaney, Alex Julian and Stallings can also fill in the sprint relay teams.
Bradley Ahrens, Alex Ahrens, Carter Drew and Seth Winkelmann make up the Owls’ 4x800 relay.
“The Ahrens brothers really lead our distance kids every day,” Stoffey said.
Taylor Richey won four state medals in the sprints for Windsor in 2017 and 2018, but she graduated last spring. But head coach Stephanie Dueker-Richmond still has six other state qualifiers returning to the team.
“I expect my team to work hard every day and continue to improve in strength, speed and attitude,” Dueker-Richmond said. “We have thus far had a great work ethic and a positive attitude to match. We are fairly young, so I think that bodes well for the future.”
Seniors Abby Young and Madi Miller, juniors Olivia Miloscia, Kennedy Detmer, Hromnak and sophomore Sydney Winkelmann are the top sprinters. Sophomore Skylar Henry and senior Hannah Scott are rounding into form in the sprints.
Junior Emma Pouvaranukoah is the top distance runner and was on the cross country team last fall. Freshman Payton Raney is also a distance runner. Hurdlers are Miller, sophomore Sophie Dubis and Olivia Bunton and Maggie Funston. Senior Keri Voegtle will float back and forth from the soccer team.
Junior Mallory Bringaze is Windsor’s lone returning thrower. New to the mix are Saila Martikainen, Reagan Poe, Lauren Stefanus, Jade Allen and Brooke Anderson.
Dueker-Richmond said the Owls’ best relays would be the 4x200 and 4x400 with Young, Miller, Voegtle, Detmer, Miloscia, Winkelmann, Henry, Madison Heaghney and Reilly Baughman vying for a leg in each event.
“Although any sprinter who steps up could potentially have a chance,” Dueker-Richmond said.
Eimer first twice at Potosi
St. Pius X sophomore Rita Eimer won the 400 in 1:04.34 and the 800 in 2:37.14 at Potosi on March 19 to get off to a fast start this season. Eimer was a sectional qualifier in the 400.
Junior Cianna Fanger threw the discus 82-9 to come in third at Potosi. Junior Victoria Ariaga was sixth in the shot put for the Lancers in their first meet of the season with a throw of 26-2.5.
Eimer and Fanger are the leaders of the small squad.
“Our team is small and young, but we hope to be able to compete,” said head coach Therese Ruble, who’s coached the girls and boys at St. Pius for two years.
The Lancers’ 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams will get a boost from the school’s soccer team as sisters Molly, Kacey and Colleen Flanagan will trade the pitch for the track when available. Junior Madison Kurzweil, another soccer player, is also a relay runner.
“They came to me wanting to try out the relays when there are no conflicts with soccer,” Ruble said.
Three seniors will be the leaders for St. Pius on the boys side. Luke Johns and Jarrett Kort are sprinters, and Adam Eimer is a thrower. Johns is in the 200, 4x100 and 4x200 and anchors the 4x200. Juniors Jonathan Lehn and Patrick Argana are part of the 4x100 relay.
Eimer throws the shot put and discus, as do junior Tristan Jacobson and freshman Nate Ruble.
Sophomore Cole Seek is in the 400, 4x200, long jump and triple jump. At Potosi, Seek was fifth in the 400 in 57.21, sixth in the long jump in 17-9.5, second in the triple jump at 39-9 and on the fourth-place 4x200 relay team.
Distance runners to watch are Jacob Althoff (800) and Adam Bishop (1,600). Bishop was eighth in the 1,600 in 5:29.95 at Potosi.
“We have a young team, but had a good showing at Potosi,” the coach said. “I think we will get stronger as the season progresses.”
De Soto girls deep, talented
Whatever suits your track and field fancy, the Dragons have an athlete for it.
De Soto sent seven girls to the Class 4 state meet last spring, but only Kaitlyn McGinnitey returned home with any hardware, a seventh-place finish in the 100 hurdles.
