Crystal City High knows what success in track and field looks like.
While the Hornet girls have a glorious history studded by eight state championships, including a remarkable six in a row from 1984 to 1989, the boys have earned their share of the limelight as well with three state titles and 11 top-four trophies going all the way back to 1939.
But they haven’t won it all since 1959. With seniors Kanden Bolton and Camden Mayes leading the way, they’re aiming for championship No. 4 after finishing third last year in Class 1.
The task didn’t get any easier last month when the Missouri State High School Activities Association bumped Crystal, with an enrollment of 120, from Class 1 to Class 2. They will compete next month in the District 2 meet at Lutheran North against 13 other schools, including two rivals from the Jefferson County Activities Association (Grandview and Jefferson) and St. Pius X, expelled from the JCAA March 6.
As in cross country and several other sports, the JCAA doesn’t divide into small-school and large-school divisions for track and field. The league’s teams range from Crystal, Grandview, Jefferson, outgoing St. Pius and St. Vincent (Perryville) in Class 2 to Herculaneum in Class 3 and the larger schools in Class 4: De Soto, Festus, Hillsboro, Perryville and Windsor.
“The goal for us is to get as many kids to qualify for state as possible,” said Crystal City head coach Dan Fox. “From there, if we can push for winning districts or finishing in the top four in state, we will consider that a successful season.”
Side by side in the football huddle and on the track for four years, Bolton and Mayes are friendly rivals. Last May, when Mayes leaped 6.68 meters to take the lead in the long jump at the state meet, Bolton bolted right past him, sailing 6.70 for the title.
“You can tell he pushes me,” Bolton said after he won the high jump in 1.83 meters (six feet) at the Jefferson Invitational March 26. “At state last year, on his last jump, he was beating me, and he got up out of the sand and celebrated. So I thought, ‘I’ve got to get him on my last jump.’”
With the season underway, Bolton and Mayes also began training in the triple jump, as a natural progression in considering their potential at the collegiate level. Neither has signed a letter of intent yet, but Bolton has verbally committed to Maryville University.
Mayes broke the school record for the 110-meter high hurdles in 15.69 seconds at the North Point Invitational in Wentzville March 22. He was fourth in the state in that event last season. Bolton won the triple jump at Jefferson in 13.55 and the long jump in 6.34, on a cold, windy day. Mayes was second in the long jump in 5.70 and won the hurdles in 17.22.
“I didn’t run my best time; it was cold,” Mayes said. “We’ll be perfectly fine (in Class 2) like we were in Class 1. I have a lot of (college) decision-making to do.”
Bolton said he always wanted to do all three jumps, including the high jump. At the Frozen Invitational at Cape Girardeau Notre Dame March 16, Bolton set a personal record in the high jump in 1.93 (6-4).
“I’ve had a lot of success in the jumps; it’s been going pretty good,” Bolton said about learning the triple jump. “I’ve got a pretty good distance right now, but my form, you can tell I’ve been doing it (only) two weeks. For my approach, I use the same distance (as in the long jump), but in the triple jump, I start with my left (leg), so I flip my feet.”
Festus and Hillsboro went to the state meet in Jefferson City last year each seeking their first championship in the sport on the boys side. The Hawks had beaten the Tigers at the conference, district and sectional meets, but Festus won three events and outscored Hillsboro 76-63 for the Class 4 crown.
In their first meeting this year, the Hawks won the McCullough-Douglass Invitational at Festus.
Both schools again field deep and talented teams that can score across the 19 events, especially the distance runs (800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters and 4x800 relay).
“It’s hard to replace (state champions) Ian Schram and Arhmad Branch, but we have a group of young kids who want to be a part of everything and will be successful,” Festus head coach Chris Partney said. “We’ve got (sophomore distance standout) Carson Driemeier, who was multi-all-state and is tearing it up. We’re going to take a step back in our relay times. Our goal is like it always is, to bring home a state plaque.”
Here is a breakdown of the county’s JCAA boys and girls track and field teams.
Crystal City
Coach: Dan Fox
Class 2 District 2
State championships: Boys 1948, 1957, 1959; Girls 1984-1989, 1993, 2006
Leading boys: sophomores Cohen Compton (sprints), Landyn DeRousse (sprints); seniors Kanden Bolton (high jump, long jump, triple jump, sprints), Camden Mayes (long jump, triple jump, 110 hurdles, sprints), Caden Raftery (javelin, shot put, sprints), Seth Senter (discus, javelin).
