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Class 3 Storylines

Amya Bills, New Madrid County Central Look To Steal The Show

New Madrid County Central sophomore Amya Bills is looking to put together an encore to the show-stopping performance she put together at last year's Class 3 State Championship meet. The already three-time State champion is looking to repeat in the 100, 200, and long jump, and may just have the kind of supporting cast that pushes her team into first, as well.

Bills was the breakout star of the 2024 season in Class 3. She picked up victories in the afore-mentioned events and finished out her season with personal bests of 12.07 in the 100, 25.14 in the 200, and 5.80m (19-0.25) in the long jump, hitting all three bests when it counted the most. This year, she heads into the season finale with even better performances in the 100 (11.90) and 200 (24.87), while posting a season-best long jump mark of 5.61m (18-4.75). She should be able to defend all three of her titles as she leads the state as it stands.

But the Eagles won't stop with Bills this year. In fact, we expect New Madrid County Central to be a team title contender now that they are picking up significant points from freshman Orangie Jackson in the 100 and as the top seed in the triple jump, fellow freshman Kaylee Bills in the 200, and those two plus Amya, Kierah Tucker, and Ivyanna Winters all combining to solidify solid 4x100 and 4x200 meter relay teams. Should Ja'Faith Jennings snag a point or two in the long jump or Winters find a spot in finals in either hurdle events, that would only pad their potential title-winning total. 

Watch out for the Eagles all weekend as they rack up the points and challenge for their second ever team trophy and first since a fourth place finish in 1989.

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Caelan Harland Leads Sterling Group of Pole Vaulters

There are no shortage of elite pole vaulters in Class 3 and Saturday afternoon's event will showcase many of them. 

Macon's Caelan Harland leads the way and is going for his fourth career State gold in the pole vault. He would join an elite group of boys who have ever won four golds in a single event in their career. His 5.23m (17-2) mark from the Gerald Mansfield Invitational is tied for 11th in the country and MO No. 3 all-time, but only 30 centimeters ahead of his next closest competitor in Class 3. 

Blair Oaks' Tomas Gonzalez is looking to finally pull off the upset after pulling in silvers in both of his trips to the State meet so far. He has climbed all the way up to 4.90m (16-1) and could become the 10th Missourian to ever clear 5 meters in this, only his junior year. 

Four other boys are heading into the weekend with personal bests over 4.27m (14-0): Borgia's Adam Ashworth (4.53m), Centralia's Jacob Beard (4.31m), Notre Dame Cape Girardeau's Ellis Brune (4.27m), and Lawson's Quinton Florea (4.27m) so regardless of whether you think Harland's win is a foregone conclusion, we should still expect a fun display of vaulting this weekend from the Class 3 boys.Florea, in particular, will be one to watch in this group as he tries to rise in the all-time freshman ranks in the State. He is currently in a 14-way tie for 16th nationally among all freshman. 

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Sinry Mendoza Goes For Distance Treble

MoMileSplit's Cody Thorn spoke with Hollister's Sinry Mendoza earlier this month, discussing everything from his training to his approach this track season and even his decision to give up on football this fall and join the cross country team, much to the chagrin of Class 3 runners state-wide. 

Mendoza has been practicing all season for the feat he is looking to accomplish this weekend: earn a gold medal in the 800, 1600, and 3200 meter runs, otherwise known as the "Distance Treble." 

More and more over the years, the state's top distance runners have found themselves competing in the three primary middle/long distance races in the circuit (sometimes four if they can get three teammates to put together a decent 4x800 relay), but it is usually to pad their team's trophy hopes. For Mendoza, one of his team's two qualifiers, it appears to be all about stacking as many golds as possible.

And with the season he has had so far, why wouldn't he go for it? 

Heading into the Class 3 finale, Mendoza, the reigning 3200 champ and 800/1600 runner-up, boasts the top time in the three events in Class 3. He has run 1:53.32, 4:12.79, and 9:17.77 this year and has run, and won, all three races eight different times this year. 

