JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — In the final act of their respective prep careers, Joplin seniors Donovyn Fowler and Donovahn Watkins each ascended to the top spot on the awards podium at the 2022 MSHSAA Track & Field Championships.
Finishing the season on a high note, both members of the Eagles claimed individual state championships on Saturday at Adkins Stadium. With Fowler, Watkins and Hobbs Campbell leading the way, Joplin’s boys finished second in the team standings with 46 points. Rock Bridge was first with 97 points. It’s the first time Joplin has finished in the top four at state since 1978.
Less than 24 hours after claiming gold in the triple jump, Fowler captured a second individual championship. Capping a stellar high school career, Fowler won the Class 5 long jump with a school record leap of 25 feet, 3.25 inches.
Fowler’s mark is also a Class 5 record, as the previous best jump was 23-9.25. The Oklahoma signee saved his best for last, as his winning jump came on his sixth and final attempt. Lee’s Summit’s Joshua Manning was the runner-up with a leap of 24-5.75.
Joplin’s Watkins won the shot put with a toss of 61-11.5. His top mark came on the third of six attempts. Lee’s Summit West’s E’lan Moore was the runner-up with a toss of 60-8.5.
Joplin’s Campbell was the runner-up in the 1600-meter run with a school record time of 4:12. A junior, Campbell also placed fifth in the 800 in 1:56.
Campbell also earned a state medal as part of Joplin’s 4×800 relay team that took fifth on Friday.
Carthage and Neosho also had medalists on Saturday.
Carthage’s Micah Lindsey finished seventh in the shot put with a toss of 53 feet even and Neosho’s Kaden Cole placed eighth in the 1600 in 4:18.
On the girls side, Joplin senior Camryn Ledford concluded her prep career by competing in the para events.
CLASS 4 HIGHLIGHTS
Webb City’s Trey Roets placed third in the javelin with a toss of 169-9. In the same event, Mac County’s Andrew Moritz finished sixth (160-6).
Nevada’s Drew Beachler placed fifth in the long jump and Monett’s Konner Poynter took seventh in the 400.
In Class 4 girls action, Carl Junction’s Ally Montez took second in the 100-meter hurdles in 14.82 seconds. Parkway Central’s Skyye Lee won the race in a Class 4 record time of 13.84. Montez was also the runner-up in the 300 hurdles with a time of 43.8. In a close finish, Lee won in 43.76.
Carl Junction freshman Sydney Ward finished fifth in the 200 (25.08) and was sixth in the 100-meter dash (12.32) to earn medalist honors in two events.
Bulldogs senior Olivia Vediz took fifth in the triple jump (35-7.75). Like Montez and Ward, Vediz earned two state medals, as she was fourth in the long jump on Friday.
Webb City’s 4×800 relay team of Alanna Bundy, Sophia Crane, Abi Street and Riley Hawkins finished eighth in 9:56 to earn all-state honors.
Webb City senior Ripley Shanks earned a spot on the podium by finishing eighth in the pole vault (10-0).
The Carl Junction girls finished fifth in the team standings with 32 points.
CLASS 3 HIGHLIGHTS
Lamar’s Phajjia Gordon was the Class 3 state champion in the girls discus with a toss of 122-1.
Seneca senior Katelyn Fyock finished seventh in the triple jump with a leap of 34-7.5.
Aurora’s Maisie Phillips was sixth in the 300 hurdles (48.75) and teammate Makenna Hall placed seventh in the 100 hurdles (16.18).
Cassville’s 4×800 relay team of Marianne McCrackin, Annie Moore, Tori Mitchell and Jolie Evans placed eighth in 10:14.
On the boys side, East Newton’s Kelton Sorrell was third in the 800, while teammate Gabe Bergen finished fourth in the 110 hurdles and Chase Sorrell was sixth in the 1600. The Patriots took seventh in the 4×400 relay.
Lamar’s Trace Willhite placed fourth in the javelin (168-6) and Cassville’s Bradan Dickinson took third in the shot put (53-11.25).
East Newton’s boys finished third in the team standings with 37 points. Westminster Christian (45) and Lutheran-St. Charles (42) were first and second.
FULL RESULTS: MSHSAA Class 3, 4 & 5 State Championships (pttiming.com)
MORE PHOTOS: STATE TRACK & FIELD: DAY 2 PHOTO GALLERY – SoMo Sports (somo-sports.com)
STATE TRACK & FIELD: DAY 1 PHOTO GALLERY – SoMo Sports (somo-sports.com)
