As the 2023 prep track and field season gets underway, the Joplin area once again features a large number of returning state medalists and returning state qualifiers.
Below is a look at area tracksters to watch this spring.
CLASS 5
Joplin senior Hobbs Campbell is definitely a distance runner to watch this spring.
At last year’s Class 5 state track meet, Campbell finished second in the 1600 with a time of 4:12 and he was fifth in the 800 in 1:56.
Campbell, who placed fifth at the Class 5 state cross country championships last fall, has signed with the University of Kansas.
Carthage senior Micah Lindsey placed seventh in the shot put (53-0) at last year’s state meet and will look to finish higher this spring.
Neosho seniors Isaiah Green and Tyrese Hill are other athletes to watch in Class 5. Green finished ninth in the triple jump (44-0.75) at state, while Hill qualified for state in the 100.
On the girls side in Class 5, Carthage senior Joey Hettinger is a returning state qualifier in the high jump.
Neosho junior Riley Kemna is a distance runner to watch on the girls side. She was a sectional qualifier in the 3200 after finishing third at last year’s district meet. Kemna and fellow distance runner Chloe Wood qualified for state during the cross country season.
CLASS 4
Carl Junction’s girls track team features returning state medalist Sydney Ward, who reached the podium in two events last May as a freshman.
Ward placed fifth in the 200-meter dash (25.08 seconds) and sixth in the 100-meter dash (12.32) and will look to improve upon those finishes as a sophomore.
Webb City’s girls feature returning state medalists Dawsyn Decker and Sami Mancini.
A junior, Decker finished fourth in the javelin with a toss of 126-3 at last year’s state event. A sophomore, Mancini took seventh in the shot put (36-6.25).
Of course, Webb City senior distance runner Abi Street is a returning state qualifier who is coming off a stellar cross country season. She finished third at the state cross country meet and placed 12th in the 3200 at state last May.
Webb City’s boys track team features four returning state medalists.
Webb City senior Grayson Smith is the defending state champion in the pole vault (15-5.75), while classmate Justin Allen was fourth in the same event (13-5.25).
Webb City senior Trey Roets placed third in the javelin (169-9) and junior Evan Stevens finished seventh in the 3200 (9:45).
Also at last year’s Class 4 state meet, McDonald County’s Andrew Moritz took sixth in the javelin (160-6), Monett’s Konner Poynter placed seventh in the 400-meter dash (51.5 seconds) and Nevada’s Drew Beachler finished fifth in the long jump (22-4.5) and seventh in the triple jump (43-2.5). McDonald County junior Josh Pacheco finished eighth in the triple jump at state.
CLASS 3
Due to MSHSAA’s championship factor, College Heights Christian’s girls have been bumped up to Class 3 this season.
At last year’s Class 2 state meet, CHC’s Addie Lawrence claimed the gold medal in the 400 in 58.97 seconds. A senior, Lawrence placed fourth in the 200 (26.67).
Of course, Lawrence won two individual events, the 100 and 400, at the Class 1 state meet as a sophomore.
Also, College Heights’ girls won the 4×400 relay and took second in the 4×200 last year in Class 2.
Lamar senior Phajjia Gordon is the defending Class 3 champion in the discus (122-2). Gordon was also a medalist in the shot put by finishing fifth (38-7.5).
Lamar also features returning state qualifiers Kiersten Potter (1600, 3200), Marcy Miller (high jump) and Elise Ferris (long jump).
Also at last year’s state meet, Aurora senior Maisie Phillips was sixth in the 300 hurdles and Aurora sophomore Makena Hall placed seventh in the 100 hurdles.
Mount Vernon’s Kadence Krempges and Cassville’s Annie Moore are returning qualifiers in the pole vault, while Seneca’s Isabella Renfro is a returning qualifier in the shot put.
On the boys side, East Newton junior Chase Sorrell placed sixth in the 1600 (4:21) and seventh in the 3200 (9:39) at last year’s Class 3 state meet. East Newton senior Dominic Shaw finished seventh in the discus at last year’s state meet with a toss of 150-11.
CLASS 2
In Class 2, Jasper features sophomore standout Crystal Smith, who won the gold in both the 100 hurdles and the high jump and took second in the 200-meter dash at last year’s Class 1 meet. Jasper is now in Class 2.
Stockton’s Kylie Hunter finished sixth in the 400 and Sarcoxie junior Madison Chrisman placed seventh in the 100 hurdles.
Diamond junior Jernie DeWitt is a returning qualifier in the triple jump, while Pierce City senior Hayden Kramer competed at state last year in the discus and Sarcoxie sophomore Nikki Roth advanced in the javelin.
Returning state qualifiers for the College Heights boys are Matt Williams (100), Colsen Dickens (400) and Ethan Ukena (TJ). The Cougars competed in Class 1 last year but have been bumped up to Class 2.
Jasper’s Noah Neher placed fourth in the boys discus as a junior.
At last year’s Class 2 state meet, Miller’s Beau Hall placed fourth in the 100 (11.21), Marionville’s Wil Carlton was fourth in the high jump (6-0.75) and Stockton’s Braden Postlewait was seventh in the 800 (2:01). All three are now seniors.
Other returning state qualifiers are Sarcoxie’s Jaron Malotte (110 hurdles, pole vault), Diamond’s Zachary Roughton (300 hurdles) and Stockton’s Max Brown (300 H).
CLASS 1
Thomas Jefferson senior Kip Atteberry earned all-state honors in three events at last year’s Class 1 state track meet.
Atteberry placed third in the 3200 (10:14), fourth in the 1600 (4:33) and seventh in the 800 (2:04). He’ll look to improve upon those podium finishes this spring.
Returning individual state qualifiers for the Thomas Jefferson girls are Lannah Grigg (discus) and Avery Hocker (TJ).
McAuley Catholic junior Kendall Ramsey is another returning state qualifier. Ramsey earned conference titles in the 1600 and 3200, qualified for sectionals in both events, and qualified for state in the 3200 last season. She finished eighth in Class 1 at state in cross country this fall with a time of 21:07.6.
