Missouri Athletes Score Big at KU Relays
A number of Missouri's high school track and field athletes traveled across the state's western border this past week to compete with some of the top talents in the Midwest. Here is a recap of some of the top results by the kids from The Show Me State. I am sure I missed some great performances in this list so feel free to add them in the comments section below.
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Papay Glaywulu of Park Hill might be the most impressive high school track athlete on the western side of the state. His 50-2.5 triple jump at KU ranks him second in the nation. So what are they feeding the jumpers at Park Hill? Last year we saw Chris Nilsen set the national record in the pole vault and this April we have Glaywulu going after the top mark in the TJ. Glaywulu also finished tied for third in the long jump with a leap of 22-6.5.
KC Lightfoot of Lee's Summit and Kyle Rogers of Liberty battled head-to-head in the pole vault at KU. After they both cleared 16'6, Lightfoot made 17'0 and it stood as his winning vault. Look for these two to give us something special to watch in Jeff City.
Jon Redmond of Liberty North laid claim to the top 100-meter time in the state with a blistering wind-aided 10.57. Jayson Ashford, who has run 10.65 this year, of SLU finished second
Clayton Adams defended his KU Relays title in the 3200 (9:13.21) by edging Sam Pinkowski (9:14.04) of La Crosse Central High in Wisconsin. Adams outkicked Pinkowski down the last 100 meters to secure his second 3200 title at KU.
Kaitlyn Lewis of Liberty and Taiya Shelby of Park Hill battled hard down the stretch in the 400 with Lewis claiming the win in 57.59 to Shelby's 57.62. This was so close we had to wait for the scoreboard to tell the crowd who broke the tape first. I expect these two Northlanders to go at it a few more times before they settle things at the state meet.
Vontrea Booker of Raytown South came from behind to out lean the KU field in the boy's 400. The junior's 49.83 finish into a strong headwind was just enough to edge Park Hill South's freshman sensation, Chris DuPree, who ran 50 flat.
Christian Brothers 4x100 knocked off East St. Louis and take the KU title running 42.76 to ESL's 42.93.
SLU finished second at KU in the 4x800 running 8:04.84 but they bested Blue Springs in their first head-to-head meeting. BS currently owns the state's best time in 7:59.70. I expect both of these foursomes to lower those numbers considerably once we get to Jeff City.
Francis Howell finished second in the girl's 4x800 (9:46.3) and surprised me by taking down Lee's Summit West (9:48.17), who may have rested some of their top girls.
Kennedy Aurentz of Kickapoo won the girl's shot put with a toss of 43-6.5 over North Kansas City's Keiara Williams (42.6.5).
Carlie Queen of Summit Christian won the girl's high jump with a stunning leap of 5'10. That was the best high jump for a high school girl at the KU Relays in 25 years.
Eka Jose of Liberty North took the girl's triple jump title at KU with a leap of 38-3.75. And much to Coach Chatlos' chagrin, I failed to get a photo of Eka in flight or ground-bound. Next time, Eka.
Lee's Summit West's girls (21:34.77) outran Ray-Pec's (21:38.17) 4x1600 team to win this seldom-staged relay. The Titans also took the team 4x400 in 3:56.25.
Raytown South and Ruskin went at it in the boy's 4x200 with the Cardinals (1:29.68) edging the Golden Eagles (1:29.70) for the title.