Poll: Missouri's Top Track Performance from 2018

So Long 2018

With 2018 coming to a close we're going to take a look back at the top Track feats accomplished by Missourians this past year. There are several great performances to choose from, and I'm going to let you guy decide which one was the best with a poll at the end of this article. First, lets take a look at the nominees.


KC Lightfoot Jumps 18-5, US #2 All-Time in High School Pole Vault

Missouri has had its fair share of great Pole Vaulters over the years, but KC Lightfoot can claim to be the best. Lightfoot broke the State Record at the Class 5 District 6 Meet with a vault of 18-5 in May, and not only was that the highest vault in Missouri History, it was also the 2nd highest vault by an American high schooler ever. In face there have only been 10 high school vaulters in the United States who have cleared 18, one of which is fellow Missourian Chris Nilsen who previously held the national record with an 18-4.75 before both Lightfoot and Armand Duplantis surpsassed him. KC is now vaulting at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and will be looking to become an NCAA All-American in 2019.


Justin Robinson Represents Team USA in the 4x400m at U20 Worlds


It's not often when someone wins two State Championship's in a year that it isn't their best moment that year. However, that was the case for Hazelwood West's Justin Robinson. After running 46.93 in the 400m to win State, he went on compete in the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships a few weeks later and took 4th place with a 46.20, qualifying him for a spot on Team USA's U20 4x400m Relay. Qualifying was a huge accomplishment itself, but he wasn't done yet. At the U20 World Championships, the first and second legs of his 4x400m dropped the baton and the Americans were in sixth place by the time Robinson got the baton. Robinson then brought the Americans back into third place just behind second with a MONSTER 44.70 third leg. The Americans went on to win the Silver Medal at the U20 World Championships. Just think, Justin still has TWO YEARS of high school left. 


Lee's Summit West Girls Break 9:00 in the 4x800m

In 2018, Lee's Summit West ended with a whopping six girls in the top 25 in the 800m in Class 5. They won their second straight State Title in the event, but they didn't stop there. People around the State, including us here at MileSplit kept talking about how it was a real possibility to break 9:00. Sure enough, at New Balance Nationals they ran a blazing fast 8:58 placing third place overall and becoming All-Americans FROM THE SLOW HEAT. It took great performances from all four Titans that day, and they all did their part. Audrey Parson ran 2:17, Madison Hulsey ran 2:12, McKenna Butler ran 2:19, and Jana Shawver ran 2:09. Besides Shawver who is now running at the University of Kansas, the rest return this year as juniors so they will still be a force to be reckoned with in 2019. 

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