For the first time since 2019, McAuley Catholic High School will have boys competing at the state track meet.
Two members of the team, senior Joe Staton and sophomore Tripp Miller, punched their respective tickets to the state championships by finishing in the top four of their events at this past Saturday’s Class 1 Sectional 3 meet in Point Lookout.
The pair will join the school’s lone female state qualifier, Kendall Ramsey, at the state meet on Friday in Jefferson City.
“I was really pleased with our effort,” McAuley coach Andy Youngworth said of the sectional showing. “The district we were competing against was very competitive. I’m disappointed for the kids that didn’t make it, but I’m really excited for the three kids who are moving on.”
The McAuley track program has made steady progress under Youngworth.
In 2019, McAuley’s boys track team was represented at the Class 1 state meet by the 4×200-meter relay team of Jacob Price, Nathan Taylor, Joseph Lupicki and Jake Staton.
There was no state track meet in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
McAuley’s track program had no state qualifiers in ’21.
In ’22, none of the team’s boys were able to advance.
This year, the Warriors broke through and ended the drought. One week after winning the program’s first district title, the Warriors had a pair of boys advance to state.
“Two years ago, only one boy and one girl qualified for sectionals,” Youngworth noted. “Last year, we had one girl in an event and five boys events at the sectional and none of the boys made it to state. So, to me, that’s something we’ve accomplished this year. It’s nice to be able to have a couple of kids going to state this year.”
At the sectional meet, Staton finished fourth in the pole vault (9-5) and Miller was fourth in the javelin (118-4).
“Joe and Tripp keep getting better every day,” Youngworth said. “They have their work cut out for them if they want to medal at state, but stranger things have happened.”
Ahead of the sectional, Staton was the district champion in the pole vault, while Miller took second at the district event.
Staton and Miller are also members of McAuley’s baseball team. The two had a late Friday night with the baseball team before getting up early on Saturday to head to the track meet.
The third-seeded McAuley baseball team meets second-seeded Exeter at 6:15 on Tuesday in a district semifinal.
With a win, the baseball team would play for a district title on Wednesday night. The state track meet begins on Friday in Jefferson City.
“Hopefully those guys will get the chance to compete for a district championship in baseball and compete at the state track meet in the same week,” Youngworth said of Staton and Miller.
As far as other events at Saturday’s sectional, McAuley’s boys just missed qualifying in three relays after finishing fifth in the 4×100, 4×400 and 4×800.
“Our 4×8 dropped 16 seconds but didn’t get out,” Youngworth said. “Our 4×1 was very close to making it to state. Our 4×4 just didn’t run as well as it did at districts. I was disappointed for our relays. They worked hard.”
Junior Michael Parrigon just missed advancing in the two events after finishing fifth in the 1600 and sixth in the 800.
“That’s just life,” Youngworth said. “Not everything is going to fall your way.”
Youngworth noted those disappointments should provide extra motivation next season.
“We’ll have a lot of our kids back next year,” he said. “This season was a great learning experience. We just have to get better. That’s the bottom line. We have to train harder.”
On the girls side, McAuley Catholic junior Kendall Ramsey was the sectional champ in two events — the 1600-meter run (5:50) and the 3200 (13:27).
“Kendall ran really well,” Youngworth said. “She went out in the 1600 and 3200 and just controlled the race early on. I know she can run faster than her times from Saturday. She didn’t have to run really hard just to get out. I’m happy for her.”
Ramsey is no stranger to state competition.
McAuley’s lone state qualifier in ’22, Ramsey finished 10th in the 3200 at last May’s state track meet. She placed eighth at this past fall’s state cross country championships.
Youngworth noted that Ramsey has the potential to earn a spot on the awards podium in both events this weekend.
“I think she can get on the podium,” he said. “She’s matured a lot as a runner. If she runs her personal best in both events she’s got a chance to medal.”
The MSHSAA Class 1 Track and Field Championships will be held on Friday and Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City.
