With the outdoor track and field season finally upon us, let's take a look at the top athletes from each of our five classes!
Leading up to our first competitions on March 15th, MileSplit will be unrolling previews for Class 1-5 Boys and Girls. We will introduce and discuss five of the top athletes in each of the sprints (100, 200, 400, 100/110 Hurdles, and 300 Hurdles), distance (800, 1600, 3200), jumps (long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault), and throws (discus, shot put, javelin) events. We will also introduce 3-4 of the top freshmen to watch, plus 3-4 teams to watch and a dark horse team on which to keep an eye.
With 19 days from the start of the season to the first competition day, we will be spacing out the drops to make sure each classification gets plenty of attention. Check back throughout the week to see who gets added next!
More Content to Explore: Meet Calendar | Virtual Meets | Rankings | 2023 Photos | Class of 2024 College Commitments
Recent Drops: 2024 Class and District Predictions | 2024 MSHSAA Track and Field Season is Here! | Class 5 Boys Preview
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Sprints
Aniyah Brown - Cardinal Ritter
After committing to the Ohio State University this winter, Cardinal Ritter senior Aniyah Brown is looking to close out her prep career with a bang.
Brown unfortunately had to contend with generational talent Zaya Akins' move in to Class 5 last spring, losing her crown as Class 5 State Champion in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. The 2021 and 2022 double champion is poised to regain the top spot on the podium, though, as she enters the season with an 11.41 (+3.2) personal best in the 100 and 23.37 personal best in the 200. Her 57.71 400 meters best puts her among Class 5's best, as well, and could see her go for the treble considering her team may be loaded enough to win the sprint relays even without her.
We called Zaya Akins a generational talent, but Brown surely is, too. She has a chance at winning her 5th and 6th individual state championships this spring in the most popular events in the most competitive classification in Missouri. Watch out.
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Another Power 5 commit (University of Kentucky) with an incredible high school resume, Pattonville's A'Laji Bradley is looking to cap off her prep career with a return to the top of the podium. A victim of the Akins effect, Bradley's 400 meter dash crown was snatched from her last spring, but the long sprint specialist appears poised to regain that in 2024.
Bradley heads into the 2024 campaign with personal bests of 11.79 (+3.2) in the 100, 23.60 (+0.7) in the 200, and 53.33 in the 400. She is the only returner with a personal best in the entire state under 55 seconds, MO No. 2 all-time in the event, and No. 3 among all returners in the nation. Can she break the 53 second barrier this year? Can she pull off the sprint treble? This winter, she is tops in the 200 and 400, and No. 2 in the 60m dash. Expect Bradley to be among the gold medal contenders no matter where in the state, or country, she goes to race.
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Kyndall Spain - Cardinal Ritter
Missouri is currently in the midst of a renaissance in the girls hurdle events, one that we may not see again for a long time. Kyndall Spain comes in as the top returner in Class 5 in both the 100 meter hurdles and 300 meter hurdles, benefiting from the graduation of both Maya Anderson and Genesis Dixon. Spain should be the heavy favorite for both hurdle crowns in Class 5 in this, her junior season, with her biggest competitor moving into Class 4.
With personal bests of 13.72 (+1.8) and 42.48 in the respective hurdle races, Spain is not only MO No. 1 in Class 5, but she is US No. 19 and US No. 17 in each event. Her eye-popping 400 hurdles time from the summer of 59.95 is also 6th in the nation among returners. The reigning 300 meter hurdles champ and 100 meter hurdles runner-up, expect Spain to pick up 20 individual points for her squad and contribute on multiple sprint relays. But, with a US No. 14 time in the 60m hurdles so far this winter, her indoor season may not be over just yet.
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Ariana Jackson is one of the key pieces to the Blue Springs machine and has contributed significant points in the 400 meter dash and 4x200 and 4x400 relays over the past couple of years. The K-State commit comes in to the season as fourth among Class 5 returners in the quarter mile, behind three girls who we will mention, or have already mentioned, in this article. Her 55.88 personal best came at Nike Outdoor Nationals last summer and earned her 10th place overall there.
Jackson will surely challenge for the individual title in the open 400 this spring after finishing on the podium in each of the last three years - 2nd in 2021, 6th in 2022, and 5th in 2023. An all-state long jumper as well, Jackson should be a significant cog in the Wildcats machine in 2024 before heading off to another purple Wildcats school across the state lines.