Battle-tested and a proven winner all season, Mendoza should have little problem posting wins in all three races, but Herculaneum's Nathaniel Wright, El Dorado Springs' Wyatt Klaiber, Notre Dame Cape's Aidan Morris, and Centralia's Nolan Spickert, among others, will be looking to pull off the upset.

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Nelke Gears Up For Three-Peat Attempt in Hurdles

After clinching the State victory for Winfield in 2023, Jersy Nelke has continued to find success as one of the best hurdlers not just in Class 3, but in the entire state. This weekend, Nelke will be looking to pick up her third straight State gold in the 100m Hurdles and close out a strong career with an exclamation point. 

The Lincoln Memorial University (TN) commit is no stranger to busy seasons as her profile page highlights a history of long, but successful seasons that span all the way through the summer. She then competes often in the winter and carries over the momentum into the spring. This spring, she has yet to break the 14.24 personal best she posted to win it all in 2024, but, if last year was any indication, she is one who likes to save the best for last. 

After consistent marks in the low-15s throughout the 2024 season, Nelke posted a 14.52 personal best at State prelims and 14.24 in the finals, both of which wind-legal, and good enough for State gold. 

Not to be outdone, she will be looking to improve upon her third place finish in the 300m hurdles, but that may be a tad more difficult as she is currently blocked by reigning champion Effie Morris, who had her number at the Sectional meet last weekend. Morris ran her lifetime best of 44.36 for the win last spring, while Nelke crossed in her own lifetime best of 45.43. 

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Borgia, ElDo, Lift For Life Among Boys Teams to Watch

There is no clear front-runner for the Class 3 Boys team title which makes this one possibly the most interesting team race to watch of the week.

At least three teams stand out as the ones to watch the most: St. Francis Borgia, El Dorado Springs, and Lift For Life Academy.

Borgia, the private school in Washington, boasts a team with a solid mix of sprinters and jumpers that should accumulate high point totals throughout the weekend from their stars. Harry Mitchell, in particular, the senior and Maryville University commit, comes in as one of the major contenders in the 100, 200, and 400, and even if he doesn't score 10 in each of those, we expect high totals nonetheless. He is also a key leg on the 4x100 team that is trying to upset Lift for Life Academy. Adam Ashworth is one of the six big pole vaulters we mentioned above and should contribute at least 5 points to the cause. Joseph Williams, a freshman who has come on strong these last few weeks, is one of a select few boys in the entire state who has cleared 2 meters in high jump so he should also be a high scorer for the Knights there. Hayden Wolfe may also contribute a point or two in the 200. Borgia is looking for their second team trophy overall and in a row.

El Dorado Springs will also stack points from their superstars, namely Justin Brown, William Seitz, and Wyatt Klaiber. Brown's junior season did not end well last spring, but he's gearing up for a major rebound with 10.47 and 21.65 personal bests so far in the state series in the 100 and 200, respectively. Seitz is the top-ranked 400 meter runner with his 48.67 personal best, but will have to hold off the reigning champion Lutheran North's Michael Clark (who has run 48.95 this year and split 48.09 in the 4x400 last weekend). Klaiber, the Class 3 State runner-up this fall, is gunning for an upset in the 800 and 1600 that would lift his squad even higher in the ranks. Their 4x800 relay team, too, is second-ranked and hoping to add at least 8 points to the pile. Expect the Bulldogs to be among the title contenders as they eye their third team trophy and first since they won it all in 2021. 

Lift For Life Academy is a bit of a surprise team this year, boosted by two guys who are making their first trip to the State meet this year: Dai'Shawn Houston and Laquan Whitt. Houston has quietly been one of the state's top sprinters and a key piece to fairly impressive 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams who are set up well for victories in both. He will also take a run at the 100 and 200 meter titles, but should score highly if he does not win with his 10.72 and 21.45 personal bests. Whitt, on the other hand, has been strong in the middle distance races, specifically the 400, in his sophomore season. He popped a 49.54 personal best at the District 2 meet two weeks ago and is ranked 6th overall. The Hawks will also hope for some points from their 4x400 relay, Jay'Veon Scott in the high jump, Noah Ridgel in Javelin, and Kameron Hurst in both hurdle races. Lift For Life has yet to see the podium in their 25 years as a school, but it appears that 2025 will be the year.

