WEBB CITY, Mo. — Donovyn Fowler continues to have a record-breaking season for the Joplin High School boys track and field team.
A junior, Fowler set a school record in the triple jump by clearing 49 feet, 4 inches at Friday’s Webb City Invitational inside Cardinal Stadium.
With Fowler leading the way, Joplin’s boys compiled 131 points and finished second in the team standings to host Webb City (177.5).
Fowler’s mark in the triple jump was also good for a first place finish.
“I think it was the weather honestly,” Fowler said of his triple jump performance. “Compared to some of the other meets, the weather today was perfect for jumping. I was nice and loose and just feeling it today. I was out for a week and I was trying to prove a point coming back.”
Fowler also won the long jump on Friday with a leap of 22-7.
Fowler already owns the JHS school record in the long jump (23-10.25). Again, he’s just a junior.
“I think having the record in both events means more people are going to look at me and take me seriously,” Fowler said. “I hope it gives me more opportunities with colleges.”
Fowler also ran a leg of Joplin’s 4×100-meter relay team that took first place with a time of 43.99. Dominick Simmons, Trayshawn Thomas and Luke Vieselmeyer also ran legs of the relay.
Fowler placed second in the 200-meter dash (22.51) to conclude a busy and productive evening.
Simply put, Fowler’s in the midst of a stellar season for the Eagles.
“I’m just trying to help my team win a state title,” Fowler said. “Our goals are high.”
The Joplin boys won five events overall.
Joplin’s 4×800 relay team of Hobbs Campbell, Micah Bruggeman, Ashton Ventura and Nicholas Horton took first in 8:11, giving the Eagles two wins in the relays.
Campbell won the 3200 in 9:40.
Thomas took second to Fowler in the triple jump and also finished fourth in the 200 and sixth in the long jump.
Bruggeman was the runner-up in the 400, with Ryan Byers fourth in the same event.
The Eagles were fourth in both the 4×200 (Byers, Korey Read, Vieselmeyer and Evan Overstreet) and 4×400 relays (Ventura, Bruggeman, Evan Matlock, Byers).
Matlock and Zaben Barnes finished fourth and sixth in the 1600, while Matlock took fifth in the 800.
Drew VanGilder finished fifth in the javelin, Read was fifth in both hurdle races and Horton was sixth in the 3200.
JOPLIN GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS
Joplin’s girls won one event and finished sixth in the team standings with 63.5 points.
The team of Allie Keizer, Alexandra Carson, Jackaline Triplett and Jennalee Dunn crossed the line first in the 4×800 relay in 10:41.
The Eagles were fourth in the 4×200, with Kylie Anderson, Allie Lawrence, Isabella Yust and Sydney Newcomb competing. Joplin’s Anderson, Lawrence, Yust and Abigail Eckert took fifth in the 4×100.
Joplin’s 4×400 relay featuring Mya Ndedi-Ntepe, Kennedy Schwartz, Carson and Dunn finished sixth.
Third-place finishers for the JHS girls were Lawrence (pole vault), Alayna Merriman (javelin) and Keizer (3200).
According to Joplin coach Brandon Taute, Merriman set a school record in the javelin with her toss of 111-8.
Schwartz finished fourth in the 400, while Carson was fifth in the 800 and Kirsten Thom took fifth in the high jump.
Jovi Frost and Claire Jasper finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in the shot put. Lawrence finished seventh in the 200.
Congrats to @FowlerDonovyn on breaking the record in triple jump with a jump of 49’4”. pic.twitter.com/Q9J7xjnLFN
— Coach Taute (@brandontaute) April 30, 2021
