Freshman phenom Amya Bills claims historic triple crown at State Track Meet

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Amya Bills isn't just a rising star; she's a supernova. 

The New Madrid County Central freshman's performance at the MSHSAA Class 3 State Track and Field Meet was nothing short of spectacular, capturing three state titles in her debut season at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, Missouri this past weekend. 

Bills' golden weekend began on Friday, May 17, when she soared to victory in the long jump with a leap of 5.90 meters. 

“It felt great to win my first state championship,” she said. “Track wasn’t a sport I pictured myself doing. Growing up, I played with the kids in my neighborhood, and my speed was recognized. I was encouraged to give track a try, so once I got into seventh grade, I tried and fell in love.

Her freshman-year success was no accident. Bills had set a goal for herself: to qualify for state.

“I felt proud once I stood on the podium and received my first-place medal,” she said. “I knew I accomplished my goal.”

Her performance on Saturday was even more impressive. She blazed through the 100-meter dash, clocking a winning time of 12.07 seconds, then returned to the track to claim gold in the 200 with a time of 25.14.

“It meant a lot to go and triumph on the field,” Bills said. “I made myself proud by making it to the stage and bringing home three titles, proving I can achieve whatever I want. I made my family, city, and school proud.”

While her freshman dominance might seem unexpected, Bills never doubted her abilities. 

"Honestly, I didn’t let my class level determine if I would be successful," she shared. "I went in confident in my ability. I pray before I run and I have people who pray for me. I expected to do well in my events, but winning first in every event exceeded my expectations."

In a heartfelt statement, Bills expressed her gratitude for those who supported her journey: "I would like to give honor to God for helping me accomplish great things this year. I would like to thank my coaches, school, family, friends, and community for supporting me."

Bills' record-shattering weekend was a historic one for NMCC. Her long jump victory broke a school record, while her time in the 200 eclipsed a mark that had stood since 1988, set by Louise Johnson. 

Bills also etched her name in the NMCC history books as the first female athlete to win a state title since Hariet Waffenschmidt won the long jump in 1997. 

She further cemented her legacy as the only NMCC athlete to capture three state championships in a single season.

"Amya's performance at the state competition was truly as good as it could have been," said NMCC coach Jarrett Allen. "We knew going into it she had a good chance to win all three but for it to actually happen is just unbelievable. She's been an absolute force all season."

Allen also expressed pride in the performances of the other NMCC athletes at the state meet. 

Evan McClellan, a relative newcomer to hurdles, showcased his improvement by taking fourth place in the 110 hurdles with a personal-best time of 14.78 seconds. Although a disqualification in the 300 hurdles due to a prelim mishap dashed his hopes, Allen praised McClellan's determination and outstanding two-year contributions to the team.

Ja'Kwon Jones, while securing a seventh-place all-state finish in the triple jump, faced a setback when he aggravated his hamstring during his first attempt. Despite the disappointment of not medaling in the long and high jump, Allen emphasized Jones' sophomore success in qualifying for state in three events as a significant achievement.

Allen also highlighted the accomplishments of seniors Ivyanna Winters and Jacob Bennett, who both achieved their goal of reaching the state meet. While they didn't make the podium, their dedication and leadership throughout the season were invaluable to the team's success.