Road to State: Class 2 State Championships Preview

Class 2 Girls

Projected Team Scores: 1. Jefferson R-VII (55) 2. Caruthersville (50.5) 3. Knob Knoster (47) 4. Mid-Buchanan (41)


Last Year's Trophy Winners: 1. New Covenant Academy (57) 2. Jefferson R-VII (56) 3. Lafayette County (48) 4. Plattsburg (46)


Full Virtual Meet: Class 2 Girls


Last Year's Results: Class 2 Girls


Last Year's Coverage: Class 1 & 2 State Coverage 


Races to Watch:

4x400m Relay

You come to expect close races at State, especially in Track's most exciting event. This year the Class 2 Girls 4x400 looks like it will live up to that expectation. There are 5 teams within a second of each other for the State Championship. Marceline (4:14.28), Cole Camp (4:14.32), Mid-Buchanan (4:14.52), Knob Noster (4:15.81), and Clark County (4:15.87) all have the ability to be crowned State Champions. 

High Jump

High Jump is looking to be very close battle for the State Championship. Lainy Williams (Cole Camp) seems to have a leg up as the only girl to have cleared 5-5, but Jaylea Bixenman (Marceline) and Jenna Shipley (Adrian) both sit at 5-4 and will likely be in it at the end as well. The State Title could honestly come down to misses.

Long Jump

In Long Jump we have three girls with season bests within 3 inches of each other. Madison Hicks (Crane) has the best jump with an 18-2.5, while Briann Jenkins (Saxony Lutheran) and Bailey Gilbert (Mid-Buchanan) are right behind her with an 18-1 and 17-11.75 respectively. It should be an exciting finish this weekend, and could come down to the final jump.

Triple Jump

3/4 of an inch. That's how much separates Bailey Gilbert (Mid-Buchanan) and Alexus Leshay (Malden) in Triple. They are the only ones to have cleared 37 and 38 feet (38-1 and 38-0.25) and they'll be dueling for the State Championship this weekend. 

400

We have another close race in the 400. Kamya Battles (Caruthersville), Briann Jenkins (Saxony Lutheran), and Jayda Buchannon (Maplewood-Richmond Hts) all come in with season bests of 58 (58.19, 58.28, 58.57). This race probably won't be decided until the last couple of meters, and possibly a lean. 

Athletes to Watch:


Anna Heacock (Jefferson R-VII)

Anna has qualified for State in the same four events she was All-State in last year, the 100H, 300H, 200, and Long Jump. She'll look to repeat as State Champion in both hurdle races, and has the fastest season bests in both of those. She's also ranked 5th in both Long Jump and the 200 coming into the weekend.


Allie Gibbs (Steelville)

Allie will look to win two State Championships this weekend, one in the 1600 and another in the 3200. She finished 4th in the 1600 last year and 2nd in the 3200, but all those who beat her graduated. She comes in ranked 1st in both the 1600 & 3200 and is also 3rd in the 800.

Kamya Battles (Caruthersville)

The Super Freshman comes into the State Meet ranked 1st in both the 200 & 400. Her slash of 25.36/58.19 is really impressive on its own, and then you couple that with the fact that she's just a freshman and it's even better. She'll look to secure State Championships in both races Saturday, and start on what is sure to be a career of many State Medals.