Girls Field Events Preview

Class 4 Girls Field Events

(Mackenzie Schweitz)

High Jump

Its not too often the defending state champ comes in to the State meet ranked fourth but it is the case this year.  Brittany Kallenberger has not had a bad season; she jumped 5-5 to win sectionals which ties her winning mark from last year. Two girls have cleared 5-7; Amber Alexander and Mackenzie Schweitz, both of whom won their sectional meet.  In addition, Kylie Ellison of Ft. Zumwalt West cleared 5-6.6.  Then there are a slew of girls at 5-4 and 5-5.  

(Jazmin McCoy, Photo Credit: Greg Hall)

Long Jump

The State record was set back in 1986 for this event and North Kansas City track star Jazmin McCoy has jumped further than that this year.  Her jump of 19-9 is better than the state record.  She won sectionals but will have to beat defending state champ Nataliyah Friar if she hopes to win State.  Friar jumped over 19 feet this past weekend, bettering her mark from last year's State meet. On very few occasions have two girls cleared 19 feet during the same year in Missouri at the State meet. Another girl, Waynieka Wheeler of William Chrismas, is close as she has jumped 18-9.25.

(Nataliyah Friar)

Triple Jump

Friar, a Holt junior, has the fifth best time in state history with her 39-11.25 from last year.  The defending state champ cleared 40 feet for only the second time in her career at her district meet.  She will be challenged this weekend by Kezia Martin and Napheesa Collier, both from Jefferson City.  Martin was sixth last year as a freshman. 

Discus Throw

Last year as a freshman, Asia Cole threw 123-08 at the State meet to finish seventh.  As a sophomore she has stepped up her game.  She threw 150-1 at her sectional meet, easily winning.  Last year's third place finisher, Michaela Dapprich, has thrown 144-0 while the sixth place finisher, Shelby Mustain, is currently ranked second with a throw of 145-9.

(Asia Cole)

Shot Put

Asia Cole also leads this event, this time with a throw of 42-8.5  The Lee's Summit West squad got a tough break when Essence Chalmers, the second ranked shot putter in the state failed to qualify for State last weekend. Tyra Bickham of Blue Springs is the next best thrower and has thrown 41-8.  Kayla Gutierrez of Kirkwood was seventh last year and is currently ranked sixth.  Team points are huge for Kirkwood heading into the weekend, and Gutierrez could help with their quest. 

(Brittany Kallenberger, Photo Credit: Greg Hall)

Pole Vault

Brittany Kallenberger has the chance to do something special this weekend.  She could not only break the state record but smash it.  It currently sits at 12-5 set back in 2007.  This past weekend she cleared 12-9, putting her among the best in the nation.  Megan Wright of Blue Springs also had a great day at the Sectional 4 meet, clearing 12-4, the second best mark ever in the state.  These two should provide the fans with an exciting event to watch.  

 

Class 3 Girls Field Events

(Betsy Borgsmiller)

High Jump

Can a freshman beat a 12 year old class record?  Sara Rhine of Eldon has jumped 5-7 twice this year, half an inch off of the Class 3 record.  She will be pushed by four other girls who have cleared 5-6, including last year's champ, Betsy Borgsmiller of Sikeston.  Also, last years runner up, Breanne Borman, has cleared 5-4 this season.   

Long Jump

Three girls to watch out for in this event are Kayla McGee, Breanne Borman, and Macy Ritter.  McGee, a senior at Lincoln College Prep, has jumped 18-5, currently the best jump in Class 3.  She was third in last year's State championship.  Borman has jumped 18-2.5 and was sixth last year.  Lastly, the top returner, Macy Ritter, currently sits third in the rankings and came out on top at the Sectional 3 meet.  

Triple Jump

Hali Ford won two events last year and while, unfortunately, she won't be defending one of those titles, she could defend this one.  She will have to top Danyell Kates of Gateway, the top ranked Triple Jumper in Class 3. Also in the mix is Kayla McGee, who was third in the Long Jump but did not compete last year in the Triple Jump. 

(Cydnee Reese)

Discus Throw

Cydnee Reese of O'Hara won this event last year and looks even better this year.  She launched the discus 142-5 feet at her conference meet, topping all over Class 3 athletes.  Michelle Kyle of Windsor has also done well this season, throwing over the mark that it took Reese to win last year. The fourth place finisher is in her final season and should give the defending champ some competition. 

Shot Put

Last year Rachel Monteil finished second behind a senior.  With the senior graduated, Monteil will surely be aiming to stand on top of the podium this year.  She is the top ranked Class 3 girl who will be competing this weekend.  Another girl to watch out for is Rashaunda Summers of Central (New Madrid County).  She threw the shot 41-7 feet at her district meet, only four inches less than Monteli's mark. 

Pole Vault

While Skylar Ragland is the defending champ in this event, Haley Pryor has had a breakout year.  The MICDS senior cleared 11-3 at the Marion Freeman Invitational.  This puts her eight inches over Ragland's best mark of the year. She is the only Class 3 girl to clear 11 feet this year and she has done so on a constant basis; clearing 11 feet four of the past five weeks.