A total of 22 area athletes were awarded all-state medals in 18 different events during the MSHSAA Class 3-4 track and field championships last Friday and Saturday at Lincoln University in Jefferson City.
Athletes from across the state battled hot and humid weather conditions throughout both days of the state meet.
The top eight finishers in each event earned all-state honors.
Stories on area all-state athletes will appear in this edition and future editions of The Missourian.
State Medalists
Leading the way were Sullivan seniors Macy Ritter and Bria Bartolotta, who both claimed four all-state medals in helping the Lady Eagles to a third-place trophy in the Class 3 girls team standings.
“The goal the last two years was a top 10 finish in the state championships. Last year we ended up 11th. The girls really hoped to improve upon that this year,” said Sullivan Coach Pat Burke. “It was kind of cool to have the lead after the first day even though we knew that we would quickly fall out of that once day two started. Once the triple jump was completed and we scored well in that, we really began to see the possibility of a top five finish. And as luck turned out, we were able to do that.”
Ritter was the only area athlete to win a state title. She pulled the trick in the long jump with a leap of 18-0. She needed to top 17-10 on her final jump and pulled an 18 out of her hat.
“I feel awesome. I’m very happy,” Ritter said. “I didn’t really feel I had a chance to do this. I kind of thought about it and then the girl jumped 17-10. I knew it was going to be tough to beat that, but I somehow pulled out an 18 on my last jump. I usually do good under pressure.”
Ritter also finished fourth in the triple jump with an effort of 35-3 1/2.
“It feels really good. I thought I had a good chance to win four medals,” Ritter said. “It’s an awesome way to end my high school career.”
Bartolotta finished second in the triple jump with a leap of 35-8 and fifth in the long jump at 16-9.
“I feel good about it. My best is 36-2 and I got 35-8 today,” Bartolotta said about the triple jump. “It was hard. I was worn out. It’s really hot. Macy did an awesome job, so it all turned out pretty good.”
Ritter and Bartolotta also were members of Sullivan’s all-state 400- and 800-meter relay teams.
The 400-meter relay team of Brianna Winistoerfer, Natasha Snavely, Ritter and Bartolotta placed sixth in a time of 49.91.
“It went good,” Winistoerfer said. “We broke the school record in the 4x1 and the 4x2, so that’s exciting.”
The 800-meter relay team of Natalie Schriever, Winistoerfer, Ritter and Bartolotta was sixth in 1:45.97.
“Our 4x2 did OK this year,” Schriever said. “We were hoping to get off the ground and on the podium, so we were able to accomplish that.”
Washington sophomore Abi Brown finished fourth in the Class 4 girls 800-meter run in 2:19.06.
“Fourth place was not what I expected, so that’s good for me,” Brown said. “I was just hoping to get in the finals and medal. I’m really excited to get fourth place.”
Union senior Trevor King placed fourth in the Class 3 boys 110-meter high hurdles in 14.91.
“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.”
Owensville junior Trevor Nicks was fourth in the Class 3 boys shot put at 49-11.
Union freshman Hannah Mayfield earned all-state honors in two Class 3 events, finishing fifth in the shot put at 40-0 1/4 and eighth in the discus at 112-0.
“I’m pretty excited to be all-state in two events,” Mayfield said. “Coming into the season, I expected it to happen in the shot, but not the disc.”
Also medaling in two Class 3 events was Union sophomore Anna Houston, who tied for fifth in the pole vault at 10-3 and was eighth in the 100-meter high hurdles in 16.21.
“I feel good about medaling in two events,” Houston said. “It’s better than I did last year. I knew what to expect this year and that helped.”
Borgia finished fifth in the Class 3 girls 3,200-meter relay in 9:43.55.
Running for the Lady Knights were Emmy Glastetter, Haley Russell, Taylor Nadler and Emily Grahl.
“We were definitely hoping to medal for sure. It was a definite goal,” Russell said. “A lot of people believed in us, so we knew we had to get a medal. Everyone ran really well. It was everyone’s best race.”
St. Clair junior Kyle Juergens finished sixth in the Class 3 boys pole vault at 13-9.
“I feel pretty good. I felt like I could have jumped a little better,” Juergens said. “My last couple of attempts on 14, I didn’t jump very well. On my very last jump, I blew through my pole.”
Pacific placed sixth in the Class 3 boys 800-meter relay in 1:31.3.
Running for the Indians were Jeffrey Hinkle, Kyle Burgess, Alex Gentry and Dillon Bowers.
