TRACK & FIELD: Who’s going to state from the Joplin area?

The Joplin area will once again be well-represented at the MSHSAA Track and Field Championships.

The state track meet for athletes in Class 3-5 is Friday and Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City.

Here’s a quick look at the region’s state qualifiers.

 

CLASS 5

JOPLIN EAGLES

The Joplin Eagles qualified for state in 11 events, with seven on the boys side and four on the girls side.

Joplin senior standout Hobbs Campbell advanced to state in three events — the 800, 1600 and 3200. 

Campbell was the sectional champ in the 1600 (4:16) and finished third in both the 800 (1:54) and the 3200 (9:48).

At this weekend’s state meet, Campbell will run the 1600 and the 800 on Friday afternoon, with the 3200 to follow on Saturday.  

Before he takes his talents to the University of Kansas, Campbell will look to add to his collection of state medals. At last year’s state meet, Campbell finished second in the 1600 and fifth in the 800.

Joplin’s other individual state qualifiers on the boys side are senior Drew VanGilder (javelin), senior Orion Norris (200-meter dash) and freshman Cordell Washington (high jump).

The Class 5 javelin and high jump are both slated for Friday afternoon, along with the prelims of the 200. 

Joplin’s 4×100 relay team of Quinton Renfro, Tayshaun Palmer, Norris and Davin Thomas advanced by finishing third.

On the girls side, Joplin freshman Brylee Strickland advanced to state in four events.

Individually, Strickland will compete in the 100, 200 and 400. She was second in the 400 (58.94 seconds), third in the 200 (25.58) and fourth in the 100 (12.57).

Strickland also advanced as part of the JHS girls’ 4×100 relay that finished third at the sectional. Also on the relay are Phia Vogel, Abigayle Lowery and Abigail Eckert.

The prelims of all four events are on Friday, with the finals on Saturday for those who qualify. 

 

NEOSHO WILDCATS

The Neosho Wildcats will conclude what’s been a historic season at the state meet.

After winning conference, district and sectional titles, Neosho’s boys will compete in six events at state.

The Wildcats had three sectional champs, senior Collyn Kivett (javelin), senior Jared Siler (high jump) and junior Izaiah Hill (400).

Siler also qualified in the long jump after finishing second at the sectional. 

Senior Tyrese Hill advanced in two events, the 100 and the 200. He was the sectional runner-up in both events. 

 

CARTHAGE TIGERS

Carthage advanced to state in six events, four on the boys side and two on the girls side.

Carthage senior Miguel Solano was the sectional champ in the 800. 

Senior Micah Lindsey advanced in the shot put by finishing fourth. Lindsey was a state medalist in the event last year by finishing seventh. 

Junior Daryl Martin will compete in the 300 hurdles and sophomore Trent Yates advanced in the triple jump.

For the Carthage girls, sophomore Karlie Nichols (shot put) and freshman Chasity Straw (discus) advanced with their top-four performances at the sectional. 

CLASS 4

WEBB CITY CARDINALS

Webb City is taking a large group to the state meet.

After capturing district and sectional titles, Webb City’s boys team advanced 13 entries to state in 11 events. 

Webb City’s individual qualifiers are seniors Grayson Smith (pole vault), Trey Roets (javelin) and Jordan Thornburg (100), juniors Evan Stevens (1600, 3200), Nate Miller (discus), Jadon Brisco (pole vault) and Tucker Liberatore (javelin) and sophomores Ryan Reid (high jump) and Eric Lathan (shot put). 

Smith is the defending state champion in the pole vault and will look to repeat. 

Roets (third) and Stevens (seventh in 3200) are returning medalists, while Miller is a returning qualifier.

The Cardinals advanced to state in three relays, the 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800. Mason Hedger, Dakota Grove, Noah Lankard and Stevens run the 4×800, while the 4×400 features Noah Moss, Gabe Johnson, Mason Hedger and Josh White and the 4×200 consists of Thornburg, Johnson, William Headrick and White.

Webb City’s girls advanced to state in six events.

Individual qualifiers are senior Abi Street (1600, 3200), juniors Dawsyn Decker (javelin) and Aubree Lassiter (discus) and freshman Brooke Hedger (800).

Decker is a returning medalist after finishing fourth last season. Street is a returning qualifier.