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Charlye Moody - Cardinal Ritter
We have mentioned 5 sprinters and 3 of them have belonged to the Cardinal Ritter Juggernauts (I mean, Lions). Honestly, why stop at Charlye Moody? We could keep going (and will in the teams section below).
Moody is another significant piece to the Ritter domination puzzle as she enters the season with stellar personal bests of 12.53 in the 100, 24.27 (+3.0) in the 200, and 55.01 in the 400. Her 400 mark is second among Class 4 returners as she looks to improve upon her fourth place finish from last year's state championship. She finished fourth in the 200, as well, and could slot in to the team's 4x200 and 4x400 relays after the Lions lost a couple of important girls to graduation. Watch for Moody to make another leap forward as she looks to add to her collection of four individual state medals.
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Distance
Coming off a historic cross country campaign, Lafayette's Natalie Barnard is looking to cement her legacy with one final go around on the oval this spring.
Already among the top returners in the state in the 1600 and 3200, Barnard put together one of, if not the, greatest cross country season in state history this past fall, running under 18:00 in all 8 of her races, headlined by a 16:53.30 MO No. 3 all-time personal best and capped off by a 25-second victory in a Gans Creek XC Course record 17:12.70. She finished 10th at the Nike Cross Regionals Midwest meet in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Barnard boasts track personal bests of 4:54.81 in the 1600 (4:56.69 full mile) and 10:35.60 in the 3200. She finished fourth in the 2023 Class 5 1600 and is the reigning champion in the Class 5 3200. Not to be outdone, she also split 2:18.72 for the Class 5 record 4x800 meter relay squad. Do not be surprised if Barnard goes for the distance treble this spring and, though she will certainly have plenty of competition in all three events, rises to the occasion with flying colors.
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Paige Stuart had the kind of junior year you dream about after joining the track team for the first time as a sophomore. After earning state medals in the 400 (4th) and 800 (2nd) in that debut campaign, she picked up a 13th place medal in cross country and used that new-found aerobic capacity to take another massive leap forward in the 400 and 800 in 2023. At the Class 5 State Championships, Stuart became only the 12th girl in state history to break 2:10 with her 2:09.68 mark for the win. She did not run the 400 at the Sectional or State meet in 2023 even though she ran a personal best 55.81 in April.
After another massive breakthrough in cross country this past fall - an 18:39.50 personal best for 19th at State - Stuart has been relatively quiet this winter, only running one open 400 two weeks ago, and posting a 57.18 indoor personal best. She has shown a fearless attitude when racing and should be considered the favorite for the 800 once again this spring, and a major contender for the win in the 400.
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One of the most decorated members of the Class of 2024 on the distance side, Kirkwood's Josie Baker is looking to close out her illustrious career with another gold medal or more.
The reigning Class 5 champion in the 1600 and runner-up in the 800, expect Baker to be among the top ranked distance runners in the state throughout the 2024 season. She has personal bests of 2:11.88 in the 800 (2:10.62 at 2022 New Balance Nationals Indoor), 4:47.55 in the 1600 (MO No. 5 all-time, US No. 30 among 2024 returners), and 10:54.05 in the 3200. This fall, she pushed her 5K personal best even further, finishing 4th at the Class 5 State Championships in 17:54.60. The Kirkwood Pioneers like to seek out the best of the best to compete against so Baker should get plenty of time in the limelight this year and should be up to the challenge wherever and whenever.
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Abigail Brackenbury - Blue Springs
Blue Springs scores points up and down the board, leading to their enormous team success over the last three years in particular. Their distance team features two of the best in the state in their respective event groups with the afore-mentioned Stuart in the 400 and 800 and Abigail Brackenbury in the 1600 and 3200.
Brackenbury finally broke through last spring to earn her first individual all-state medal on the oval with a narrow 8th place finish in the 3200. She earned her second career 9th place finish in the 1600, unfortunately. Among Class 5 returners, she is one of only three returners with a mark under 11:00 in the 3200 (10:59.96) and one of 8 girls under 5:07 in the 1600 (5:06.24). A big fall with not one, but two, sub-18:00 marks and a 17:52.30 personal best has Brackenbury ready to break into the crooked numbers in the individual points columns in 2024.
