Big River 2007 Missouri High School Track and Field Preview

Take your marks, get set, go! The 2007 Missouri high school track season is upon us and the Show-Me State appears ready to show the rest of the country that it is indeed a track powerhouse.

With national-level sprinter Alishea Usery, elite distance runners Josh Thebeau and Josh Mathis as well as state record pole vaulter Tara Diebold Missouri has plenty of firepower across the board. The State also boasts some outstanding teams including the defending Class 4 Boys Champions from St. Louis University High who will renew their rivalry with runners-up Raytown South and the third placers from Lee's Summit North.

SPRINTS

The Raytown South Cardinals will look for big points in the short dashes from top returner Maurice Mitchell. As a sophomore in 2006, Mitchell finished second in the 100 and 200 as well as earning a Championship as a member of South's winning 4 x 400 relay squad. Other top short sprinters include Sumner senior Michael Clark, Fulton senior Thomas Brown, SLUH sophomore Ronnie Wingo and Washington junior Denodus O'Bryant.

On the girl's side of things the conversation starts and ends with Usery who could rewrite the record books before it's all said and done. Already the overall State record holder in the 200 and 400, the McCluer South-Berkeley junior should have a shot to grab the 100 meter record this year as well. Her total Individual State Championship count is now at six so she is on pace to tie the record for most ever if she can get to 12 over the next two years. She could also become the first athlete, boy or girl, to become a four-time Champ in three different events.

While Usery owns all three sprints on the girl's side things seem a little more specialized on the boys side. With Mitchell likely to run two relays plus the century and half-lapper the 400 is more of an open battle. Westminster senior Ryan Blackwell, last year's Class 3 third-placer, has the top returning time from the 2006 Meet at 48.81 with Class 4 Champ Andre Thomas of Fort Zumwalt South next at 48.89. Rumor has it that Thomas may try his hand at the 800 as well in an effort to bring the Zumwalt South squad to the top of the podium in the 4 x 800 relay.

DISTANCE

If the 400 star does try to move up he'll have plenty of help on the relay as the Bulldogs return top notch distance man Kyle Rood, the 2006 State Cross Country Champ, as well as his teammates from a harrier team that scored a mere 65 points last November. Of course, for the last couple of years if you are going to talk Missouri distance running then you are going to talk about the boys from Potosi High School . The familiar yellow and purple jerseys should once again be flying around the track this season led by the Joshes, Thebeau and Mathis, who most likely have their sights set on scoring enough points to bring the Trojans another State Title. They will likely have to battle a trio of Class 4 stars for State top time honors with Rood, CBC's Dan Quigley and Rock Bridge 's Phillip King likely to be front-runners in the 1600 and 3200. Quigley is the top Class 4 returner in both events. Lutheran South junior Adam Behnke will also be a factor in the 1600 and top 2-lap honors should go to either Thebeau from Class 3 or Gateway's Marcus Brown in Class 4.

The girls distance races will be without 12-time State Champion Merideth Snow who has taken her talents to Texas A&M University . That leaves the door wide open for new stars to emerge. Dueling State Cross Country Champions Brittani Johnson from West Plains and Hilary Orf from Marquette will likely be the favorites for top honors in the 3200. The mid-distance races have a clear favorite in Rock Bridge junior Lauren Borduin who ran an incredible 2:09.98 in the blazing heat at last year's State Meet to grab the Class 4 800 crown after having run a sub five 1600 to place third in that event hours earlier.


HURDLES

Doubling up is common for those who choose to make the track just a little more interesting by jumping over barriers on their way to the finish line. Typically the State's best straightaway hurdlers come back and do battle again in the 300 meter version later in the meet. Hazelwood East senior Alana Gray owns the title best overall hurdler from last year's State Meet with marks of 14.8 and 44.83. The best high hurdle returner is Lincoln Prep sophomore Tyresha Chambers who posted a 14.68 to win the Class 3 title as a freshman. They should be challenged by Lincoln Prep senior Domonique King and Class 2 triple champion Precious Selmon from Crystal City .

The boys hurdles have no clear-cut star but based on State results from a year ago Darius Walker from Lee's Summit North, Tyler Shaw from Lutheran North and Karingus Belton from University City are good bets to be on the podium in both events. Look out for Normandy 's Travis Burrage in the high hurdles as he brings back a 14.75 from a year ago and Polo's Chris Hufford who ran 39.94 last year and could challenge the Class 1 record of 39.26 this year.

JUMPS

Records are likely to go down in the girls pole vault as well. The still relatively new addition to the State Meet continues to grow as more and more young ladies take up the challenging event. Tara Diebold is already the State record holder at 12-4 and returns to soar even higher in 2007. A little closer to the ground, but not much, look for Farmington senior Sydney Winslow to challenge the State high jump record. Winslow posted a winning leap of 5-8 last year, just one inch from the overall State mark. The title of best overall long/triple jumper might be between last year's Class 2 triple champ Courtney Shuman of Clark City and Hickman senior Asia Walker. Shuman, also a senior, brings back the best mark from last year's State Meet in the triple at 37-3 while Walker brings back the best long jump at 18-8.

On the boys side Cape Central senior Tyler Terry boats the best returning mark from last year's Championships in the triple jump at 46-8. Terry also long jumped 22-5 at State, but the best returner in that event is Lee's Summit West sophomore Bobby Carter who jumped 22-10 as a freshman in 2006. The boys pole vault has a clear favorite in MICDS senior Mickey DeFilippo who won last year's title with a mark of 15-6.

THROWS

There is no clear cut favorite in the boys throws with the departure of Steelville's Andy Oaker, an All-American in 2006. Top returners in the discus include Cassville senior Nick Pianalto and Fort Osage senior Mitch Kessler. In the shot put two putters return who topped 55 feet at the State meet; Herculaneum senior Jimmy Freeman and Ruskin junior Ronnell Jones. SLUH senior Niko Mafuli tops the Class 4 returners.  

Classes 2, 3 and 4 all return some great talent in the girls throws. Class 3 is especially deep with defending Shot Put Champ Rickael Roach back for her senior year at Lutheran South. Roach was third in the Discus where Clinton senior Hope Harris looks to defend her State Title and the honor of best overall mark at 148-05. Class 4 boasts defending State Champs Megan Collins of Lee's Summit North in the Disc and Katie Varnarsdall in the Shot. Another top thrower to look out for is Lutheran St. Charles senior Rachel Travis who captured both State Titles at last year's Class 2 Meet.