Leading girls: juniors Sara Echeverria (sprints), Claire Marlow (high jump, discus), Sydney Partney (sprints), Carly Roussin (long jump, hurdles, sprints); seniors Lexi Thurman (sprints), Katie Tipton (pole vault, high jump).
Hornet notes: Roussin long-jumped a PR 4.81 at the Frozen Invitational and was a state qualifier in the long jump a year ago. Thurman qualified for state in the 100. Tipton was a sectional qualifier in the pole vault. Senter was a sectional qualifier in discus and Raftery is a returning state qualifier in the 4x200 relay and sectional qualifier in the javelin; both were starters in football along with Bolton and Mayes. Compton and DeRousse were half of the 4x100 relay that ran at state.
De Soto
Coaches: Robert Hyde (boys), Ilene Garcia-Mehler (girls)
Class 4 District 1
State championships: Boys 1954, 1956
Boys: freshmen Cruz Anders (800, 1,600, 3,200), Josh Golightly (hurdles, sprints); sophomore Carson Koerber (800, 1,600, 3,200); junior Clayton Huck (800, 1,600, 3,200); seniors Cory Dierks (discus), Austin Missey (sprints, triple jump), Nolan Sisson (sprints), Everett Akers (sprints), Landon Hill (hurdles, sprints).
Girls: freshmen Kya Aubuchon (200, 400, 4x400 relay), Elizabeth Bourisaw (pole vault), Ava Clark (100, 4x100 relay, 4x200 relay, pole vault), Jayda Kirkpatrick (shot put, discus, javelin), Malorey McAllister (shot put, discus, javelin), Adrianna Ott (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x100 relay, 4x200 relay), Cassie Pirtle (200, 4x200 relay, triple jump), Abigail Reese (shot put, discus, javelin), Heidi Rolfingsmeyer (100, 4x100 relay, 200, pole vault), Kennedy Shores (200, 400, 4x200 relay, 4x400 relay), Spencer Carrie Smetzer (shot put, discus, javelin), Cira Smith (discus, shot put, javelin), Payton Stearns (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x400 relay), Katie Strawhun (400, 800, 4x400 relay), Emma Wittu (discus, shot put, javelin), Isabella Wheetley (discus, shot put), Abby Voyles (100, 200, 4x200 relay, 4x100 relay); sophomores Kalli Cooper (100 hurdles, pole vault), Sarah Davis (200, 4x200 relay, long jump), Makenzi Missey (4x200 relay), 4x100 relay, long jump, triple jump), Natalie Rogers (100, 200), Alexis Tomlinson (100, 200), Dessie Weidner (800, 1,600); juniors Neoles Bourn (100, 200, 4x100 relay, 4x200 relay), Kyla Cook (discus, javelin), Autymn Crady (400, 4x200 relay, 4x400 relay), Mackenzi Johnson (100 hurdles), Alex Roberts (discus, javelin), Charleigh Smith (long jump, triple jump, high jump); seniors Jazmine Ellsworth (800, pole vault), Noelle Innes (pole vault), Ashlynn Jones (shot put, discus), Jailey Pigg (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x400 relay).
Dragon notes: Bourn was fourth in the 100 in 12.66 at McCullough-Douglass, very close to her PR and school record. She qualified for state in the 4x200 relay and the 100, where she medaled in sixth in 12.27. Pigg recently ran a PR in the 1,600 in 5:31.62, already four seconds faster than her best clocking last year. She finished 19th in Class 4 at state cross country last fall. Shores strives for a PR in the 400. Stearns is learning and getting more experience on her hurdle form. Koerber was 14th at state cross country and ran a PR of 9:48 in the 3,200 at the McCullough-Douglass meet. Austin Missey has looked strong so far this season in four events. Sisson and Everett Akers also will be a big part of success in the sprints group. Hill and Golightly started off well in the 300 hurdles and sprints.
“We are very excited about our talented freshmen and sophomore groups and we will rely heavily on the juniors and seniors (for) leadership to help continue to grow and advance our program,” Hyde said. “Our goal is to complete the task at hand each day and focus on continued improvement throughout the season. Our young group is off to a great start and we expect that they will continue to make great strides all season long.”
“Our goal this season is to stay healthy and keep showing up to compete,” Garcia-Mehler said. “We want to continue to strive toward personal records, but (also) to be a more well-rounded team. We finished the 2023 season with the fastest 4x200 and 4x100 relays in Jefferson County and we hope to continue the tradition of (being) one of the top competitors in those races. There’s a lot of depth this season with this young group and I see nothing but good things to come.”