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Class 2 Storylines

Lindsay Ramsey Goes For Historic 100, 400, 800 Treble and Team Four-Peat

When she spoke with MoMileSplit's Cody Thorn earlier this month, North Platte's Lindsay Ramsey and Coach Matt Keraus hinted at the possibility that the superstar senior may be switching up what she runs at the State meet this year. The Mizzou softball commit is stepping out of the typical sprinter comfort zone and looking to pull off a rare treble in the 100, 400, and 800 meter runs. 

Ramsey has shown this year and throughout her career that her range is truly unmatched in Class 2. With four individual golds to her name in her career already, and seven total individual medals to her name, Ramsey has taken the torch as the leader of one of the more dominant programs in the State at the moment. After pulling off the sprint treble last spring (100, 200, 400), she has decided to forgo the 200 and add an event four times its length. But after running 2:16.88 in late April, it appears that she should have little problem handling business on Saturday.

As the state-leader in the 100, 400, and 800 meter runs (as well as the 200), she obviously heads into the weekend as the favorite in all three. She also is listed as a leg on the team's 4x100 meter relay, a team that ran a Class 2 leading 49.44 last Saturday.

Forty points in these four events would be huge for the team's four-peat effort. If they pull it off, North Platte would become only the eighth program to ever win four consecutive team titles. Brianna DeBord and Chloe Heckman are back to add points to the total in the 1600 and 3200 and are hoping to bring in a 4x800 relay gold along with Graci Williams and Farrah Williams. 

Forty-five was all it took last year, but they have scored up to eighty-six in their title run. Watch out for the Panthers all weekend as they look to make Class 2 history yet again.

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East Buchanan Boys Are Ready To Roll Again

After an impressive showing in 2024 in which they scored 56 points and held off Clark County for the win, East Buchanan is back and gearing up for a repeat effort in Class 2.

The Bulldogs are led by two stars up front: Seth Spencer and Trey Johnson. Spencer is the reigning champion in the 110m and 300m hurdles and appears to be the favorite once again this year. He and Adrian's Colton Miller are the only two Class 2 competitors under 15 seconds in the 110s and he is the only one under 40 in the 300s. In 2024, he ran 14.76 and 38.84 for the respective wins. This year, we will be watching to see if he improves on either of those marks, though is personal best in the 110s is down to 14.46 already. Spencer also will run a leg on the team's top-ranked 4x400m relay, the only team in Class 2 who has run under 3:30 so far. 

Johnson has been steadily climbing throughout his career in the long and triple jump, and javelin. After earning state medals in all three last year, he will only contest the long jump and javelin this year. The second-ranked thrower in the javelin behind the national leader in the event, Johnson should still provide major points there. But it is the long jump where he will be hoping to surprise some folks and leap into a medal spot. His season best so far stands at 6.47m from last weekend, but his 6.65m lifetime best would have him tied for 7th. 

Several Bulldogs will also be in attendance, hoping to add points to the total, led by Discus thrower Baker Thomas. Thomas is ranked 8th overall with his 44.86m throw last weekend. 

It will be a tall task to hold off Adrian, West Platte, University Academy Charter, Jefferson Festus, and Caruthersville, but the battle-tested East Buchanan squad appear up to the task again this year.

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Waltman, Davis Among Top Sprinters To Watch

A strong contingent of boys sprinters heads into the weekend with eyes on the top of the state podium. Two in particular stand out with several others vying for supremacy, as well. They are University Charter Academy's Christian Davis and Jefferson Festus senior Matthew Waltman.

