Cardinal Ritter Girls Win First State Track Title; Casey Hood Leads Rock Bridge Boys

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Spread out over two weekends, the 2021 Missouri State High School Track and Field Championships returned after a year's absence. Held at Adkins Stadium at Jefferson City High School, all five classes were held separate days between May 21-29. 

After a year of waiting, additional sacrifices were made in the past week. Cardinal Ritter senior Brayanna Washington didn’t attend her high school school graduation on Thursday evening, according to reports from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Instead, the senior was at Adkins Stadium helping lead her team to its first state championship. Led by strong track performances, Cardinal Ritter claimed the Class 5 with 64 points. 

Cardinal Ritter freshman Aniyah Brown was one of the brightest stars of the meet, winning the 100 in a meet record time of 11.77. Brown also claimed the 200 (24.08) and was part of the winning 4x200 (1:39.9). Washington was part of Cardinal Ritter’s first-place 4x100 (48.37) and placed sixth in the 100. 

Makayla Clark of Lee's Summit West won the 1,600 (5:01.31) and 800 (2:11.59). 

Sophomore Grace Tyson of Lafayette (Wildwood) won the 3,200 meters in 10:41.08, nosing out Mary Institute's Julia Ray by .04 seconds. 

Kiara Stayhorn of Capital City won the 100-meter hurdles in 13.99 seconds, becoming the first state champion for the new school. She also jumped 19-10.50 to win the long jump and went 5-7.75 to place second in the high jump. 

Cydney Banks from Lee's Summit West won a throws double, taking the shot put with 45-6 and the discus with 142-1 -- both state-leading marks. 

Sophomore Casey Hood led Rock Bridge to a Class 5 crown, winning the 200 (21.57) and placing second in the 100 (10.82) and ran on the runner-up 4x200 (1:29.80). Teammate Chris Giles won the 400  a time of 1:29.80

Mason Brock of Francis Howell won the javelin with a US#23 throw of 194-3 and finished third in the discus (165-4). Bryce Kazmaier, also of Francis Howell and ranked US#2 in the javelin this season, finished behind his teammate with 189-8.

Ethan Lee from Liberty North pulled off an impressive mid-distance double, taking the 800 in 1:53.84 and also the 1,600 in 4:17.39. 

Jaden Deaton of Poplar Bluff edged out Rock Bridge's Matthew Hauser in the 3,200 meters, 9:17.87 to 9:18.50. 

Southern Cal signee Johnny Brackins from Lee's Summit won the 110 hurdles in a personal best and US#5 13.79 seconds. He also won the long jump with US#6 23-8.25 and the triple jump with US#8 48.3.50.  He also ran on his school's fourth-place 4x400 relay. 

Class 4, May 28

It was a bittersweet moment for the Trinity Catholic girls track program on Friday. In early 2021 it was announced that the school would close at the end of the academic year. Trinity made sure to go out on a high note as it scored 59 points to win the Class 4 title. US#1 javelin thrower Sydney Juszcyzk led the efforts by breaking the Class 4 state record with a throw of 151-9. She has a best this season of 177 feet.

Junior Brooke Moore also dazzled with a US#20 triple jump of 39-10.75 and finished third in the 100 hurdles (14.39). 

Raytown South sophomore Zaya Atkins was the state's fastest female sprinter, with 11.56w in the 100 and she also won the 200 (23.95w) and 400 (55.43).

Mary Schelp of Lutheran South doubled up in the 1,600 (5:03.48) and 3,200 (10:56.94). 

In 4A boys action, Webb City claimed the team trophy with 64 points. 

In the distance events, West Plains' Riley Simpson won the 3,200 (9:19.23), 1,600 (4:22.13) and 800 (1:56.64). 

Marshall Swadley of Willard launced a huge two-foot personal best to win the shot put with US#4 66-11.50. He also won the dicus with a state-leading 185-4. 

Class 3, May 29

The final day of the Missouri State Track and Field Championships did not lack drama. Both team titles came down to the wire on Saturday as the El Dorado Springs boys and Ste. Genevieve girls both claimed Class 3 titles by one point.

In the boys race, El Dorado’s Daelen Ackley led the way for his team with an impressive day in the distance events, winning the 3,200 (9:13.71), 1,600 (4:22.11) and 800 (1:58.85). El Dorado Springs finished with 43 points to edge out Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School (42 points) for the team title. 

Jonathan Cox of Pleasant Hill broke a meet record in the javelin with a throw of 177-9. 

James Milgie of Whitfield won the 400 meters in 48.46. 

Led by Megan Aubuchon’s victories in the 100 hurdles (14.45) and 300 hurdles (44.45), the Ste. Genevieve girls scored 38 points to win the team title over Blair Oaks (37 points). Blair Oaks won the 4x400 as Ste. Genevieve got eight to gain the single point it needed for the team win. 

Marysa Flieg threw a personal best 144-3 for Ste. Genevieve to win the javelin. 

Allee Brattin of Pleasant Hill threw 44-5 to win the shot put. 

Class 2, May 21

Sophomore Issam Asinga of Principia ran state-leading times of 10.63 to win the boys 100 meters and 48.17 in the 400 and also won the 200 (21.64).

The STEAM Academy girls were led by a dominating effort on the track as senior Cheyenne Melvin set a Class 2 state record in the 400, clocking 56.17 and won the 800 (2:20.42).  Her sister, Chelby Melvin, won the 300 hurdles in a meet record time of 43.23 and claimed the 100 hurdles title in 14.49. Both Melvins also ran on the winning 4x400 (4:00.76). Teammate Leah Thames won the 100 (12.45) and 200 (25.46).

The Father Tolton Regional Catholic boys won the 4x400 relay in a time of 3:27.42 to score 44 points and beat out Highland (42 points) for the Class 2 team title on Friday, May 21. Father Tolon also won the 4x800 (8:13.26). 

In the field, Luke Nichols of Charleston set a Class 2 record in the javelin with a throw of 182-7. 

Class 1, May 22

It was the Asher Buggs-Tipton Show in the Class 1 meet. The freshman phenom scored 40 points as he won four individual gold medals to help lead Green City to a state team championship. Buggs-Tipton won the long jump (22-0.75), triple jump (45-0.25), 110 hurdles (14.78) and 300 hurdles (39.11). Green City scored 87 points. 

West Nodaway’s Tyler Blay set a meet record in the 3,200, clocking 9:34.49. Blay finished second in the 1,600 (4:30.19).

The College Heights Christian girls scored 62 points to win the 1A title. Sophomore Addison Lawrence claimed the 100 (12.50) and 400 (57.50) and was part of the winning 4x100 (51.23) and 4x200 (1:47.44) relays. 

St. Joseph Christian senior Brooklyn Miller broke a meet record in the javelin with a throw of 130-2.

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Class 5 -- Rock Bridge boys 52 points; Cardinal Ritter girls 64 points - RESULTS

Class 4 -- Webb City boys 64 points; Trinity girls 59 points - RESULTS

Class 3 -- El Dorado Springs  boys 43 points; Ste. Genevieve girls 38 points - RESULTS

Class 2 -- Father Tolton Regional Catholic boys 44 points; STEAM Academy girls 80 points - RESULTS

Class 1-- Green City boys 87 points; College Heights Christian girls 62 points - RESULTS