Festus
Coaches: Chris Partney (boys), Wes Armbruster (girls)
Class 4 District 1
State championships: Boys 2023; Girls 1985
Boys: sophomore Carson Driemeier (800, 1,600, 3,200); juniors Hunter Bates (100, 200, 400), Tre Lacey (long jump, triple jump, 300 hurdles), Avery Edwards (100, 200), Tate Uding (800, 1,600, 3,200); seniors Amitas Edwards (high jump, triple jump), Cody Evans (javelin), Austin Schutte (discus, shot put), James Wacker (800).
Girls: freshmen Jahmeshia Patterson, Kinzie Kerr, Lucy Boyer, Kendall Counts; sophomores Jessica Hawkins, Constance Hawkins, Elisa Muellersman, Katelyn Thurman, Olivia Cole, Leinna Smith, Addison Walden, Alex Yates, Jayleigh Fitzgerald; juniors MaKayla DeClue, Olivia Gillam, Rylie Moore; seniors Ciara McDonald, Jeannie Thornborrow, Delaney Willis.
Tiger notes: Festus has won the last two JCAA girls crowns. Patterson is already emerging as one of the top sprinters in the conference and is on the verge of breaking school records in the 100, 200 and long jump. Hawkins qualified for state in the 100 hurdles (sixth), 300 hurdles, long jump and 4x400. At McCullough-Douglass, she was on the winning 4x400 relay. McDonald was fifth in the state in the javelin last year; she won at home last month with a throw of 39.36. DeClue, the team leader in the sprints, was a state qualifier in the 4x400 and also ran a leg on the school-record-breaking 4x200 with her twin, Constance, and Gillam. Muellersman has committed to the weight room year-round and her hard work is paying off in both the throws and sprints. Thornborrow was 21st on the Tigers’ Class 4 third-place team at state cross country; she’s the captain and mentor to a talented group of young runners and opened the season with PRs in the 1,600 (5:35) at the Herculaneum Dual and 3,200 (11:58) at McCullough-Douglass. Boyer and Counts also were on the cross country team and Counts won the JCAA cross country title. Boyer already has PRs in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 this year. Moore won JCAA titles in the shot put, javelin and discus and was a state qualifier in all three events, but an injury may prevent her from competing this spring. Driemeier was the top finisher (third) for the cross country state champions and has set a PR this spring in the 3,200 in 9:11.71. More PRs from the boys so far this season are from Uding (3,200, 9:40.80), Amyas Edwards (high jump, 6-4), Lacey (long jump, 21-10) and Bates (100, 11.36). The Festus boys and girls will compete at the Mineral Area Relays at Herculaneum on Saturday.
“I preach to get better as a team and individuals every day, and peak at districts, and hold that for a week or two,” Partney said. “We’re going to train through (the conference meet) and probably not load up to win it. I think we have a team that can get a top-four (finish) at state if we stay healthy.”
“Our goal every year is the same: push to become the best version of ourselves, both individually and as a team,” Armbruster said. “Watching what our boys accomplished last year has helped fuel the girls program. This group is driven and understands the rich tradition of Festus track and field. If we can remain focused on the process, we will have an opportunity to be a factor in the postseason.”
Grandview
Coach: Josh Holland
Class 2 District 2
State championships: None
Boys: freshmen Jon Schmitt (shot put, javelin), Aaron Smith (100, discus), Ethan Stepan (800, 1,600); sophomores David Bodnar (javelin, 100, 200, 4x800), Cameron Brooks (high jump, long jump, triple jump, 100, 200), Blake Brown (pole vault, 4x200, long jump, 100, 200), Gavin Howerton (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800), Wyatt Keim (100, 200, 400, 4x200), Brendan Martin (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, pole vault), Damian Maxwell (100, 200, 400, 4x200), Hayden Pruitte (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800), Tucker Rhinehart (shot put, javelin), Ethan Smith (shot put), discus), Isaac Walker (100, 200, 4x200, javelin); junior Skyler Melton (100, 200, 400); seniors Jack Ottolini, shot put, discus, javelin), Zander Tallent (shot put, discus).
