2025 MSHSAA Class 4 & 5 State Championships Preview

Kyle Deeken

Class 5 Girls


Ladue, Cardinal Ritter Lock Horns One Final Time With History On The Line

When Ladue moved up to Class 5 this year, we knew that an epic battle was on the way. Over the last two weeks, the battle between the reigning Class 4 champions Ladue Horton Watkins and the four-time reigning Class 5 champions Cardinal Ritter has gone the way of the Rams. But how will it go this weekend?


It was always going to take a special team and a special effort to take down Coach Tiffany Spain's dynasty at Cardinal Ritter. Since their first Class 5 victory in 2021, the Lions have scored a combined 346.5 points, an average of 86.625 per victory. Their lowest total was 64 in 2021 and their highest came last year at 103. But graduation hit them harder than it did their competitor Ladue...even still, nobody has counted them out yet and should not, at least. 


Ladue may have beaten them at both District 2 and Sectional 1, but the State meet is a totally different animal which boosts teams with multiple champions. It's how Cardinal Ritter came to score 346.5 points over the last four years: champions in multiple events. They will score 0 points in anything over 400 meters or any of the jumps (the latter being in stark contrast to years past), but they have the frontrunners to make up for it in the 100, 200, 400, 100m hurdles, and 300m hurdles, as well as the three sprint relays.



Kyndall Spain is a contender to pick up 20 points on her own in the hurdle events. Six-for-six in medal chances in the two events in her career so far, as well as an owner of three golds including two from last season, Spain has run 13.46 (+1.0) and 41.92 in her career, respectively. The 41.92 came this year and is MO No. 4 mark all-time. Her 13.57 (+1.8) season best leads Class 5 this year, as well, but she is followed very closely behind by Timberland's Alexa Adams, teammate Naila Kerr, and Hickman's Athena Peterson. Spain will also contest the 100 and 200 this weekend, precluding her from any relays, but her 12.01 and 24.24 personal bests should help add points to her team's tally regardless. 

Ritter's 4x100 and 4x200 relays are top contenders in the State, but it will not be easy this year. Liberty North has the top mark in the State at 47.63 with Ladue right behind in 47.66. In fact, their 47.84 best, a time which would win most years, is fourth-ranked heading into the weekend. Their 4x200 relay posted a 1:39.46 mark at the Arcadia Invitational, but has since been overtaken by Staley's 1:39.28 at the Sectional meet.

Photo: Chris Auckley

Mekenzie Rogers is looking to pick up important points in the 200 and 400 and Reagan Boyd is their third competitor in the 100m hurdles with Spain and Kerr. Cami Costello and Sasha Redding picking up points in the Shot Put and Discus would be major for their five-peat hopes, as well.


But Ladue may stack too many double-digit point totals across their events and run away with it this weekend. Led by the Brinker sisters, Delaney and Zoey, the Rams are looking better than ever heading into the 2025 finale. Delaney has the top mark in the 200 - 23.68 - and 400 - a MO No. 2 all-time 53.10. She also boasts an 11.74 best in the 100, but is still behind Jasmine Ross and Havyn Smith there. Regardless, there may be 24-26 points coming just from Delaney this weekend. As for Zoey, the breakout senior leads the State in the High Jump (1.75m, 5-8.75). She will also compete in the hotly contested long jump where her 5.54m (18-2) best is still 3 centimeters off a top 8 spot at the moment. 

Photo: Chris Auckley

The depth of the team is fairly terrifying, though. They have shown the ability and possibility to score points in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, 4x800, High Jump, and Long Jump. A projection of 26 from Delaney, another 14 from the 100, 200, and 400 from Laila Murray, at least 2, if not more, from Karina Griffin and Aaliyah Rogers in the 800, 10-12 from Zoey in the High and Long Jump, and a whopping 23 from the four relays, Ladue could push all the way up to 75 points or beyond and run away with it this year.
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Stuart Eyes 800/1600 Double To Boost Blue Springs Team Title Hopes

Blue Springs has been on the outside looking in over the last four years, finishing tied for third in 2021 and as the State runner-up to Cardinal Ritter over the last three years. The addition of Ladue throws a wrench in their plan of winning it all, but Coach Jennifer Reeder would most likely tell you "never say never."

