Repeat Performers
Liberty junior Rachel Homoly only attempted five heights in the pole vault and by the time she entered the competition only one other jumper was still alive. She cleared 4.12 meters (13 feet, 6 ΒΌ inches) on her final attempt and then cleared 4.27 meters (14 feet) on her only attempt before going out after three misses at 4.34m/14-2.75''.
Liberty junior Rachel Homoly plants the pole on her way to clearing 4.27m/14-0'' to win and break her own Class 5 pole vault state meet record, break the overall state meet record, and better her own Missouri High School outdoor record.
She broke her own Missouri prep outdoor record; her Class 5 state meet record, and the overall state meet record. The Class 5 state meet record she set last year winning the event with a jump of 3.89 meters (12-9). The overall state meet record was 3.96 meters by Khristen Bryant of Columbia Independent in 2017.
For the second year in a row, Oakville's Mason Meinershagen took second behind Homoly in the pole vault clearing 3.70m/12-1.5''. The Oakville junior standout was also second in the high jump (1.67m/5-5.75''), 6th in the 100-hurdles (14.63-seconds), and 14th in the long jump (5.18m/17-0'')
Capital City senior and USC signee Kiara Strayhorn won two titles for the second year in a row. Strayhorn repeated as champion in the long jump, flying 6.01m/19-8.75''. Strayhornimproved from 2nd last year to win the high jump title this year (1.69m/5-6.5''), while taking 4th in the 100-hurdles after winning last year.
Capital City's Kiara Strayhron won 2 state titles for a 2nd straight season, including repeating in the long jump.
In the 4x800-meter relay, Lafayette Wildwood's squad repeated with ease. Grace Tyson, Elissa Barnard, Avery Brown, and Lauren Pauls won in 9:20.99, ahead of runner-up Lee's Summit West (9:28.98) and 3rd-placer Pattonville (9:31.98). Lafayette's margin of victory would have been bigger had it not been for West's Makayla Clark and Pattonville's Camryn Hubbard's 2:09 and 2:13 anchor legs. Grace Tyson anchored Lafayette to the title with a 2:15 split and was the lone returning member from the 2021 championship team.
Read more about the Class 5 girls state rack recap on the next page