Girls: freshmen Ella Cook (100, 200, 400, 4x100, javelin), Kayleigh Kirchner (100, 200, 400, 4x100), Madelyn Martin (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x200, high jump), Madisyn Nahlik (4x100, discus, shot put); sophomores Morgan McClelland (800, 1,600), Kaylee McClelland (javelin), Maialen Musatadi (800, 1,600, 3,200); juniors Brooke Lunsford (long jump, triple jump, 4x200), Lilyann Ricky (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 800, 1,600), Sydney Riddle (discus), Katie Terrell (800, 1,600, 3,200), Catherine Wakeland (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x200, high jump), Elyse Wienke (long jump, triple jump, 4x200); senior Lexi Walker (shot put, javelin).
Eagle notes: Lunsford, a 2023 state qualifier in the triple jump, is close to topping the school record. Wakeland has been the workhorse of the Eagles since her freshman year, and has been to state every year in multiple events, including the 4x200 and 4x400 last spring. Weinke was an alternate on the 4x200 & 4x400 relays at state; this year she is the third leg of the 4x200. Martin holds the middle-school record in the 100 hurdles and runs the second leg of the 4x200. Terrell is a two-time state qualifier in the 3,200. Keim won medals in the 400 as a freshman and is a strong leader and role model for his teammates. “I am glad to coach such an amazing underclassman,” Holland said.
“My first goal is to take my athletes to state,” he added. “We do everything with that goal in mind. What is the best training, best event, best focus to get each athlete to state? Another goal this season is to learn and grow as a team. We have a younger team, but we hold our own in meets. (We) are competitive and I ask a lot of my athletes. The majority are maxed on events almost every meet. They pull through and do what is asked of them. We have a lot of potential and skill. My coaching staff does an amazing job making sure our athletes reach (their) potential.”
Herculaneum
Coach: Kyle Davis
Class 3 District 1
State championships: Boys 1979, Girls 1983
Boys: Junior Nate Wright (800, 1,600, 3,200); seniors Ayden Hodges (100), Jacob Moreland (shot put, discus), Shea Eberhardt (shot put, discus), Sam Vaughn (1,600, 3,200)
Girls: sophomore Macey Pope (shot put); junior Jillian Jarvis (discus, shot put); senior Eddyson Reeves (pole vault, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles).
Blackcat notes: While Festus and Hillsboro jockeyed for the Class 4 crown, the Blackcat boys chased a Class 3 trophy to a third-place finish. Wright, one of the top distance runners in the county, set a PR and broke a 32-year-old school record in the 800 in 1:55.2 at his home quad last month. He was part of the Blackcats’ Class 3 state cross country championship team his freshman year; they’ve finished second and fourth since. Other Herculaneum PRs this spring have come from Hodges, running 11.14 in the 100; Moreland’s shot put throw of 15.15, Eberhardt’s shot toss of 13.14 and Jarvis heaving the discus 30.6. In 2023 Moreland was seventh in the state in the shot and qualified in the discus. Vaughn was second in the 3,200 and fifth in the 1,600 at state. Hodges is the lone returning member of the school’s record-breaking 4x100 and 4x200 relays. Reeves was seventh in the state in the pole vault and has cleared 10 feet this spring.
“Both boys and girls were district champions the last two years; that’s always a goal,” Davis said. “Also, (the) boys were third in state last year and have the firepower to go for a podium spot again this year.”
Hillsboro
Coaches: Todd Medley (boys), Dina Holland (girls)
Class 4 District 1
State championships: None
Boys: sophomore Clayton Brown (300 hurdles, 4x400); juniors Tyler Blake (pole vault), Aiden Oelzen (pole vault), Preston Brown (utility), Aidan Petit (throws), Micah Bacher (throws), Jacob Ruble (sprints, jumps), Landon Pogue (distance), Carter Stephenson (sprints, jumps), Sam Pierce (distance), Sam Stuart (distance), Kayden Heffron (distance), Kyle Moore (distance), Stephen Atwell (distance), Wyatt Hendrix (throws); seniors Greg Mann (distance), Chase Sucharski (sprints, jumps), Nick Marchetti (sprints, hurdles), Cohen Linderer (sprints), Dalton Ross (hurdles), Aidan Belcher (distance), Keegan Walther (distance), Clayton Schneider (distance).
