With his overall performance during the track and field season, Trevor King proved to be one of the top athletes not only in the area, but also in the state.
King capped his career at Union High School by competing in four events at the MSHSAA Class 3 track and field championships at Lincoln University in Jefferson City.
King captured all-state honors in the 110-meter high hurdles, an event he dominated throughout the season, posting a time in the finals of 14.91.
The top eight finishers in each event earned all-state medals.
“I expected to be where I was, about third or fourth place,” King said. “I’m just so excited to actually be here and get a fourth-place finish.”
No stranger to the state track and field meet, King accomplished his goal of getting to the medal podium.
“This is the first time I’ve qualified for the finals at state,” King said. “I’ve qualified for state the last three years.”
In the preliminaries of the 110-meter high hurdles, King registered a time of 15.13, which was the sixth-best time.
King stepped it up in the finals, improving both his time and his place.
“I don’t think I ran to my full potential in the preliminaries, but it was still good enough to make it to the finals,” King said. “I felt like I ran really well in the finals.”
The competition in the 110-meter high hurdles was fierce.
Grandview senior Dapo Akinmoladun won the title, blazing to a time of 13.56.
John Burroughs junior Ezekiel Elliott, one of the state’s top football running backs who already has committed to Ohio State, finished second in 14.13.
“It was amazing competition,” King said. “Those two in the front are two of the best in the nation.”
King’s performance impressed Union Coach Chris Kelley.
“Trevor ended his high school career the way he wanted, with a state medal in the 110-meter high hurdles,” Kelley said. “He ran a great race in the finals. He got out of the blocks well. He finished fourth out of a deep field. I believe the top two in Class 3 are nationally-ranked runners.”
Named the most outstanding male athlete at the Four Rivers Conference meet, King also competed in three other state events.
King finished the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in a time of 40.5, which was the 11th best time in the preliminaries.
Competing in the high jump, King cleared 6-0 to place 13th. The eighth-place high jumper cleared 6-2.
“I was just really excited to make it to state in the high jump,” King said. “I went out there and jumped my hardest.”
King also ran on the Wildcats’ 400-meter relay team that finished 15th in a time of 44.35. Also running were Demetrius McClain, Narvell Smith and Ryan Coons.
King also played wide receiver and linebacker for the Union football team.
During his senior season, he had 17 receptions for 301 yards and five touchdowns and registered 38 total tackles in helping the Wildcats to an 11-1 record and a FRC and district championship.
King will focus on track and field in college, where he will attend Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.
“I’m going to Missouri S&T to be a multi-event athlete,” King said. “I’m going to do the decathlon.”
King left his mark on the Union track and field program.
“Trevor leaves Union with five school records. He had a great career. He was such a joy to coach,” Kelley said. “Missouri S&T got a great young man when they signed him. I wish him the best of luck in college and look forward to what he can accomplish at the next level.”