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Republic's Gracie Troester may not have the universally recognized name value like the others ahead of her, but what she lacks in super-stardom, she more than makes up for with her resume over her three year career. After picking up her first career State Cross Country medal in her third try, a 7th place medal no less, and finishing off her final fall campaign with an 18:12.80 personal best, Troester is looking poised to set the Class 5 distance scene ablaze this spring.
Troester's personal bests of 2:17.66, 5:04.29, and 11:01.33 have her among the top 5 returners in the state in all three events. She qualified for last year's State Championships in all 3 events, picking up medals in the 1600 and 3200, while finishing 9th in the 800. The breakout last spring has continued and should lead to even faster times and higher finishes at State this spring.
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Jumps
Hickman's Athena Peterson once again resides among our top athletes heading into the spring season and should remain there until her graduation in 2025. With some classification movements and graduations, Peterson stands alone as the heavy favorite for state gold in the long jump and triple jump a year after finishing 3rd and 2nd, respectively.
Peterson boasts personal bests in the horizontal jumps of 6.01m (19-8.5) in the long jump and 12.14m (39-10) to go along with a 1.68m (5-6) best in the high jump and 14.86 and 43.55 bests in the 100m Hurdles and 300m Hurdles. Quite frankly, what can't she do? And beyond that, could she single handedly pull in a trophy for the Lady Kewpies? Or at least score over 75% of her team's points on her own? Teammate Claire Maland could also be a contributor in the long jump as she continues to progress.
Either way, expect the junior from Hickman to steal headlines all spring as she pursues her first career state gold, and probably the first of many.
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Lindbergh's Kylie Scott heads into the 2024 season as the top Class 5 returner in the pole vault. Though she finished 3rd at last year's state championships, her 3.8m (12-5.5) personal best is best among all Class 5 returners. As seasoned veteran, the two-time all-stater and PoleVaultSTL club member has a shot at pulling in her first career gold. This winter, she has posted one mark at the SEMO All-Comers meet - a 3.35m clearance, third among the state's vaulters.
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Park Hill senior Brooke Boehm may have just told us all she is not messing around this spring. With one of the busiest winters for a Missouri track and field athlete...maybe ever, the Trojan sprinter/jumper is looking strong heading into her final high school campaign.
Boehm enters the 2024 track and field season with personal bests of 1.6m (5-3) in the high jump and 5.67m (+3.1w) (18-7.25) in the long jump. She's the fourth best returner in Class 5 in the long jump and only a few centimeters behind the leaders in the high jump. Boehm was fourth at last year's Class 5 State Championships in the long jump and, though she did not qualify for State in the high jump, finished 14th at the AAU Junior Olympics. This winter, she has already cleared 1.52m (4-11.75) and 5.05m (16-6.75) in the long jump. She could certainly be a major points scorer in both jumps this spring.
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The highest finishing pole vaulter at last year's Class 5 State Championships to return for 2024, would you believe it is a girl from Battle High School?
Coach Hancock has molded another stellar vaulter and Anna Ferguson will return for this spring, vying for the gold medal in the event after finishing behind one of the state's all-time best, Oakville's Mason Meinershagen, in 2023. Ferguson was the runner-up in the event, though she sits behind Kylie Scott for top mark among returners. The Mizzou commit's 3.58m (11-9) personal best is worthy of state title contention.
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Truman's Katelyn Wink has had a quiet career in statewide circles up to this point, but the marks she has posted across several events should land her firmly on every coach's radar heading into 2024.
Wink has top 6 marks among Class 5 returners in the 100 meter hurdles, long jump, and triple jump, with her triple jump personal best of 11.77m (38-7.5) second only to Athena Peterson. Her long jump mark of 5.69m (18-8) is third among returners and her 15.03 100 meter hurdles is nothing to sneeze at either, sixth among Class 5 hurdlers. She was fifth at State in the long jump last season and did not even qualify in the triple jump. Over the summer, though, she eclipsed 11.15 meters five times, with four of those marks over 11.4 meters. Do not blink, or you'll probably miss Katelyn Wink go by and into the pit this spring.
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Throws
Staley's Katy Taylor is first on our list of throwers to profile as she is the top returner in the Class 5 discus by over 2.5 meters.
The bronze medalist at last year's Class 5 State Championships, Taylor heads into the 2024 campaign with a 42.65m (139-11.25) personal best. While she has yet to translate that success to the shot put just yet, watch for Taylor, who cleared 40 meters in the discus five times last spring/summer, to contend for the gold in her final high school track and field campaign.