Davis's sophomore season was not nearly as busy as his freshman season. With a heavy focus on the 100 meter dash, Davis has lowered his already impressive personal best to 10.67 and heads into the weekend as the favorite for the title. We may only see him in the 4x100 meter relay, but he is sure to bring the fireworks there, as well, alongside teammate Cameron McFarlin, who has also qualified in the 100 and 200.

Waltman is looking to end his junior year with a sprint treble, and he has a good shot at doing just that. Focused more on the 400 this spring, Waltman was still able to push across 11.22 and 22.30 season best marks, still a few ticks off his 10.97 and 22.15 marks from the State meet last spring. His 400 meter time, though, as come down to 48.41 at the early season McCullough-Douglass Invitational. Waltman is looking to stack points for a Jefferson Festus team competing for its first team trophy in school history.

Other sprinters to watch include: Caruthersville's Jermonte Alexander, Lafayette County's Mariano Rodriquez, and Salisbury's Brayden White, among others. Alexander, in particular, has been enjoying a resurgent senior season and should be among those to watch as he looks to pull off the victories this weekend in the 100 and 200.

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Eubanks, Roberts Could Push Fayette To The Top

All eyes will be on North Platte who are looking for the four-peat, but Fayette's two superstars may be leading the charge to pull off the upset. They are Browyn Eubanks and Rylan Roberts. 

We included Roberts in our early-season write-up on incoming freshmen to watch and the sprinter/jumper extraordinaire has not disappointed. With an even 50 individual performances under her belt just this season, Roberts has gotten very used to winning. Of those 50 performances, she finished first in 46 of them, losing only twice in the triple jump and twice in the 100 meter dash (in all four of those competitions, she was second). Roberts is the top ranked triple jumper, second in the 100, fifth in the 200, and third in the 400. If everything breaks as it should, she will bring in 28 points all on her own. 

Browyn Eubanks is back for her junior season and is looking to pick up big points in both hurdle events and the high jump. She is ranked 3rd overall in the 100m hurdles and 4th in the 300m hurdles, though she is the reigning Class 2 champion and boasts a 45.28 lifetime best in the latter. Her 1.64m personal best in the high jump this season has her ranked just ahead of the next best competitor by one centimeter. If everything breaks as it should for her, it will mean another 21 points to the cause. 

More points should be on the way from the 4x100 and 4x200 meter relay teams, and we could see some smaller but significant points come in from Payton Kindle in the 200 and 300m hurdles and Paige Vroman in the 400. They are a sneaky team with only two state trophies to their name in program history, but they could easily put up 50 points and give North Platte a run for their money.

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What Will Bryson Jacobs Do?

The javelins will be flying all morning long from the boys on Friday, but the one we are watching the most is national leader Bryson Jacobs of Adrian High School. This weekend, he will be looking to cement his legacy as the state's definitive best javelin thrower of all time with, most likely, six attempts at the Overall State meet record: 59.34 meters from 2022.

So far this season, he has beaten that mark a whopping five times, headlined by the 66.22m (217-3) State record and US No. 1 mark he posted at the Class 2 District 7 meet two weeks ago. He is undefeated in 10 meets this season, with the Kansas Relays being the biggest one he has won. 

This weekend, the Jefferson City High School sector will hope to hold his throws, though the fans may be hoping otherwise. He is the clear favorite for the gold this year after earning silver in 2024, but how far he will heave the spear is the question on everyone's mind.

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Class 1 Storylines

Meyerkorth Sisters Headline Strong Contingent for Rock Port's Repeat Effort 

Rock Port dominated the 2024 Class 1 State Championships, scoring 73 points and beating second place Tarkio by 22. The dynamic duo of Ella and Avery Meyerkorth was a big reason, and they will both be back for a repeat effort this weekend, along with younger sister Audrie.

The Meyerkorth trio push serious points across for the Blue Jays. Ella may be the busiest of the three, though, as she will take attempts in the javelin and high jump, while running the 100 and 300 meter hurdle races. The reigning 300 hurdles champion, Ella is ranked first in the event heading into the weekend with her 45.81 season best, but it was a 44.82 mark that earned her the gold last year. She is also second-ranked in the 100 hurdles (15.17), fourth-ranked in the javelin (37.79m), and fourth-ranked in the high jump (1.61m). Add it all up and Ella brings in 28 points by herself. 