Girls: freshmen Lily Boshie (sprints, throws), Bre Guinan (distance), Missy Hines (throws), Kendall Holland (sprints, throws), Lola Hubbard (sprints), Aubrey Peters (sprints), Allison Priscou (sprints, hurdles), Jersey Robinson (sprints, jumps, throws), Kesley Stum (sprints), Jaden Melber (vault, hurdles), Laney O’Neal (hurdles, sprints), Ophelia Oelzen (throws), Sadie Woods (distance), Tessa Woods (sprints), Savannah Goodues (sprints), Becca Roettger (distance), Kirsten Moore (sprints), Alivia Schleicher (sprints); sophomores Maizy Sabourin (jumper, sprinter), Madison Vanlue (sprints), Bailey Hensley (vault), Maleah Lambrich (vault, sprints), Kimberlee Little (sprints); juniors Erin Brandenburg (sprints, hurdles), Cyan Butler (sprints, throws), Sophie Errante (throws), Shaye Holland (sprints), Shelby Kohler (vault), Jillian Mayer (distance), Ava Mora (sprints), Jillian Woods (sprints), Emily Wright (sprints, hurdles, throws); seniors Destiny Thomas (jumps), Kali Walker (distance), Alleigh Culley (throws), Krysta Miller (sprints, jumps), Lauren Nichols (sprints, javelin), Destiny Thomas (jumps), Kali Walker (distance).
Hawk notes: Wright was fifth in the 100 hurdles and eighth in the 300 hurdles at state. She holds the school record in the 100 hurdles and won both events at McCullough-Douglass. Brandenburg will be a hurdler to watch this spring. Miller was fifth in the long jump at state in a school-record 5.52. While the Festus boys try to rebuild, the Hillsboro boys have eight athletes returning who qualified or medaled at state and are primed for a title run. The Hawks already have set numerous PRs at North County and Festus. Notably absent is multi-sport standout Payton Brown, who graduated early and is enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University.
“We have the individuals set goals every single year,” Medley said. “But we speak more in terms of standards, and one of those is to be highly competitive at every single meet we attend. We enter this season as conference and district champions for the last three years.”
“Our goal this season is to continue to improve our marks all the way through the postseason,” Holland said. “We have a good freshman class and we’re hoping to come through in some vital areas. We have kids working very hard to improve daily.”
Jefferson
Coach: Charity Heacock
Class 2 District 2
State championships: None
Boys: sophomores Braeden Caldwell (4x800, 800, 4x400), Carter McCabe (discus), Matthew Waltman (100, 200, 400, 4x400), Levi Heacock (1,600, 4x800); junior Karson Haefner (4x100, 4x200, 4x400); seniors Alex Breeze (800, 4x400, 4x800), Brandon Burford (4x100, 4x200, 200, 400).
Girls: juniors Maggie Wrigley (100, 200, 400, long jump), Megan Wood (4x100, 4x200, discus, shot put), Lia Ott (triple jump, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400), Mady Barbagallo (discus, javelin).
Blue Jay notes: This is Heacock’s first season as head coach. Levi is her son, and her twin daughters, Anna and Jordan, were multiple state medalists who helped lead the Blue Jays to three straight second-place finishes at state in Class 2 (2017-2019). The team didn’t have an athlete capable of scoring in four events since then until Wrigley finished fifth in the 100 and third in the 200 at state last year. She set PRs at McCullough-Douglass in the long jump (5.59, breaking Anna’s school record) and the 400 (1:03.22). McCabe set a PR in the discus at the Hillsboro Co-Ed Hawk Relays March 18 with a throw of 46.93. That broke the school record held by Konner Armstrong. Barbagallo PR’d in the javelin at Hillsboro in 31.07.
“Alex Breeze and Braeden Caldwell are off to a great start of the season in the 800,” Heacock said. “I am hoping to transition Karson Haefner into the 4x800 along with Bryant Horn. I think that will make a competitive 4x800 team.
“My goals for the team this season are to earn the district championship title for both the boys and girls. I have a lot of talented and hard-working athletes.”
St. Pius X
Coach: Therese Ruble
Class 2 District 2
State championships: None
Boys: freshmen Brody Ervin (javelin, long jump, 4x200), K’vion Flores (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump, 4x200), Matt Thomas (110 hurdles, 4x100); sophomores Eli Bishop (4x800, 800), Nehemiah Culton (high jump), Daniel DeGeare (shot put, 100, 200, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400), Gus Herrell (800, 1,600, 4x800), Jayden Metzler (800, 1,600, 3,200), Ethan McVey (800, 1,600); juniors Sam Eimer (100, 200, 400, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400), Justin Lehn (shot put, javelin, discus, 4x100), Joe Ortmann (discus, shot put); seniors Andrew Hentz (400, 800), Keegan Wade (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles).