Webb City’s 4×100 relay team of Kylie Jennings, Chase Stilley, Alyssa Moreno and Essence Robinson also advanced.

 

CARL JUNCTION BULLDOGS

Carl Junction’s girls will compete in six events and the boys had one qualifier.

Carl Junction sophomore Sydney Ward was the sectional champion in two events — the 100-meter dash and the 200.

Ward is a returning state medalist, as she finished fifth in the 200 and sixth in the 100 in ’22.  

Carl Junction’s other individual qualifiers on the girls side are junior Acadia Badgley (pole vault), sophomore Madilyn Olds (javelin) and freshman Bella Montez (300 hurdles).

Carl Junction’s 4×200 relay team of Olivia Battagler, Destiny Buerge, Dezi Williams and Ward advanced by finishing fourth. 

For the Carl Junction boys, senior Donnie Keith advanced by finishing fourth in the discus.

 

MCDONALD COUNTY MUSTANGS

McDonald County’s boys advanced in three events—4×100 relay (Sam Barton, Esteban Martinez-Olvera, Dominic Cervantes and Josh Pacheco), the 4×400 relay (Cervantes, Hunter Leach, Dalton McClain and Pacheco) and the discus, where junior Toby Moore placed third at the sectional. 

McDonald County’s girls team will be represented by the 4×400 relay team of Ireona Nirka, Clara Horton, Anna Price and Corina Holland.

 

OTHER CLASS 4 QUALIFIERS

Nevada senior Drew Beachler claimed a pair of sectional titles, winning both the long jump and triple jump. Beachler was a medalist in both events last season, finishing fifth in the long jump and seventh in the triple jump.

Monett senior Konner Poynter advanced to state in three events—the 200, 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles.

On the girls side, Monett sophomore Vayla Smith advanced in the 400.

CLASS 3

COLLEGE HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN

The College Heights Christian girls advanced to state in three events — the 4×200-meter relay (Jesalin Bever, Jayli Johnson, Allie Stout and Lauren Ukena), the 4×400 relay (Bever, Johnson, Stout, Ukena) and the 400-meter run (Johnson).

A senior, Johnson finished fourth at the sectional.

After winning the team championship in Class 1 in 2021 and finishing fifth in Class 2 last year, the CHC girls were bumped up to Class 3 this season.

 

SENECA INDIANS

Seneca’s lone qualifier is junior Isabella Renfro, who won a sectional title in the shot put.

Renfro is a returning qualifier, as she finished 11th in the shot put last year.

 

OTHER REGIONAL CLASS 3 QUALIFIERS

East Newton junior Chase Sorrell advanced to state in the 800, 1600 and 3200. At last year’s state meet, Sorrell finished sixth in the 1600 and seventh in the 3200.

Other individual qualifiers for East Newton are Michael Crowe (high jump), Eden Enlow (javelin) and Dominic Shaw (shot put, discus).  

For the East Newton girls, freshman Brooke White advanced in the shot put.

Lamar’s Ian Ngugi (100, 200), Pierce Heins (400), Blaine Breshears (400), Jase Dillon (high jump), Terrill Davis (long jump), Carson Sturgell (pole vault), Tyson Williams (discus, shot), Cameron Sturgell (javelin) and Trace Wooldridge (shot) all qualified individually.

Other regional qualifiers are Cassville’s Matteo Lumetta (3200), Caleb Leach (800), Ashton Wheeler (long jump) and Charles Elliott (300 hurdles), Mount Vernon’s Jacob Erpelding (110 hurdles) and Aurora’s Daunte Floyd (triple jump).

On the girls side, regional individual qualifiers are Lamar’s Kiersten Potter (1600, 3200), Elise Ferris (long jump) and Audra Lloyd (discus), Mount Vernon’s Camryn Cornell (high jump), Nina Cowherd (100) and Kadence Krempges (pole vault), Cassville’s Jolie Evans (800, 3200) and Aaliyah Franklin (discus) and Aurora’s Makena Hall (100 hurdles, pole vault, long jump) and Maisie Phillips (100 hurdles).

 

STATE TRACK MEET SCHEDULE

Friday’s schedule: https://www.mshsaa.org/resources/Activities/TrackandField/W2D1%20Time%20Schedule.pdf

 

Saturday’s schedule: https://www.mshsaa.org/resources/Activities/TrackandField/W2D2%20Time%20Schedule.pdf