Dazzling Debuts
Of all the individual championships won at the Class 3 girls meet, only one was claimed by a freshman.
Father Tolton Regional Catholic freshman Elyse Wilmes won the 800-meter run in 2:14.18. She competed in two races individually but didn't finish the 1,600-meter race. Wilmes hit the metal rail that surrounded the track and fell into the infield at Adkins Stadium, before bouncing back to win the 800. Wlimes split a 2:13.32 4x800 anchor leg to take the Trailblazers from 3rd to 1st, winning in 9:43.88.
Elyse Wilmes won the 800-meters and anchored Tolton Catholic to the 4x800 title.
The second-highest placing ninth grader was Lutheran St. Charles' Elle North, who took third in the 400-meter dash.
Elle North capped her freshman season with a 3rd-place 400-meter finish in 58.16.
Eight other freshman earned individual all-state honors, including two medals by Kale Clements of Ste. Genevieve (400, 800) and Ilene Limberg of Owensville (1,600, 3,200).
Read more about the Class 3 state rack recap on the next page