Athletes excel in unique competition at Sikeston Twilight Relays

SIKESTON — From Friday night lights to midweek madness, the Sikeston Twilight Relays brought together some of the top high school track and field athletes from the region for an afternoon of intense and unique competition.

While the hometown team didn’t come out on top, the sheer talent on display was enough to make the meet a success.

“Overall I think we did well,” said Sikeston coach Betsy Colwick. “My girls' team is doing their thing. The [400-meter] relay team got a new personal record. Losing by three points [as a team] stinks, but we know where we can improve on going into districts. We had some good boys' performances too. Their 400 relay team also had a new personal record.”

Sikeston's Kayden Craig competes during the 2023 Sikeston Twilight Relays on Wednesday, May 3 at Sikeston High School.Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

The Notre Dame boys and girls teams won the meet with team scores of 86.5 and 93, respectively. The Sikeston girls finished second with a team score of 90, while the boys were fourth with 71 points.

The innovative nature of the meet provides a fresh and dynamic perspective

The Sikeston Twilight Relays distinguishes itself from traditional meets by offering a variety of unique events that are not commonly seen in other competitions. These special events add an extra layer of excitement and challenge for participating athletes and spectators alike.

Sikeston's Reece Steward�competes�during the 2023 Sikeston Twilight Relays on Wednesday, May 3 at Sikeston High School.Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

“Sikeston for many years did the Twilight Relays on a Friday night under the football lights,” Cowlick said. “I wanted to try and bring it back in some sort of way. It’s a change of pace and some kids get to try new things because of the different relays. It also gives more field event athletes the chance to compete since we put three on a field event relay team.”

The Sikeston girls' team finished with two individual winners, Kirsten Fairhurst and Brionna Williams.

Fairhurst won the long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 4.5 inches, while Williams won the high jump after clearing 4-11.75.

Sikeston's Michael Conway�competes�during the 2023 Sikeston Twilight Relays on Wednesday, May 3 at Sikeston High School.Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

The Sikeston girls also claimed gold in the 400 shuttle hurdle, the 800 relay, the 400 relay and the throwers relay.

The 400 shuttle hurdle team included Fairhurst, Lanaiyah Shabazz, JaNaye Moore and Shanell Williams; the 800 relay team was Don Quaria Metty, Fairhurst, Reese Steward and Essence Givens; members of the 400 relay team were Shabazz, Fairhurst, Quaria Metty and Steward; while Janileya Moore, Myanna Pearson, Martasia Sawyer and Shanell Williams made up the thrower's team.

“The girls' team has been crushing it this year,” Colwick said. “We as a coaching staff are so proud of them. Brionna Williams, Kirsten Fairhurst, Reese Steward and JaNaye Moore are our steadfast girls that come to practice and get the job done. They have been excellent at showing their younger teammates the ropes.

Brionna Williams, Fairhurst, Steward and all have state championship aspirations and are looking to earn return trips to the MSHSAA State Meet this postseason. Last season, Williams finished 12th in the high jump with a leap of 4-10; Steward was seventh (17-3) and Fairhurst was 10th (16-4) in the long jump and Steward also finished 13th in the 100 with a time of 13.18.

“Those three all have a good chance [at a state title],” Colwick said. “The girls are ready to go. They keep showing up and pushing themselves. Our girls [400 relay] are sitting pretty good right now so they may have a chance to keep qualifying too. The boys are getting their wheels turning into high gear to make a good showing at districts.”

Although the Sikeston boys' team did not secure any individual victories, there were still some impressive performances that resulted in several silver and bronze medals.

Kendrick Sherrod was second in the shot put and Jkwon Applewhite was third in the high jump. The team of Christopher Hobbs, Christopher Artis, Quentin Wilkins and Malachi Kellum placed second in the 800 relay; Kellum, Xavier Jackson, Wilkins and Marcus Sanders were second in the 800 sprint relay, the throwers relay team finished second and the team of Hobbs, Jackson, Artis and Kellum were third in the 400 relay.

Sikeston will next compete in the MSHSAA Class 4, District 1 Meet at Notre Dame Regional High School on May 13.

__SIKESTON TWILIGHT RELAYS__

__BOYS RESULTS__

Team scores: Notre Dame 86.5; Kennett 77.5; Potosi 76, Sikeston 71, Jackson 71, Kelly 58, Dexter 47.

1,600: 1, Bryce Gentry (Jackson) 4:29.77; 2, Jack Hutson (Jackson) 4:43.25; 3, Elijah Holm (Jackson) 4:57.69.

3,200 relay: 1, Potosi 8:37.90; 2, Notre Dame 8:54.99; 3, Jackson 9:19.51.

440 hurdle relay: 1, Jackson 1:18.17; 2, Kelly (Robert Aguayo, Grady Hall, Evan Shoah, Troy Roden) 1:18.17.

800 relay: 1, Notre Dame 1:31.06; 2, Sikeston (Christopher Hobbs, Christopher Artis, Quentin Wilkins, Malachi Kellum) 1:34.03; 3, Kennett 1:34.57.

Distance medley: 1, Potosi 11:30.12; 2, Notre Dame 11:41.68; 3, Jackson 11:57.62.

400 relay: 1, Kennett 43.58; 2, Notre Dame 43.61; 3, Sikeston (Christopher Hobbs, Xavier Jackson, Christopher Artis, Malachi Kellum) 44.62.