McGinnitey was back in form on Saturday at Festus when she won the 100 hurdles in 15.79 and came in third in the 300 hurdles in 49.68. She’s close to the school record of 14.67 in the 100 hurdles with a personal best of 15.06 in the event.
“We’re hoping she sets the new mark this year,” head coach Terry Frank said.
Senior Shelby White will run the 100 and the 200 this season. Sophomore Erika Mellor was second in the 200 and third in the 400 on Saturday. Other hurdlers are Emma Portell, Kaytlynn Joyce and Jill Heath. Other sprinters include Emma Portell, Haley Johnson, Stephany Latham and Taylor Jones.
The Dragons have two of the top distance runners in the league in juniors Lillie Kaempfe and freshman Kayla Vogelsang, who both won Class 3 state medals in cross country in the fall. Kaempfe came in sixth in the 3,200 on Saturday. Her best time in the 1,600 is 5:45. Riley Petsch and Jewell Kohler also will run the 1,600. Petsch and Hannah Kamp are 3,200 runners.
The 4x400 relay contingent qualified for state last year. McGinnitey and Mellor return, with Taylor Jones, Kohler, Riley Hardin, Joyce, Petsch and Heath looking to bridge the gap. Kaempfe, Jones, Mellor, Kohler and Hardin are all vying to be on the 4x800, which came in first at Festus in 10:29.41.
De Soto has all of the field events filled out with a lot of competition in each event. Portell, Heath and Latham are in the triple jump. Haley Johnson returns to the high jump and Frank said she’s looking strong early on. Other returners include Starla Greenlee in the pole vault, state wrestling champion Jaycee Foeller in the shot put and discus and Erika Thurmond in the discus.
Heath, Brianna McGinnitey, Trista Grobe and Kaitlynn Hannah are throwing the javelin this year.
Frank said he realizes the talent he has at his disposal spikes up the expectations. He said he believes the Dragons can compete for the conference and district titles this spring.
“We lost a couple of very good seniors and another great athlete to an injury so we need some young athletes to step into those roles and burn a new path in other events,” Frank said.
The De Soto boys have left Jefferson City with a state champion in each of the last two seasons. In 2017, Lamont Allen won the high jump and last year Mayson DeRousse cleared 15-3 to win the pole vault.
Senior Wyatt Radford could be the next Dragon to stand atop the podium. Radford was fifth in the 400 in 52.90 at Festus on Saturday, and he’s the linchpin to De Soto’s 4x100 and 4x200 sprint relay teams. Radford is the only returning member of the 4x200 team that finished seventh at state last year. He is also a high jumper and long jumper.
“I’ll be very honest, our relays will be very new this season,” head coach Mike Genge said. “I think we have a chance to compete in the 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800, but our sectional is loaded in all three events.”
The Dragons’ top middle distance runners are sophomores Kaden Voyles and Dylan Shelton. Voyles also does the triple jump. Junior Chris Brooks is their best distance runner. And seniors Kory Herget, Daulton Melton and Ethan Koch are tops in the field for De Soto.
Melton and Koch will toss the discus and shot put. Herget does the high jump and pole vault. Seniors Bishop Poole and Isiah Peirce are throwing the javelin.
At Festus, Melton threw the shot 43-6 and came in fifth. His discus throw of 134-6 was good for second.
“This season is going to be tough. We’re in a new sectional, we lost some speed and several guys came back who weren’t on the team in 2018,” Genge said.
Davis leads Jefferson boys
While the state plaques mount up on the girls side, the Blue Jay boys are ready to start making their own headlines. And that starts with senior Tanner Davis.
Davis qualified for the Class 2 state championships last year in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and the pole vault. And although he didn’t reach the medal stand, Jefferson head coach Alex Rouggly said he sees no reason that won’t happen in May.
“With Tanner’s work ethic, he can attain his goals that he’s set forth,” Rouggly said.