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Addison Throckmorton - Hickman
Among Class 5 returners in the javelin throw, Hickman's Addison Throckmorton is well clear of the pack.
Throckmorton experienced a major setback at the Class 5 State Championships last spring, finishing 14th overall and well off a medal, but her 45.42m (149-0.25) personal best is not only tops among Class 5 returners, but also 13th among all returners in the country.
The javelin specialist bounced back from her disappointing state meet with a 3rd place finish at the American JavFest in 44.63 meters. The folks at the Jefferson City YMCA better watch out because they may be getting a visit from one of Throckmorton's javelins this May.
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Kadence Shepherd - Blue Springs
If it isn't Throckmorton in the javelin, then Blue Springs senior Kadence Shepherd should be considered among the favorites for the Class 5 gold medal in the javelin. Her 43.57m (142-11.25) is 24th among returners in the country and not too far off the top throw in Class 5 in Missouri.
Shepherd will be a major piece to Blue Springs' hopes of taking down Cardinal Ritter this spring. Last year, she was able to add 6 points to her team's total and is certainly in the conversation to improve upon that total this year.
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Among shot put returners, Liberty's Alyssah Price is second based on her personal best of 12.18m (39-11.5), behind only Blue Springs South's Kendall Puryear, but is the top returner among state finishers.
Because of the graduation of last year's top 4 finishers, Price, who finished 5th, slots in as the top returner based on state place. She benefits greatly at the District and Sectional level from these graduations and should be among the favorites to pull in the gold in the shot put this spring.
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Jlynn Humphrey - Troy Buchanan
Troy enters our preview once again with a thrower, this time with senior Jlynn Humphrey. Humphrey has three seasons of track and field under her belt and has never done anything else except throw discus. Her 38.96m (127-10) earned her a 5th place medal in the event last spring and puts the seasoned veteran among the favorites to push herself to the top of the podium in 2024.
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Incoming Freshmen to Watch
Heading into the 2023 cross country season, many eyes were on Liberty's Lily Hurt to see how her middle school prowess would translate on the high school cross country course. She certainly met, and possibly exceeded, expectations.
Hurt heads into her first high school track and field campaign with lifetime bests of 2:24.82 in the 800, 4:56.09 in the 1500 (5:17.82 equivalent 1600), and now 18:47.00 in the 5K. She picked up a 26th place medal in the hyper-competitive Class 5 State Cross Country Championships this past fall. Watch for this star freshman to lead the way for her Lady Jays distance squad in the 2024 season.
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Orryn Wright - Staley
Staley is picking up a massive freshman talent in all three sprint areas in Orryn Wright.
Wright heads into her first high school season coming off an impressive indoor season, having run personal bests of 7.86 in the 60m, 26.11 in the 200m, and 59.60 in the 400. That 400 mark is an indoor personal best, of course, as her actual personal best in the outdoor 400 is 58.90 from last spring's New Balance Outdoor Nationals meet. Additionally, she has run 12.33 in the 100 already. The Falcons are certainly adding a game-changer to the Class 5 sprints mix this spring.
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Justyce Sanders - MICDS
MICDS is also adding a major contributor to the sprints game this spring, particularly in the 400 meter dash. Only four Class 5 returners head into the 2024 season with a personal best under 57 seconds, but Justyce Sanders, with her incredible 56.96 mark, makes that five.
Sanders will make an immediate impact for the Rams this spring with personal bests in the shorter events of 12.81 and 25.63. This winter she has posted marks of 8.27 in the 60m, 26.02 in the 200, and 58.58 in the 400. No stranger to the limelight with several trips to the AAU Junior Olympics and Club Championships under her belt, Sanders is clearly MICDS's next superstar on the red oval.
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Top Teams
It should come as no surprise to anyone that the back-to-back-to-back Class 5 State Champions are back once again, firmly in the driver's seat to win again in 2024. After graduating very few major contributors, the Cardinal Ritter Lady Lions are ready to win it all once again on the backs of their unparalleled sprints and jumps stable.