800 sprint medley: 1, Kennett 1:38.06; 2, Sikeston (Malachi Kellum, Xavier Jackson, Quentin Wilkins, Marcus Sanders) 1:40.46; 3, Potosi 1:40.85.

1,600 relay: 1, Potosi 3:33.68; 2, Dexter 3:33.75; 3, Kelly (Zack Hillman, Evan Shoaf, Tristen Genera, Adam Birk) 3:53.86.

Throwers relay: 1, Dexter 48.04; 2, Sikeston 49.86; 3, Kennett 50.61.

High jump: 1, Chauncey Fobbs (Kennett) 5-8; 2, 2, Aden Marshall (Notre Dame) 5-8; t-3, Jkwon Applewhite (Sikeston) 5-6; t-3, Brandon Santiago (Potosi) 5-6.

Pole vault: 1, Cain Braeden (Jackson) 13-5.25; 2, Mason Turley (Jackson) 12-5.5; 3, Chase Havill (Jackson) 11-11.75.

Long jump: 1, Cole Bruenderman (Notre Dame) 22.9.75; 2, William Gaines-Parker (Kennett) 21.2.75; 3, Logan Josupait (Dexter) 19-4.

Triple jump: 1, Cole Bruenderman (Notre Dame) 43-01; 2, Chauncey Fobbs (Kennett) 38-11.75; 3, Marshall Rodgers (Kennett) 38-11.

Discus: 1, Brock Clipart (Notre Dame) 127-2; 2, Ethan Jackson (Notre Dame) 114-12; 3, Michael Chavosky (Potosi) 111-2.

Shot put: 1, Kevin Thompson (Kennett) 44-7; 2, Kendrick Sherrod (Sikeston) 40-9.5; 3, Denver Mays (Kelly) 39-10.75.

Javelin: 1, Michael Wolfe (Potosi) 128-8; 2, Chavez Thomas (Kennett) 126-8; 3, Karson Manley (123-10).

__GIRLS RESULTS__

Team scores: Notre Dame 93, Sikeston 90, Potosi 71, Kennett 70, Jackson 70, Kelly 49, Dexter 48.

1,600: 1, Carlee Moss (Potosi) 6:38.35; 2, Emily Bates (Jackson) 6:39.07; 3, Sophie Vance (Potosi) 6;44.68.

1,600 relay: 1, Potosi 10:48.51; 2, Jackson 10:58.89; 3, Kelly (lena Figueroa, Morgan Merrick, Gwendolyn Essner, Sarah Thurmond)11:36.50.

400 shuttle hurdle: 1, Sikeston (Kirsten Fairhurst, Lanaiyah Shabazz, JaNaye Moore, Shanell Williams) 1:17.79; 2, Kelly (Carlee Ray, Paige Klipfel, Madyson Johnson, Savannah Barnhouse) 1:19.30; 3, Jackson 1:20.43.

800 relay: 1, Sikeston (Essence Givens, JaNaye Moore, Lanaiyah Shabazz, Don Quaria Metty)1:51.68; 2, Kennett 1:55.57; 3, Notre Dame 1:58.72.

Distance medley: 1, Potosi 14:23.15; 2, Notre Dame 14:27.56; 3, Jackson 15:16.94.

400 relay: 1, Sikeston (Lanaiyah Shabazz, Kirsten Fairhurst, Don Quaria Metty, Reese Steward) 50.95; 2, Notre Dame 52.25; 3, Kennett 54.80.

800 sprint medley: 1, Notre Dame 1:57.94; 2, Sikeston (Don Quaria Metty, Kirsten Fairhurst, Reese Steward, Essence Givens) 2:00.81; 3, Dexter 2:03.22.

1,600 relay: 1, Potosi 4:43.05; 2, Dexter 4:45.49; 3, Jackson 4:46.86.

Throwers relay: 1, Sikeston (Janileya Moore, Myanna Pearson, Martasia Sawyer, Shanell Williams)1:03.74; 2, Notre Dame 1:04.48; 3, Kelly 1:04.87.

High jump: 1, Brionna Williams (Sikeston) 4-11.75; 2, Taylor Moore (Sikeston) 4-7.75; 3, Kierra Edmondson (Kennett) 4-6.

Pole vault: 1, Abigail Spooler (Notre Dame) 10-0; 2, Katelyn Turner (Notre Dame) 9-6.25; 3, Abbie Lloyd (Dexter) 9-0.25.

Long jump: 1, Kirsten Fairhurst (Sikeston) 17-4; 2, Reese Steward (Sikeston) 16-0.5; 3, Jenna Givens (Notre Dame) 4.89

Triple jump: 1, Jenna Givens (Notre Dame) 35.6-75; 2, Kierra Edmondson (Kennett) 31-1.25; 3, Claire Pfautsch (Notre Dame) 30-3.5.

Discus: 1, Kalie Thompson (Potosi) 125-2; 2, Elle Vancil (Kennett) 101-7; 3, Aubree Wilson (Potosi) 27.75.

Shot put: 1, Nora Henry (Potosi) 36-1.25; 2, Emma Duenne (Notre Dame) 31-2; 3, Mary Huhman (Notre Dame) 30-8.5.

Javelin: 1, Jacie Smith (Notre Dame) 113-8; 2, Blaire Riley (Kelly) 99-6; 3, Tayja Carter (Kennett) 92-1.