Davis reached his state height of 11-6 in the pole vault at Festus on Saturday. He led the Blue Jays with 192 points scored last season.
Senior Brandon Floyd threw the discus 126-1 and was fourth at Festus. Rouggly said Floyd is ranked second in Class 2 in the event. Floyd also throws the shot, and Rouggly said the strength he’s added from the weight room is evident. Floyd has committed to play football at the University of Tennessee-Martin.
“I believe Brandon is extremely hungry to succeed at the state level, and is working hard in practice to attain that goal,” Rouggly said.
Collin Gosnell and Andrew Graves are two more seniors looking to cap stellar athletic careers at R-7. Graves is the school’s all-time leading rusher in football and will run the 100, 200 and 400, and also play baseball this spring. Gosnell is a mid-distance runner and works in the horizontal and vertical jumps.
“Collin has had a solid start to the season and is becoming a valued leader throughout our program,” Rouggly said.
Seniors Jake Edington (throws) and Daniel McWhorter (javelin), juniors Dylan Duncan (sprints), Brandon Perry (sprints, mid-distance) and Connor Surratt (throws) and sophomores Bradley Glass (distance), Masen Wilson (sprints, jumps) and Will Schnitzler (sprints, jumps) are part of the deepest boys team Rouggly has had in his four years as the head coach.
Freshmen Drew, Lucas and Will Breeze (sprints, jumps), Colton Richardson (sprints, jumps) and Kyle Deevers (mid-distance) are part of the deepest group of ninth graders (14) Rouggly’s had.
The Blue Jays got their 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams to sectionals last year. Duncan, Perry, the Breezes, Glass, Deevers, Gosnell and Karter Dowd are all interchangeable in those events.
“All of those teams have a shot at competing at the state level,” Rouggly said.
Cook leaving Herculaneum
Herculaneum head coach Dave Cook is trading a whistle and clipboard for a pulpit and the Bible.
Cook, his wife Becca, and their adopted son, Joseph, in June are all moving to Canal Winchester, Ohio, just outside of Columbus. Cook will be a pastor and teacher at World Harvest Church, and Becca will do marketing work there. Cook was a pastor for six years at a church in western Ohio before he moved back to Jefferson County in 2003.
“It’s a little bit of a different role for me,” said Cook, who has coached the Blackcat track and field teams for seven years. “But I’d argue what I’m about to do is very similar to what I’ve been doing the last eight years, dealing with families and kids of all different backgrounds and walks of life.”
Two of the Cook’s children live in Ohio, so there will be plenty of family around.
“We do know a lot of people and the area,” Cook said. “It’s finding a house and getting in the right school district. And our school district has been great, making sure we have the documentation we have for Joseph and his diagnosis.”
The Cooks adopted Joseph, who is autistic, in 2018.
“Joseph is doing very well,” Cook said. “I don’t know. Sometimes it’s hard when you don’t know what they’re thinking. He just never thinks of life any differently than he has. He’s used to a routine, which is typical with autism.”
On his last track go-round, Cook is overseeing quite a bit of talent on both the boys and girls teams.
The boys left Jefferson City with seven medals in Class 3 last season.
It seems odd that Jonathon Coffman is just a junior after all of the things he’s accomplished in cross country and track. Coffman was fifth in the 1,600, fourth in the 3,200 and was on the 4x800 relay that finished third at state. He followed that up last fall by finishing sixth in the Class 3 state cross country meet. Coffman was third in the 3,200 at Festus on Saturday.
“Jonathon Coffman is a very competitive young man, but at the same token, probably one of the most polite young men I’ve ever met,” Cook said. “He does not accept failure in any area of his life. When I see him, I see somebody who will give everything he has every day. He does that in the classroom and in relationships with other people. He’s very involved in school, very well-respected and is a tremendous competitor on the track.”
Senior Jacob Arnold ran leadoff when the Blackcats won the 4x1,600 on Friday at Festus. Arnold was part of last season’s 4x800 state medal winner.
