The battle for the 2023 MSHSAA Class 4 Girls Track and Field State Championship trophies was a great one. A year after watching their boys win a state title, the Kearney girls claimed their own state crown. The Bulldogs totaled 52 points to edge another school on the outskirts of the Kansas City metro area, Pleasant Hill, by two points, 52-50.
Both programs featured standouts up and down the roster, but were each led by a pair of superstars. Kearney senior Jadyn Barnes claimed the 800 title, was apart of the 4x800 title team, while also racing on the 5th-place 4x400 squad. Senior Ava Lawless won the triple jump, was 2nd in the 100-hurdles and long jump, while a false start in the 200 final kept her from adding to her 26 point total.
Pleasant Hill senior Reagan Kimrey easily outdistanced the shot put and discus fields to add two more state titles to her resume. Sophomore Brooke Beck claimed the 400 title, was 3rd in the 800, and ran on the 4th and 7th-place 4x400 and 4x200 relays.
Defending champion Parkway Central edged fellow St. Louis County school Ladue for 3rd, scoring 48.5 points. Ladue tallied 46 points to take the 4th and final trophy. Jefferson City was 5th with 38 points.
Photos Results Meet
Limbo-ish
Washington High School senior Ella Kroeter avoids the bar in the Class 4 Pole Vault. Kroeter cleared 3.19m/10-5.5 to place 2nd.
Look What I Got!!!
Harrisonville junior Brooklyn Rhoney shows off her new hardware after receiving the 7th-place medal in the Class 4 Girls Pole Vault.
After "On your mark, get set, bang!"
With whistle ready, an official watches a Class 4 Girls 100-meter dash preliminary heat.
Flying Focus
Parkway Central junior Jiyah Owens and her hair fly down the runway enroute to a 2nd-place finish in the Class 4 triple jump. Owens had a best mark of 10.93m/35-10.25.