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In our first edition of athletes to watch for the 2021 track season, we are going to take a look at the Class 4 & 5 100m and 200m. For these articles I will be taking into account any marks recorded in 2019 or 2020, and do my best to predict what class athletes will be in.
The top overall returner in the boys 100m in Missouri this season will be Angelo Butts (McCluer North). He holds a PR of 10.65 from his sophomore season back in 2019, and was sub 11 seconds on ten occasions including three sub 10.8. He placed sixth in the Class 5 100m in 2019 to earn a state medal, but due to an enrollment drop at McCluer North he will now likely be competing for the Class 4 crown. 2019 Class 4 5th place finisher Elijah Aye (Willard) is the only other runner returning in Class 4 to have broken 11 with a PR of 10.79. There are no returning medalists in the Class 4 200m, but Butts will also be the top returner in the Class 4 200m with a time of 22.12. Elijah Aye will also be a top returner for this event with a time of 22.09.
The Top 25 Returning Boys 100m and 200m Runners in Class 4
With Butts now in Class 4, that leaves no returning state medalists in the Class 5 100m. The multi-talented and USC commit Johnny Brackins (Lee's Summit) has the fastest returning time with a 10.94, and should he choose to make the one of his four events this spring he would be a contender for the title. With no one else having ran consistently around 11 flat, it's really anyone guess who the other contenders will be this spring. The Class 5 boys 200m also has no returning state qualifiers, leaving that event wide open.
The Top 25 Returning Boys 100m and 200m Runners in Class 5
Kinsey Fiedler (Lee's Summit North) owns the fastest returning time in Class 5 girls 100m with a time 12.04, and placed eighth at the state meet back in 2019. Dijonay Dawson (Jefferson City) placed seventh at the state meet in 2019, and has the third fastest returning time with a time of 12.24.
The Class 5 girls 200m has three returning state medalists, including 2019 runner up Tyra Wilson (Rock Bridge). Wilson owns a PR of 24.27 which is the fastest returning 200m time in Missouri, and will be the favorite to win the title this spring. Fifth and seventh place finishers Caleia Johnson (Park Hill) and Sydney Johnson (Ozark) will also be ones to watch and return with personal bests of 24.80 and 25.17 respectively.
The Top 25 Returning Girls 100m and 200m Runners in Class 5
Kayelyn Tate (Parkway Central) leads three returning state medalists in the Class 4 100m after finishing as the runner up as a freshman back in 2019. Her personal best from that performance of 12.10 is the fastest returning time as well, and she'll be the favortie heading into the season. Other athletes to watch include the returning seventh and eighth place finishers Sydney Martin (Hazelwood East) at 12.24, and Brianna Utecht (Marshfield) at 12.29.
Tate again leads three state medalists in 200m heading into the season after placing second in 2019. Her personal best of 24.44 is the only returning time sub 25 heading into the season in Class 4. Fourth place finisher Marshaun Bostic (Gateway) and Brianna Utecht (Marshfield) also return with personal bests of 25.03 and 25.28 respectively.