Senior Avery Meyerkorth will only see two individual events - the 800 meter run and long jump - but she will also be a key leg on the 4x400 and 4x800 meter relays (most likely anchor on both). She is undefeated in the 800 so far this year after earning a silver medal last season, but is ranked fourth with her 2:27.60 season best. The 2:21.03 mark she posted last May would have her ranked second. Similarly, in the long jump, she is ranked thirteenth in the State irrespective of State meet entries, but the 5.14m personal best she posted last year would have her fourth. A weekend like she had last year would most likely add 13 points in the individual events and potentially another 20 in the relays which are both favorites to win based on season best marks.

Freshman sister Audrie looks to contribute in the 400, high jump, and 4x400 relay. Her 1:01.83 personal best last weekend vaulted her into eighth among State competitors and is a huge boost to their 4x400 team. In the high jump, her 1.60m personal best has her right on the cusp of scoring points as well. 

Not to be outdone, the Blue Jays will also most likely see points from Norah Watkins in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs and Braylyn Wood in the open 800. It is entirely feasible that Rock Port puts up over 60 points again this year and rolls to another team title.

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Crystal Smith, Chloe Storm Dynamic Duo For Jasper

We have seen it before from other athletes and teams: winning a team trophy in the Class 1 girls division is entirely possible with 1 or 2 state qualifiers. This year, Jasper has a shot at pulling off that feat with Crystal Smith and Chloe Storm. 

Jasper landed back in Class 1 this year after two years in Class 2. Smith has experienced this class before - she won the high jump and 100 meter hurdles and finished second in the 200 meter dash her freshman year. Now a senior, Smith is back and competing for three more gold medals this year (she finished fifth in the long jump at the Sectional 3 meet or else it would be four). She is the top-ranked athlete in the 100 meter hurdles and javelin, and second-ranked in the high jump. Another 28 point effort would push Jasper into the trophy conversation, but it's the contributions Storm should bring that may push them over the edge.

The junior Storm has taken a major step forward this season and now she will compete in the 100, 200, and 400 this weekend. Even five points across the three events may be enough to push the Eagles into a top four spot and with 13.03, 92, and 1:01.62 personal bests, five points is entirely possible. 

Keep an eye on this Jasper duo as they try to take the team podium all by themselves. 

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Emerson, Nold, Parrigon Look To End Illustrious Careers In Style

Three of Class 1's all-timers are looking to go out in style this weekend: Albany's Kyle Emerson, Dora's Cade Nold, and McAuley Catholic's Michael Parrigon. 

Emerson is looking to close our his career with repeat victories in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. After bursting onto the scene last season and finishing out the year 23-for-23 in the 100 and 200, Emerson found some larger schools to compete against this year, but has still held his own. He finished second overall in the 100 at the Kansas Relays in April, running his personal best of 10.70 in a legal wind. He also finished second in the 200 to Class 5 star Robert Collins Jr at the Ken Peek Invitational, running his 21.58 personal best there, as well. Seeking out the larger schools has paid off for Emerson and now he is the heavy favorite to pick up state titles number 3 and 4 this year, and potentially anchor the state champion 4x100m relay team. 

Nold is also looking for repeat victories in Class 1 in the 400 and 800, and is also looking to tack on a 200 title to boot. A 1:53.96 man from last summer's Music City Track Carnival, Nold has hit 1:55.11 in the half-mile this spring. It would be a state meet record if he could even duplicate that time, but another 1:53 would shatter the record. Nold is undefeated in the 400 meter dash this spring, like the 800, and has run 48.54 this year, over half a second better than the state meet record he ran last May. As for the 200, he will have some work to do to track down Emerson and Cash Anderson, but his 22.17 personal best has him within striking distance. 

