It’s time for the Missouri Class 3 & 4 Track and Field Championship. Here’s a preview of what I’ll be watching starting with the girls.
Class 4 Girls
The battle for the overall championship promises to be an exciting one. Our Virtual Meet calculated a 51-51 tie between Ladue and Lee’s Summit West.
Ladue is lead by the strength of their relay teams in addition to Sam Levin in the 800 & 1600 and Montenea Roye in the 400 and 200. They also return their state champion 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams. Both relays include the dynamic duo of Roye and Levin, which will make them very tough teams to beat. Lee’s Summit West will look for scoring from Lauren Cheadle in the jumps and sprints, and Liga Blyholder and Chelsea Phoebus in the distance races.
The race for the 1600 meter championship promises to be an epic one. In recent weeks Colleen Quigley has lead the pack but Sam Levin defeated Quigley in the 1600 at KU. Lurking in the field is two-time Footlocker finalist Diane Robison and Liga Blyholder who are no strangers to winning big races. Krista Menghini and Jessica Jackson have also run 5 minute 1600’s this season so this promises to be an exciting battle.
Returning champion, Levin will come back for another exciting race which features Eureka's Alyssa Rebecca. Both girls have ran an amzing 2:13 while Sam has been able to get the best of Rebecca in the two times they have faced this season. Not to far behind is Colleen Riley of Lindbergh who could make a bid at the state title.
While the Eureka 4X800 girls are the likely favorites in the Girls 4x800, I’m looking forward to a rematch of the KU Relay combatants from Neosho and Lee’s Summit West as well as Kirkwood.
In the field events defending champion Jill Rushin looks to close out her outstanding high school career with wins in the Shot Put and Discuss events. The High Jump looks like anyone can win with Ruth Mcquerry holding a slight edge over a very competitive field.
Class 3 Girls
The Class 3 girls feature some powerful sprinters and mid distance runners. Tiffani McReynolds is a threat for 4 medals as she competes in the 100 Meter Dash, 100 & 300 Hurdles and the 4 x100 Relay. Kianna Ruff promises to be a major threat in both the 400 & 800 meter races.
(Incoming Tennesse Volunteer, Ruff is yet to win the 800 meter run as she has lost to some of the best runners in Missouri history in Sydney Ross and Alyssa Allison. The 400m dash she looks to reclaim her title as she is the defending champion.)
In the distance races the XC state champion Sierra Jenkins looks tough in the 3200 and the 1600 features Taylor Woodruff. Freshman, Kaitlynn Fischer could steal the show as she has ran a 5:11 this season.
In the field events the names to watch include Morgan Whitson on both the High Jump and Discuss and Sydney Haase in the Pole Vault.
The overall team battle will likely be close between Pembroke Hill and McCluer South-Berkley with Maryville and Moberly within striking distance.
