POLL: Missouri Girls TF Athlete of the Week (3/31-4/5)

Apr 07, 2025

This past week was supposed to be our first truly big week of meets of the season, but Mother Nature had other plans. With several meets being cancelled or rescheduled due to the severe storms and heavy rain, the performances from which to choose for this week's Athlete of the Week are much slimmer than we anticipated.

Coaches and meet directors: If you see your meet on the calendar from last week, please let us know if we should expect results, or update the meet name to include "cancelled." Send all results or other inquiries to kdeeken1@gmail.com.

Voting for this week's poll will close on Friday April 11th at 12:00pm.

Shout out to Sparta's Penelope Hansen for winning our most recent poll and being Female Athlete of the Week for Week 1! Hansen had one mark to her name in the after Week 1, but it is a good one. She threw the shot put 12.6m (41-4) at the Tiger Invite in Hollister, the top mark in the state up to that point.

Effie Morris - Boonville

Morris has been busy so far this spring and has already posted personal bests in the 100 dash and 200 dash, as well as strong marks in the 100 and 300 hurdles. Last week, she picked up seven wins at two different meets - the Blair Oaks Invitational and California HS Open. She is tops in Class 3 in the 300 hurdles, second in the 100 hurdles, third in the 100 dash, and sixth in the 200 dash.

Crystal S mith - Jasper

Smith has lost only once in seven tries so far this season. Last week, she posted victories in the 100 dash, 100 hurdles, high jump, and long jump at the Diamond HS Invitational. Her long jump personal best of 5.69m (18-8) is nearly 2 1/2 feet ahead of the next closest competitor in Class 1 so far and tops in the state regardless of class.

Paige Stuart - Blue Springs

Stuart has two individual marks to her name so far, both in the 1600. On Friday, she nearly broke 5:00 for the first time, running 5:00.03 at the Rusty Hodge Invitational. She has contributed legs to Blue Springs' top-ranked relays, though, as the Wildcats are already making a statement with 4:00.23 and 9:25.21 marks in the 4x400 and 4x800 relays.

Ava Graham - West Nodaway

Graham won the shot put and discus at last Tuesday's Lathrop Invitational, launching a new personal best of 41.40 (135-10), her first ever mark over 41 meters. Her shot put mark of 10.97 (36-0) has her at the top of the Class 1 ranks in both the shot and discus.

Polly Fendler - St. Teresa's Academy

Fendler won the 800 meter run at the hyper-competitive Rusty Hodge Invitational on Friday in a new personal best of 2:21.46. She was also a member of the 4x800 team which ran 9:37.03 and placed a shocking fourth overall in one of the fastest 4x800 races we have seen at an early April meet.