Parrigon is another one whose recent rise has him as one of the elite names in Class 1 at the moment. He was the runner-up in the 800 and 1600 last spring and the anchor leg on the champion 4x800 squad. This weekend, he is hoping to improve upon those silver place finishes and retain the belt in the 4x800. The 800 will be tough as, even with his 1:55.70 split from last year's State meet, he is still well behind Cade Nold based on open personal bests. The 1:58.81 best he ran last weekend, though, has him trending upward. In the 1600, his 4:31.99 personal best from last year's State meet has him firmly in the driver's seat among this year's field - a field led by newcomer Isaiah Watson of Faith Christian Academy in 4:30.84. He has run 4:32.46 this spring. He'll hope to close out his weekend with more hardware in the 4x400 meter relay, as well.

These three boys may just combine for five individual championships and one or two more relay titles. Expect to see their names on the board and state medals around their necks early and often this weekend.

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Several Class 1 State Meet Records Are In Danger

The following Class 1 State meet records are in danger of falling this weekend: 

Girls

100 meter hurdles - 14.54, 2016 (Crystal Smith, Ella Meyerkorth)

4x200m Relay - 1:47.07, 1984 (Mound City, Stanberry)

400m Dash - 56.70, 1986 (Audrey Gibson)

300m Hurdles - 44.82, 2024 (Ella Meyerkorth)

200m Dash - 25.34, 1988 (Audrey Gibson)

4x400m Relay - 4:04.75, 2013 (Rock Port)

Long Jump - 5.60m, 2024 (Ella Jamison)

High Jump - 1.70m, 2018 (Annabelle Gardener, Crystal Smith)

Shot Put - 12.72m, 2006 (Ava Graham)

Discus - 44.58m, 2024 (Ava Graham)

Triple Jump - 11.45m, 1998 (Dakota Reynolds, Anela Fletcher)

Boys

4x200m Relay - 1:30.81, 2023 (Hardin-Central)

400m Dash - 49.15, 2024 (Cade Nold)

300m Hurdles - 38.91, 2024 (August Meadows)

800m Run - 1:55.97, 2003 (Cade Nold, Michael Parrigon)

200m Dash - 21.25, 2022 (Kyle Emerson)

Long Jump - 7.02m, 1996 (Zane Becker, Wyatt Maize, Tristan Smith)

High Jump - 2.08m, 1992 (Keller Bradshaw)

Discus - 50.90m, 1999 (Drake Prange, looking to break his father, Clint's, State meet record)

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McAuley, Mound City Top Boys Teams To Watch

The team title appears to between two teams primarily: A Mound City team looking to repeat and a McAuley Catholic team looking for its first ever team trophy in track and field. 

The afore-mentioned Michael Parrigon is the de facto team leader as he seeks to put up double digit points in the 800 and 1600 and anchor his 4x400 and 4x800 teams to a top spots. His teammate, Franklin Veer, appears ready to contribute significant points in the distance races, as well. He dropped under 2:00 this spring (1:59.35) and has a 10:15.25 personal best in the 3200 that has him third-ranked overall. Roscoe Miller may also contribute in the javelin and Alex Bohachick will represent the team in the 400, hoping for a spot in finals. If everything breaks as it should for McAuley, they should finish out their weekend with anywhere from 49-52 points.

Mound City is led by hurdle standout August Meadows. Meadows has the second-ranked mark in the 110m hurdles (15.14) and top-ranked mark in the 300m hurdles (39.00). Last season, he blitzed a Class 1 State record of 38.91 to take home the crown in the longer hurdle race, but that record may not stand for very long if he has anything to say about it. Expect to see him anchoring the team's 4x200 and 4x400 squads, relay teams which are ranked second and first, respectively. Creyton Roup is an important piece to the puzzle in the open 400 and Ernest Peters is looking to add big points in the pole vault after finishing fourth in 3.98m last spring. 

Other teams to watch include: Thomas Jefferson Independent, led by Will Twiss's top-ranked 3200m run (9:56.39); Dora; Albany; and Hardin-Central.