Girls: freshmen Carlei Clubb (200, 400), Renee Hannaken-Callahan (high jump, 4x200), Sofie Wilson (800, 1,600), Hollan Voyles (200, 400, 4x100); sophomores Harper Gass (100, 200, 400, 4x100, 4x200), Taylor Robinson (800, 1,600), Elena Ruble (javelin, long jump, 4x100, 4x200); juniors Anna Biermann (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Bridget Flanagan (high jump, 110 hurdles, 4x100), P.J. Krodinger (100, 200, 400, 4x100, 4x200), Maliyah Underwood (shot put, discus); senior Carolyn Argana, (shot put, discus).
Lancer notes: Hentz, who has signed to compete at Westminster College in Fulton, ran a PR in the 400 in 54.5 at Festus, and Coach Ruble said he has his eye on the school record of 53.03, set by Cole Seek in 2021. Metzler’s new PR in the 1,600 is 4:50.40, set at the Potosi Invitational last month. Hannaken-Callahan won the high jump at the Blue Jay Invitational in 1.48, a new PR. Krodinger was third in the state in the 400 last year and ran anchor for the 4x100, which set a school record of 51.41 in last year’s state prelims. Elena Ruble, the coach’s daughter, holds the school record in the javelin in 32.84.
“(My) long-term goal is to get as many athletes to state as possible,” the coach said. “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: juniors Will Kalisch (pole vault, sprinter), Layton Hollis (long jump, high jump, sprint relays), Brice Henry (sprints, 4x100, 4x200); seniors Noah Harman (100, 200, 400), A.J. Patrick (high jump, long jump, 4x100, 4x200), Brenton Shirk (hurdles, sprint relays, long jump, triple jump), Keegan Ashes (discus), Chris Garrett (throws).
Girls: freshmen Kiley Johnson (hurdles), Shealee Mancuso (sprints), Chloe Lammert (distance),Ty Schenck (sprints), Jayden Estes (throws); sophomores Kenzie Kerley (jumps, throws, sprints), Natalie Krause (jumps, sprints); juniors Keira Dixon (sprints), Hannah Jarnegan (hurdles, sprints), Abby Lanfersieck (hurdles), Mia Nilsen (sprints), Kenzie McCoy (high jump), Sammy Wilson (throws), Audrey Menkhus (throws), Lily Pauley (distance, pole vault), Kiani McMahan (pole vault), Cali Hammers (throws), Ashley Perkins (sprints, jumps); seniors Kylie Alaniz (sprints), Katie Boyster (1,600, 800), Maggie Bunton (high jump, sprints), Mariah Guseman (jumps, sprints), Katie Moore (sprints), Delaney Rapp (vault).
Owl notes: Alaniz, a four-year varsity athlete, has been a mainstay in the sprint relays. Boyster also is a four-year veteran and Dueker-Richmond says she “has a heart of gold” as the captain of the distance squad. Bunton is a versatile performer making big strides in the high jump. Guseman is an improving jumper and hard-working sprinter. Dixon and Jarnegan were sectional teammates on the 4x200. Harman was a 2023 state qualifier in the 200 and won the 100 at the Potosi Invitational last month in 11.06. “He might be the fastest sprinter in the county this year,” Stoffey said. Patrick is the school record holder in the high jump (6-2). Henry finished second in the state at 175 pounds during wrestling season. Kalisch finished second in the 100 at Potosi in 11.52 and was second in the pole vault in 3.15. “If he can vault like he’s capable, he should be heading to Jefferson City in May,” Stoffey said. Both Windsor 4x200 relay teams won at Potosi.
“We have had a very competitive team over the past few seasons and I expect much of the same,” Stoffey said. “We had a good turnout this season with over 60 boys coming out for track. I credit much of that success to assistant coach Jeff Funston, who is a phenomenal coach.
“We won one of the Potosi meets last season and finished in second place in a couple of other meets. Our conference is incredibly tough, but we hope to finish near the top. Our field events should be very strong this season. We also expect our sprint relays to do well.
“If we stay healthy, we should have a successful season. We always hope to compete well at conference and hopefully get through several athletes to the state meet in May. We have a strong senior class, so hopefully they will help lead the way.”
“Kenzie Kerley could be a great multi-event (athlete),” Dueker-Richmond said. “She is picking up all the throws easily, is a really good jumper with spring and brings better speed on the track right now than ever before. Shealee and Ty are a fabulous sprinting duo who should push our sprint relays up a couple of notches.” Both are extremely fast and have a great work ethic.”