Although Missouri lacks an officially sanctioned indoor track season, that hasn't stopped Missourians from seeking out competition this winter. Among those who have competed, seven athletes from Missouri find themselves ranked in the top 25 nationally in one or more events.
400m phenom Justin Robinson (Hazelwood West) has been experimenting with some non standard events this winter, but he has impressed both meets he's stepped on the track. He currently holds the nation's fastest 500m time with 62.39, which is over a second faster than second place. He also holds the second fastest 300m time in the country with a 32.87 he ran at the VA Showcase where he was just edged out by Cameron Rose (North Carolina). He also finished in second place at the famed Millrose Games in the 300m, where he was only beaten by professional 400m hurdler Rai Benjamin.
Brandon Miller (John Burroughs) has returned from his injury that kept him out most of last year, and looks as strong as ever. He currently holds the fastest 800m time in the nation with a 1:51.10 he ran against collegiates at the Iowa State Classic this weekend. This is the first time he a participated in indoor, but his mark of 1:51 is the faster than he's ever started an outdoor season, and its only February. With that being said, it looks like we could be seeing great things from Miller in his final high school season.
After bursting onto the scene last year Johnny Brackins (Lee's Summit) has picked up right where he left off this indoor season. He currently owns the second best Long Jump in the country right now with a 24-1.25 he jumped at the MIZZOU HS Meet last weekend. He also jumped the ninth best Triple Jump in the nation in that meet with a 48-2.75. His 8.14 60m Hurdle time also sits him at number one in the state, and number thirty-eight nationally.
Missouri is no stranger to nationally ranked Pole Vaulters, and this year seems to be no different. Reagan Ulrich (Branson) currently sits tied for seventeenth in the nation with his 16-0 clearance last week at the MSSU High School Invite. It's a great start for him, and is over half a foot higher than he cleared during indoor last year.
Parkway Central Sophomore Kayelyn Tate is currently enjoying a fantastic indoor season in the short sprints. She currently has a season best of 7.53, which she has ran twice now, and currently sits as the nineteenth fastest time in the country so far this season.
Missouri also currently has two throwers ranked in the top 25 nationally, with Rebekah Stucker (Odessa) and McKinlee Morris (Crossroads College Prep) both ranked in the Shot Put. Stucker currently sits in sixteenth with a throw of 44-2, while Morris sits in twenty-fourth with a throw of 43-3.25.