The Festus girls track and field team won all of their meets this season – but saved their best for last.
Winning medals in 11 of the 19 events, including one individual title (javelin), Festus scored 61 points to claim the Class 4 state championship at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City on May 31. It’s the second state title for the Tigers, who were Class 3A champions in 1985 under head coach Janis Williams. Wes Armbruster guides the Tiger girls today and bookended his 2024-25 school year with state crowns; he led Festus to the girls Class 4 cross country title last November in Columbia.
The Tigers held off a late charge by Mary Institute Country Day School of St. Louis County, which won the two-day meet’s final event, the 4x400-meter relay (3:48.64) to finish with 56 points. Festus finished third in 3:59.64 for six points to stay on top.
The lone event champion for Festus was senior Rylie Moore, who uncorked a 44.12-meter throw to win the javelin. She also finished sixth in the discus at 37.97, for another three points.
Moore, who missed all sports for her junior year with a serious knee injury, is headed to Joplin to keep throwing at Missouri Southern State University.
“I’m very excited for our team and coaches,” said Moore, who also had to sit out the softball season last fall. “It’s been a crazy year and season. Everybody came together and I’m so excited.”
Remarkably, Moore was in ninth place and out of the running for a javelin medal (top eight) before her final attempt.
“I was stressing out a little bit, so I decided to relax for a second,” she said. “After I saw it go over the 40-meter line, I (figured) that’s got to be top-three and it ended up being first.”
Moore still wears a brace on her knee to protect and stabilize it.
“It took a while to get used to, but it’s like it’s not there now.”
Her discus finish was a mild disappointment, but she kept her focus on the team’s success.
“Yeah, I’m a little upset with myself,” she said. “But I’m still all-state and getting points for my team was all I could ask for. I’m proud of myself for everything I had to go through.”
Tiger junior Jessica Hawkins generated points in all four of her events – fifth in the 4x200 relay (1:42.57) and the 4x400, as well as both hurdles competitions (fifth in the 100-meter in 15.17 and third in the 300 in 44.17).
In both hurdles races, Hawkins competed against her friend and local rival Emily Wright, a senior at Hillsboro. Wright was fourth in the 100 in 15.14 and fifth in the 300 in 46.10.
“(In the 300) we (were) hitting each other with our arms, going over a hurdle, but it was a good race,” Wright said.
The Hawks as a team ended up 23rd with 10 points. Wright plans to continue her career at Murray State University in Kentucky. Her older siblings, Maya and Sam, were all-state hurdlers and her younger sister, Lyla, will be a sophomore in the fall. Sam won state in the 200 in 2021.
Wright said she has mixed emotions about competing for the last time in high school.
“I’m thrilled I got a place today I’m really excited about, and I got to run with Jessie for the last time. She’s been the best competitor for me.”
Aryn Lanier-Collier of Winnetonka won both hurdles races at state and will be a teammate of Wright’s at Murray State.
“I’m very excited about that,” Wright said. “I can’t wait for the next chapter in my life.”
Hawkins also was brimming with satisfaction about her all-around results.
“I’m happy I made it in (the finals) in all four events,” she said. “I’m happy with this (300) race. It definitely wasn’t my best race this year, but it was a good one to end on.
“Winning state has been our main goal from the start.”
Sophomore Jahmeshia Patterson, a double state medalist last year, started her 2025 season late, recovering from an injury. She didn’t compete in the 100 or 200 until the district meet May 17. At Jeff City she placed fifth in the 100 in 12.34 and fourth in the 200 in 24.77.
“It took a lot of work,” Patterson said. “I had the confidence I could get top-five and I’m grateful for it. I’m so grateful for all the girls who supported me to help the team get what they need.”
Patterson said her goal next year is to win four events, a 40-point haul.
“I want to thank all of my coaches who helped me get to this point. It was a physical and mental battle, but I’m so grateful for my teammates.”
De Soto senior Neo Bourn finished her career with two state medals, including taking eighth in the 100 (12.75) this year. Bourn will continue her career at Lindenwood University.
“I’m proud,” Bourn said. “I wasn’t supposed to make it this far (in the 100),” Bourn said. “I was supposed to be in last place past prelims. I’m going to try to take everything I learned here to Lindenwood. I’m excited about meeting new people and having new experiences.”
Bourn got an early boost in her Dragon career from older teammates pushing her to be her best.
“If I hadn’t had them, I wouldn’t be here right now,” she said.
Festus senior Alexandra Yates placed second in the pole vault at 3.38 meters, not far below champion Avery Foster, a junior from Fort Zumwalt East (3.66). Yates cleared 3.31 and 3.38 on her third and last attempts. Hillsboro’s Maleah Lambert, a junior, topped 3.17, good for an eighth-place medal.
Festus sophomore Lucy Boyer, third in the state cross country meet last fall, came in sixth in the 3,200 in 11:26.33 and ran a leg on the 4x800 squad that was seventh in 9:46.37.
The Tigers now have eight girls state track and field trophies in their display case, including second in 2007, 2008 and 2011 and third in 1984, 1991 and 2009.