“Overall, we did pretty well. It was tough with all of the competition here, but I thought we fared pretty decent,” Hinkle said. “We probably could have done a little better. Overall, we ran pretty good.”
Sullivan sophomore Natalie Schriever was sixth in the Class 3 girls 300-meter low hurdles in 46.51.
“It was really hot. I wasn’t prepared for the weather,” Schriever said. “I felt like I got out OK. I got my steps down. As I was coming down the back stretch, I was getting caught by some of the girls, so I ran my hardest.”
St. James junior Shelby Ridenhour placed seventh in the Class 3 girls 100-meter dash in 12.87.
Owensville sophomore Katie Gregor was seventh in the Class 3 girls shot put at 39-4 1/4.
St. Clair junior Rickey Grivetti finished eighth in Class 3 boys 200-meter dash in 22.79.
“I knew it was going to be a fast race. The heat got to me a little today,” Grivetti said. “I thought I’d do a little better, but I guess I’ll take it for being a junior. I’m excited to be all-state.”
Other State Qualifers
A number of area athletes did not earn all-state honors.
Washington
Washington competed in the Class 4 ranks.
Kirstie Leslie finished in ninth place in both the triple jump at 36-8 and the long jump at 17-0 3/4.
“The competition was unreal. Kirstie’s jumps in the long jump and the triple jump would usually land her in the top four or five,” said Washington Coach Mike Olszowka. “She’s a great competitor and a great kid. What she did in four events this season was amazing.”
Abby Stricker placed 12th in the high jump at 5-3.
“For a freshman competing on the big stage to clear 5-3 for a PR says a lot of Abby,” Olszowka said. “To go 5-3 usually gets you on the podium, but the competition this year was tremendous.”
MC Landolt was 12th in the 100-meter dash in 12.67.
“MC dropped her time again. She’s close to the school record,” Olszowka said. “It was a great way for her to end the season.”
Borgia
Grahl finished ninth in the 800-meter run in 2:23.59.
Russell did not complete the 1,600-meter run.
Union
The girls 3,200-meter relay was 10th in 9:58.53. Running were Victoria Kramer, Janna Ruether, Taylor Lavalle and Houston.
King placed 11th in the boys 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 40.5 and 13th in the high jump at 6-0.
Houston finished 12th in the girls 300-meter low hurdles in 47.97.
The boys 400-meter relay team was 15th in 44.35. Running were Demetrius McClain, Narvell Smith, Ryan Coons and King.
“The boys’ 4x100 relay broke our school record,” said Union Coach Chris Kelley. “The senior boys told me before the start of the season they expected to break that record this year. I’m glad they got it.”
The girls 400-meter relay team was 16th in 51.75. Running were Alonnah Diez, Alyssa Pate, Amber Tharp and Ruether.
The girls 800-meter relay team placed 16th in 1:49:22. Running were Tharp, Diez, Pate and Ruether.
St. Clair
Lyndsay Hardin finished ninth in the 400-meter dash in 59.57.
Emily Presley placed 10th in the pole vault at 9-6.
The boys 800-meter relay team placed 12th in 1:33.55. Running were Terrance Stahlman, Spencer Crumbaugh, Jonathon Benkert and Juergens.
Stahlman placed 13th in the long jump at 19-7.
Alicia York was 13th in the discus at 103-3.
Benkert was 14th in the 400-meter dash in 52.63.
Allison Hinson placed 14th in the shot put at 36-8 3/4.
Grivetti finished 15th in the 100-meter dash in 11.32.
The boys 1,600-meter relay team was 15th in 3:31.02. Running were Stahlman, Grivetti, Crumbaugh and Benkert.
Jake Yerkey scratched out of the discus to finish 16th.
Pacific
The boys 400-meter relay team finished 12th in 44.02. Running were Justin Moyle, Hinkle, Gentry and Bowers.
The boys 1,600-meter relay ended 12th in 3:28.39. Running were Joon Kim, Cedric Wallace, Gentry and Burgess.
Ashley Brinker placed 13th in the 800-meter run in 2:31.85.
The boys 3,200-meter relay team was 14th in 8:22.3. Running were Danny Dieckmann, Alex Cassity, Wallace and Kim.
Sullivan
Uriah Heady finished 15th in the 1,600-meter run in 4:38.53.
Owensville
Hannah Baehr placed 15th in the 1,600-meter run in 5:43.09.
The girls 3,200-meter relay team placed 15th in 10:13.09. Running were Emily Ellis, Kristen Charboneau, Emily Koepke and Baehr.
Ellis was 16th in the 400-meter dash in 1:01.4.