We have already spoken about their top three girls - Aniyah Brown, Kyndall Spain, and Charlye Moody - but that is merely the tip of the iceberg for this squad. Rising junior Nevaeh Bryant is among the top returners in the triple jump (11.19m) and owns lifetime bests of 46.38 in the 300 hurdles and 58.47 in the 400. Brooklyn Brady has posted lifetime bests of 12.11 in the 100 and 24.84 in the 200. Kayla Watkins locked down a 12.42 best in the 100 and jumped 5.5 meters as a freshman. Former Illinois State qualifier Takia Tiller boasts lifetime bests of 12.05 and 25.11. Need I continue?
Even with all the girls we have already listed, there is sure to be another stud freshman lighting it up for Ritter this spring, contributing to their sprint relays, or running/jumping to impressive feats in her own right. They should surely score 25-30 points in the sprint relays alone, plus another 12-16 points in each of the 100, 200, and 400, plus another 8-10 points in the hurdle events, plus more points in the horizontal jumps, and possibly long jump. It is a stacked team who should roll to another win...unless one of these other teams have anything to say about it.
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Any other year and we are talking about Blue Springs should be the far and away favorite. Unfortunately, they must contend with one of the state's all-time dynasties. Nevertheless, the Blue Springs Lady Wildcats will still show up in May and absolutely put pressure on their new cross-state rivals.
After scoring 63 points at last year's championship (and still coming 31 points short of the win), Blue Springs returns many of their top point scorers. They will have to replace short sprints stars Kayleigh Jenkins and Olivia Dixon, as well as high jump aficionado Arianna Calloway, but return two major point contributors in Ariana Jackson and Paige Stuart, profiled above. Brackenbury and Faith Fotiades will also contribute points in the distance events, with Fotiades coming off her best cross country season yet. Kadence Shepherd and Madison Hoffman are major contributors in the throws department and they will look for help from Ava Power in the 1600 and 3200, A'Mya Criglar and Ramiyah Petty-Calhoun, and Harmonie Hughes in the triple jump, and a strong freshman or two. Blue Springs will really need to pull a reverse Ritter and stack points in the distance and throws events to contend with them this spring, but if anyone can, it is them.
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Lafayette Wildwood lands on our top teams to watch list as a result of a senior who may be looking to become the second Lafayette runner to ever pull off the distance quadruple - Natalie Barnard. We spoke at length about her already, but her breakout cross country season could tack 25-30 points on to the Lady Lancers' total almost immediately. Avery Brown is their other significant returner on the track after just missing her personal best in the 400 of 58.00 last season. She also split 2:18 on their Class 5 state record 4x800 relay team.
Lauren Pauls and Mizelle Groenewald will most likely anchor down that 4x800 team and give them a good shot at a repeat effort, but they will need a few more points to feel solid beyond the mid and long distance races. Rising junior Maya Witherspoon has cleared a solid 11.22 meters in the triple jump and Sydney Berger's 36.55 meters mark in the javelin is nothing at which to sneeze. The fight for the third and fourth trophies will most certainly come down to a point or two, though, so they will really need to find some help or they could find themselves on the outside looking in after racking up a healthy 49 points last May.
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Athena Peterson is the superstar in four events that helps vault Hickman up the team rankings and into a trophy contention spot. Her ability to compete for a state title in the 300 meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, and triple jump should push Hickman over 30 points just on her contribution alone. Hickman's other major point scorer is Addison Throckmorton in the javelin. A 10 from her may just push the Kewpies into the 40+ points range they need to contend for a trophy. They'll receive insurance from Claire Maland in the jumps and sprints/relays, as well as Lakira Briscoe on the short sprints and relays, too.
Dark Horse Team
Timberland heads into the 2024 season with a stellar stable of sprinters and jumpers which, as they continue to get older and gain experience, could surprise the Class 5 track scene this spring.
It is hard to say who Timberland is led by. It could be Alexa Adams or Gabrelle Tucker or Knia Graham or Breanna Prewitt or Paityn Slezak, either way, the Wolves are strong and dangerous. They earned 26 points at last year's state championships, with 8 coming from a 4x100 meter relay that ran 47.92 and consisted of four of the girls mentioned above. They were behind only Cardinal Ritter. They picked up another 3 points in the 4x200 relay with their 1:43.36 again with all non-seniors. The one area in which they will have to make up for is throws where recently graduated Emilia Labruyere picked up 11 points for the squad.
Alexa Adams in the hurdles, Breanna Prewitt in the long jump, or maybe an up-and-coming freshman could really push Timberland over the top as they aim for their first team trophy in track and field in their school's history.