A former high jump state champion will be part of the Class of 2024 of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame's upcoming Springfield Enshrinement ceremonies.
Byron Shive, the Hall of Fame's CEO and executive Director, unveiled the inductees Wednesday, noting that the ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 4 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield.
Joining the class is former Sedalia Smith-Cotton and Central Missouri standout Jennifer Drum McClaflin.
A member of the Sedalia Smith-Cotton Hall of Fame in 2018, she is now joining a prestigious class that features former NBA, MLB and NFL players.
During her days at Smith-Cotton, she won the girls state high jump competition twice, in 1999 and 2000.
Her 5-foot-9-inch leap in 2000 was the Missouri state record until it was broken in 2017.
She finished second at the state meet in the high jump in 1998 and 2001.
Her athletic achievements were not limited to track, as she earned all-conference recognition in softball and all-conference and all-district honors in basketball, too.
She also was a two-time NCAA Division II indoor national champion in the event in 2004 and 2006 when she competed for the University of Central Missouri.
She received the Senior Athlete Award in 2006 and graduated with bachelor's degrees in criminal justice and Spanish, then earned a master's degree in teaching and an education specialist degree in secondary administration.
Other members of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Class:
- Anthony Tolliver -- Kickapoo High School & National Basketball Association
- Justin Britt -- Lebanon High School, University of Missouri & National Football League
- Lucas Harrell -- Ozark High School & Major League Baseball
- Bob Belote -- Director of Springfield-Greene County Park Board
- Steve Boyce -- High School Swim Coach
- Lindsey Hunter James -- University of Missouri Volleyball Player
- 2003-2006 Kickapoo High School Boys Basketball Era
- Tom Ladd -- Sports Radio Broadcasting
- Jim Raynor -- Sports Medicine
- Scott Sifferman -- Cycling
- Tammy Williams -- Osceola H.S., Northwestern University & U.S. Olympic Softball Player
- 1988-1995 Warsaw High School Football Era
- Paula Wohnhas Wiedemann -- Missouri State-West Plains Volleyball
- Wendy's of Missouri -- John Q. Hammons Founder's Award
- David Coutchie -- President's Award
- Art Hains -- Inspiration Award