Some of the best performances in Missouri history came last weekend.
While there were plenty of class records rewritten at the Class 1-2-3 MSHSAA finals, there were some eye-popping numbers posted in the Class 4 and 5 sectional meets across the state.
New superlatives were set in the boys' and girls' record boards, and other performances got on the leaderboards.
Photo: Chris Auckley
The Platte County boys 4x100-meter relay became the first-ever relay team to run sub-41 seconds when they put together a 40.83 at the MSHSAA Class 5 Sectional 4 meet on Saturday. They had already run 41.24 at the Class 5 District 8 meet to take down Hazelwood East's 41.28 from 2008.
Jackson Cantwell did Jackson Cantwell things at the MSHSAA Class 5 Sectional 3 meet. The Nixa junior reset his record and US-leading mark with a toss of 23.30 meters in the shot put. He had thrown 22.79 meters in the district meet.
Other notable performances included Staley's Robert Collins Jr. running 10.27 in the 100-meter dash, the fastest time run in Missouri and the second fastest ever -- behind only Olympian Maurice Mitchell's 10.26 at the 2008 KU Relays. Also, Duke signee Langston Thomas from Hickman, who ran 10.32 at last year's Class 5 Sectional 2 meet, the third-fastest time ever in the 100, ran 10.55 for the win in Sectional 2 this year.
Rock Bridge nearly broke their own State record in the 4x200 meter relay, running 1:25.93 and leading a slew of team under 1:27. Six, to be exact. Two teams who ran under 1:27, a barrier that would have earned them at least 6th last season, will not get to compete at State this weekend. They are Ft. Zumwalt North (1:26.92) and North Point (1:26.96).
Photo: Chris Auckley
The Bruins also posted a MO No. 17 all-time mark in the 4x400 meter relay and led six teams under 3:21, a barrier that would have earned them sixth in last year's prelims. The two teams who will not be in attendance at State now are Hazelwood Central (3:20.29) and Ft. Zumwalt West (3:20.53).
In the 200-meter dash, John Moss from Hickman (21.03) is now 7th all-time and Stanley Brown from Parkway Central is No. 10 after running 21.05 at sectionals. The time for Moss broke the Sophomore State record.
Lee's Summit North's 4x400-meter relay team ran 3:14.39, which is the fourth fastest all-time, only 1.21 seconds behind the 2019 Cardinal Ritter squad.
Photo: Chris Auckley
The Class 5 Sectional 4 4x800-meter relay was fast and Lee's Summit West ran 7:44.74 and won't go to state after taking 5th.
That time last year at the state meet would've been 3rd place. According to Shawn Beldin on X.com, Lee's Summit West's time would also have won 19 of the last 24 State Championships in Class 4/5. Platte County's 6th place time of 7:48.76 is also a mark that has won in the past 24 years - 13 times to be exact.
Rockhurst ran 7:38.75, which is the fastest ever ran in the state, but not quite the 7:33.83 that same team ran earlier this year at the Penn Relays.
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Photo: Ryan Comstock
Six of the eight times from the sectional would've been all-state times last year.
Park Hill South (7:38.75/No. 3), Blue Springs South (7:43.46/No. 6) and Lee's Summit North (7:44.61/10th) are now the top-10 all-time from that single race in Blue Springs.
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Kearney's Theodore 'Theo' Grace is now No. 9 all-time in the javelin at 59.68 meters after the Class 4 Sectional 4 meet.
On the girls side, there were several marks on the top 10 in the leaderboard.
Photo: Chris Auckley
In the 200, Delaney Brinker from Ladue Horton Watkins is now 6th (23.68) and Havyn Smith from Pattonville is now 8th (23.73) after their respective sectionals. Smith's 23.73, with a legal wind of +1.3 m/s, is a State record for freshmen. Her 11.69 (+2.9) 100 meter mark is an all-conditions No. 2 all-time for freshmen.
Aryn Lanier-Collier is now No. 3 all-time in the 300-meter hurdles with a 41.68. The Winnetonka star is also 12th in the 100 at 13.389. Grandview's Jordin McGee was 6th overall with a 13.62 in the 100 at the Class 4 Sectional 4 meet.
Photo: Chris Auckley
Alexa Adams is fifth in the 300-meter hurdles now with 42.33 from the Class 5 Sectional 2 meet, one of three school records the senior set for Wentzville Timberland.
Raytown South moved into 10th all-time in the 4x100-meter relay (47.23) and Staley is now 3rd all-time in the 4x200 after running a 1:39.28.