Class 4 Girls Sprints/Hurdles
100 Meter Dash
This race could be a special one. Four girls have run the tenth fastest time at the state meet history or faster so far this season. Tianna Valentine, KU recruit, leads the way with a blazing 11.56, which if duplicated, would be a new state record, topping Muna Lee's 11.66 set in 1999. Three other girls are close behind - Peyton Chaney, Jazmin McCoy, and Whitney Adams. Chaney was second last year in this event behind Valentine. The one time they met this year Valentine came out on top. McCoy, a junior from North Kansas City, has run 11.74, .01 seconds behind Chaney's best time from this season. She ran that this past weekend at sectionals. If run at state, that would be the fourth fastest time ever…and she is ranked third! Behind those two is sensation Whitney Adams. The junior from Francis Howell can do anything. She was All-State in this event last year and went on to become All-State in XC! She comes in ranked fourth with an 11.79. The fifth fastest time, 11.84, belongs to Ashley Henderson. That time would have secured her second place last year, but it won't be the case this year. One more girl to watch for is Nataliyah Friar. The jump champ was All-State last year and has dipped under 12 seconds before. This has to be the deepest 100m field the state has seen in a long time - or maybe ever.
200 Meter Dash
Ashley Henderson can run. Her time of 23.89 would put her fourth in state history. For those who are unfamiliar with her, she is only a sophomore and in her first year she collected third place finishes in both the 100 and 200. She could pass Chaney and Valentine as she is the only girl under 24 seconds, something only three girls have ever done at the state meet. After her you have your two usuals, Chaney and Valentine. Chaney is the defending champ in this event and swept the sprint events at her sectional meet. Valentine defeated Henderson at their sectional meet and was second last spring in this event. As any event she enters, Whitney Adams has the potential to score a ton of points. She is currently ranked fourth in this event. Just like last year, a freshman could perform very well in this event. Gabby Hall, a freshman from Blue Springs, won the Sectional Four meet and has run 24.83 earlier this year.
400 Meter Dash
The state has seen some amazing 400m races over the past few years with the names of Montenea Roye, Asia Thomas, and Kendra White all graduating last year. The third place finisher from last year, Whitney Adams, leads the state with her time of 55.28. Back in March she made a statement running 55.84 at the Wash U Gateway Invitational. Two other girls that look good going into the weekend are Peyton Chaney and Elisa Steele. Chaney has the 200m speed as she is the defending champ. She has run just over 56 seconds this year. Steele, a Kirkwood junior, will be fighting for precious team points for Kirkwod and is currently sitting in third in the rankings.
100 Meter Hurdles
Lee's Summit North's Remy Abrought has had a great senior season. She finished second behind her teammate last year and looks to continue LSN's success in this event as she is currently sittingfirst in the rankings. Kimberland Simon, a junior form McCluer North, has run less than a tenth second off of Abrought's mark. While she was not at State last year, watch for her to have a great finish this year. Someone who has improved significantly from last year is Brittany Kallenberger. The LSW senior has performed great in the field events over the years and added an 8th place finish in the 100H last year, but she has dropped her time by over half of a second since last year in this event, putting her third in the rankings.
300 Meter Hurdles
This is a big event for team points. Kirkwood advanced two girls, Amber Solomon and Bria McWoods. Solomon leads Class 4 girls with a time of 44.75 while her teammate is ranked third. Solomon finished 13th last year. Last year's champ, Nicole Douglas, returns but has not found her groove yet this season. Her season best is at 45.97, but there is no doubt that she is capable of doing very well in this event. Ray-Pec's Morgan Smith returns from her tenth place finish as a freshman and currently sits second in the rankings.
4x100 Meter Relay
North Kansas City is ranked on top in this event and with a runner like Jazmin McCoy, this comes as no surprise. Other teams that will also be in the mix are McCluer North, Eurkea, and Nerinx Hall. Nerinx Hall has two girls in the 100m, including second ranked Chaney. Eureka is the favorite to win a team title and their relays are a big reason. They will need to score well in all of the events if they hope to hoist the team trophy this weekend.
4x200 Meter Relay
A couple of teams that are very familiar with each other come in as the favorites. McCluer North, Hazelwood Central, McCluer, and Hazelwood East all sit in the top five. Other teams in the mix are Eureka, as well as North Kansas City, led by McCoy.
4x400 Meter Relay
Francis Howell is the top ranked team in this event and I like their chances. It always helps to have Whitney Adams, the top ranked 400m runner in the state. They also have Valeska Halamicek, one of the best 800m girls in the state. These two should greatly help their chances of winning this event. Kirkwood looks equally strong in this event, running sub-four minutes at their district meet. Lee's Summit North is another team that has run well all year, and they won the Sectional 4 meet this past weekend.