“Jacob has worked hard to improve every year,” Cook said. “As a senior, we expect him to continue to contribute.”
Sophomores Nick Miles and Josh Moreland are promising young throwers. At the Festus meet, Miles was third in the shot put (44-2.25) and third in the discus (127-9). Moreland was fourth at districts in the discus last year.
Cook said junior Austin Huson is coming into his own as a sprinter. Huson also competes in the high jump and long jump.
After winning four league cross country titles, senior Nautica Stricklin qualified for state last year in the 1,600 and 3,200 and finished eighth in the 3,200 in 12:03.94. Stricklin, all-state four times in cross country, is just one of two seniors on the girls team. She was third on Saturday in the 1,600 in 5:37.75.
“Nautica has consistently performed well for us and we anticipate nothing less from her this year,” Cook said.
Laura Maddox is emerging as a top distance runner after she came in third in the 3,200 in 12:11.50 on Saturday.
Juniors Chloe Richardson and Caitlyn Huber and sophomores D’Anna Harvey and Arielle Prince are other key returners. Richardson is in the 800 and with Stricklin was part of the 4x800 relay that was seventh at state. Harvey throws the discus and javelin. Huber’s primary race is the 300 hurdles. Prince runs the 400, is on the 4x400 and qualified for state in the pole vault last year as a freshman.
Cook said he’s leaving the program in good hands.
“Track teams are built in the middle school,” he said, “and our track coaches at the middle school do a fantastic job of recruiting and keeping records on kids. Every year I get a list of kids and their PRs and know what I’ve got to work with.”
Eagles led by trio of seniors
Grandview seniors Noah Richardson, Quinton Geist and Travis Love all reached Jefferson City and the Class 3 state championships last May. The Eagles are in Class 2 this year.
None of them stood on the medal stand, but that could change in 2019 as the three Eagles are on track for more success. Richardson, a three-time state qualifier, holds school records in the long jump (20-7.5) and triple jump (43-6). His leap of 41-8 was good for 10th place at state last year.
“With our team speed continuing to improve, I am excited to see what we can put together in the relay events,” Grandview head coach Mike Loyd said.
Geist threw the javelin at state and was 13th after a toss of 132-4. Love posted no height in the pole vault at state.
Zach Perren, Ayden Bergner and Asa Faust are new to the Eagles this season.
Loyd said the girls team will be strong in the throws and relays this season.
“We may not show the top sprinter in the area, but our overall team speed is represented very well in all of the relays,” Loyd said.
Juniors Kyrsten Elder and Rebecca Wakeland were two-fourths of last year’s 4x800 relay team that finished fifth in the state in 10:02.24. Elder also ran at state in the 3,200 and was 15th in 13:43.48. Wakeland ran on the Eagles’ 4x400 team that was 12th in the state in 4:16.90.
Junior Jordan Zoph threw the javelin in Jefferson City last year and along with Wakeland, Izzy Kuczka and Molly Gearhart, give Grandview a strong crop of throwers.
Grandview will compete in Class 2 District 2 at Principia this spring.
Hornets led by Shirley
Crystal City senior Emma Shirley has qualified for the Class 1 state meet in her first three seasons and brought home two medals.
As a freshman in 2016, Shirley finished third in the 200. In 2017, she was a state qualifier in the 400 and came in fifth in the 200. And last season, Shirley reached state in the 400 and ran to fifth in the 100. Shirley should be one of the top sprinters in the JCAA this season.
Senior Michaiah Fels was a state qualifier in the 100 and 300 hurdles in 2018. Fels faces stiff competition within her own conference against Jefferson’s Anna Heacock and De Soto’s Kaitlyn McGinnitey.
Sam Foster, a 2018 graduate, pole vaulted 11-3 and finished fourth at state last year. Juniors Ian Holdinghausen (distance) and Sam Smith (pole vault) are the top Hornets this season.