Photo: Chris Auckley

The Wildcats are led by one of the three big future Oklahoma State Cowgirls Paige Stuart. Stuart has won each of the last two 800 meter State championships and has been an important part of the all-state 4x800 relay teams over the last three years, including the winning team last season. and runner-up squad in 2023. She has also run important legs on the runner-up 4x400 teams in 2022 and 2023, and championship team in 2024. Stuart opted not to go back to the 400 and instead moved up to the 1600 this spring, getting all the way down to 5:00.03. With her 2:09.54 season best and 2:06.90 lifetime best to go along with that 1600 time, she is a contender to pull in the 800/1600 double and snag a key 20 points for her team.

Photo: Chris Auckley

The Wildcats will need all the help they can get from the 4x400 and 4x800 teams who are ranked fourth and first in the State so far, respectively. Madison Gleason has a shot at key points in the 400, Layla Redding is hoping to crack the top 8 in the 800, and Mariah Barron has some time to drop, but could be a podium finisher in both hurdle events. They will also be eyeing big points in the Shot Put and Discus from Rayana Petty-Calhoun, Ramiyah Petty-Calhoun, and A'Mya Criglar. Criglar is ranked third in the Shot Put and the Petty-Calhoun sisters are fourth and fifth in the Discus.

Losing Tavia Briles' points in the 800 and 1600 will be a huge blow to the team's chances, though. She finished the dreaded fifth in both events at the Sectional 4 meet, but may be even fresher to help her squad secure big points in the 4x400 and 4x800. The sophomore sub-5:00 miler will be among the top contenders in 2026 undoubtedly.

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Samuels, Davis Have Individual Titles In Sight On Home Turf

Talk about a home-field advantage. For Jefferson City throwers senior Stevenette Samuels and junior Lillian Davis, some home-cooking may be in order as they look to sweep the Shot Put and Discus this weekend.

Photo: Chris Auckley

Samuels will be up first in the Class 5 Discus, looking to push her recent personal best of 46.71m (153-3) from the Sectional 2 meet even further. She has gone undefeated in 11 tries so far this season and is the reigning Class 4 champion. Now up a Class, it may not matter as not only is the University of Central Missouri commit top-ranked in Class 5 and the entire State, but she is also the 13th best Discus thrower in State history with only a meter to add to push into the top 10. 


Davis will get her chance in the Shot Put Saturday morning and is the top-ranked competitor in the field herself. The 13.42m (44-0.25) season best she posted is tops in Class 5 so far, but it is the 13.92m (45-8) mark she hit last season to finish second in Class 4 that stands as her lifetime best. Davis appears to perform at her best on her home turf so watch for the junior to challenge 14 meters and earn the victory.

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Tabb, Peterson, and Binkley All 40+ Triple Jumpers Eyeing Championship

Class 5 is rife with stellar Long and Triple jumpers. On Friday, the girls competition in the Triple Jump will be extremely hotly contested.

Photo: Chris Auckley

Chloe Tabb, who transferred across her school district from Lafayette to Marquette this season, hit a massive mark at the Henle Holmes Invitational and has not looked back since. In fact, since hitting that 12.40m (40-8) mark, she has upped the ante even further and hit 12.44m (40-9.75) at the Suburban Yellow Conference Championship. The top-ranked jumper in the field, she will still have to contend with not one, but two other 40 foot competitors. 

Photo: Jeremy Pritchett

Hickman's Athena Peterson shocked everyone when she cleared 6.15m (20-2) and 12.39m (40-7.75) in the Long and Triple Jump at the Glendale Girls Night Out, becoming the first girl in State history to clear 20 feet and 40 feet in those respective events in a career. Consistently in the 12.1-12.35m range since that debut mark, Peterson is absolutely a contender for the victory after finishing second last year.


The final 40+ jumper this season is Lee's Summit's Alexa Binkley. Quietly moving up the rankings throughout the season, Binkley finished second at the prestigious Kansas Relays with her 12.30m (40-4.25) jump. She hit a rut thereafter, but found her groove again last weekend with a 12.11m (39-8.75) clearance for the win. In nine tries this spring, Binkley's only loss has come at the Kansas Relays.

Last year 11.25m (36-11) was good enough for a medal in Class 5. This year, 11.60m (38-0.75) is the eighth-ranked mark heading into the weekend.