Another standout underclassman named Brown competing at AAU JO Games is long sprinter Avery Brown. Brown, a member of Tallawah Track and Field club, had an impressive season at Lafayette (Wildwood) High School. Brown dropped a big PR on the first day of the Class 5 state meet. She clocked 58.00 for 400-meters for a 1.79-second personal best. She finished Day 1 with an anchor carry on the Lancers 16th-place 4x400 team. On Day 2 of the state meet, Brown ran a 2nd-leg 2:23 split to help Lafayette to a 2nd-straight 4x800 state title in 9:20.99. In the 400-meter dash final she took 7th for her 2nd All-State finish.
Avery Brown is all smiles as she runs the 4x400 at state. She's entered in the 400 and 800.
At the Region 15 meet, Brown won the 15-16 400 crown in 58.85 and the 800 in 2:23.05. The times put the Tallawah runner and Chesterfield native as the #47 and #26 seed in Greensboro.
Another pair of freshmen with Top-30 seeds are Jefferson County natives Margaret Wrigley and Emily Wright. Wrigley placed 10th in the 200-meter dash and 11th in the high jump at state for Class 3 Jefferson (Festus) High School. In Greensboro, Wrigley, of the Jefferson County Jets Track Club, is the 8th seed in the high jump with a 5-2'' clearance. A mark she cleared in winning the Region 15 title.
Hillsboro freshman Emily Wright is the youngest of three Wright siblings to earn All-State honors for the Hawks. Big brother Sam Wright won the Class 4 300-hurdles and 200-meter dash as a senior last year before heading to Rolla to compete at Missouri S&T. Sam Wright has continued to compete in the sprints, hurdles, and multi-events.
Big sister Maya Wright was a teammate of Emily's this year as a senior at Hillsboro. Maya was a standout hurdler and jumper and took 4th and 5th in the 100 and 300-meter hurdles in Class 4 at state this year. Maya then placed 7th in the heptathlon at the Great Southwest meet. Emily placed 7th and 13th at state in the 300 and 100-meter hurdles, joining big sis on the awards podium for an All-State medal in the 300's. Emily Wright is the 19th seed in the 15-16 heptathlon after winning Region 15 with 3,629 points for the Jefferson County Jets.
Emily became the 3rd Wright sibling to earn All-State honors Hillsboro, after her 300H finish at State
Pacific, Missourian and Four Rivers Track Club's Lexi Lay will compete in three events. Lay won the Region 15 javelin with a best toss of 99-1', which makes her the #15 seed. She'll also compete in the 100-meter hurdles and long jump.