The seemingly annual leaps and bounds of progression of marks and performances by Missouri prep athletes, as well as the yearly growth and abundance of talent of athletes in track and field in the Show-Me State every year is amazing, even jaw-dropping. While examples of that can be seen in every area of the state and in every classification, Class 5 is where it is most mind-blowing in recent years.
The amount of talent in the Missouri Class 5 Girls ranks in the last few years is just silly. If one wanted to see some elite, all-time great Missouri athletes and performances, or national caliber athletes, it was simple to do at last year's and this year's state meets on the girls' side in Class 5.
Several events quickly come to mind when thinking about that opportunity at this year's meet. However, a quick consideration produces the realization that nearly each of the 19 events at this year's meet was special. From the sprints and sprint relays to the hurdles to the horizontal jumps, the vertical jumps, it's been a special couple of years. Oh, and then there are the distance and distance relays and the throws. Just skim the all-time marks in the Missouri MileSplit Database, and click on a few events to see performance lists.
Or, look through this year's meet results at the link below. View some of the meet coverage on the meet page below and view some of the great athletes and performances that MileSplit photographers captured in the galleries and featured photos on the following pages.
Photos Meet Results
Pictured at the top, Platte County sophomore Addyson Schlake keeps her eyes on the disc on her way to a 10th-place finish in the Class 5 Girls Discus.
Lafayette's Grace Tyson runs the final leg of the Class 5 Girls 4x800 after receiving the baton from Elissa Barnard. Blue Springs' Paige Stuart (right) tries to stay loose while waiting on the baton to arrive. Lafayette would win their 3rd consecutive state title, finishing in 9:09.99 while Blue Springs was 2nd in 9:18.40.
Second-year runner and Francis Howell junior Evyn Humphrey reaches out for the baton while Paige Shinabrey extends it to her in the Class 5 Girls 4x800. Francis Howell would finish in 9:44 to place 9th.
