Kelly sends 11-athlete contingent to Class 2 state meet

~ The Hawks have both numbers and experience for Class 2 track and field meet

Juniors Morgan LeDure, Samantha Ratledge, Dalton Huffman and Trey Walker will lead an experienced Kelly High School track and field team in the Class 2 Missouri state track and field championships that begin today in Jefferson City, Missouri.

"We're all a little bit tournament tough at this point in the season, and so are most of our athletes at this point in their careers," Kelly coach Kenneth Riedinger said. "We've tried to prepare them for the state meet as best we can, but at the end of the day it has to be their desire to win."

Eleven athletes from Kelly qualified for the state meet last weekend during sectionals, seven of which are returning to state for the second or third time.

On the girls side, LeDure leads the Hawks in the high jump, having qualified for the event the previous two years.

LeDure won the sectional title with a jump of 4 feet, 8 inches.

As a freshman, LeDure jumped a height of 4-10 and placed 14th at the state meet. She cleared the same height and tied for eighth as a sophomore.

Riedinger said LeDure is more prepared for this year's championships and is looking to improve her performance.

"She's been there before, she's a leader for us," Riedinger said about LeDure. "Morgan will be ready as will all of our athletes."

Ratledge will compete in four events -- triple jump, long jump and the 400 and 800 relays.

At sectionals, the junior won the triple jump with a leap of 35-8, took second in the long jump (17-1) and was the anchor in Kelly's first-place 800 relay and gave the Hawks a good start in the 400 relay, where they finished fourth.

This is also the junior's third trip to state. Last year, Ratledge placed sixth in the triple jump (33-10.50). She was also part of the Hawks' 800 relay team that qualified.

Dakaria Johnson, Taylor Lasater and McKynlee Neumeyer, who also were members of last year's 800 relay team, will competing in the 3,200 relay this time around with Ratledge.

Riedinger said the foursome is better suited for the 3,200 relay.

"They've got the distance down. That's no problem for them," Riedinger said. "Last year there was some miscommunication and bad handoffs, but they've grown as athletes and been working on those things in practice so that won't be an issue for them on the big stage."

Johnson is also competing in the 100 and 200 meters for the Hawks.

The junior ran the 100 in 13 seconds last year, finishing eighth.

On Saturday, Johnson qualified for state in the 200 (26.88) for the first time.

On the boys side, Riedinger said the talent is just as strong and experienced.

"A lot of our boys have been there, too, which brings a great deal of confidence," Riedinger said.

Notables include Walker, who is making his second appearance at state. He will compete in the 800 (1:59.01) and 1,600 (4:31.88) after winning both at sectionals. He qualified for the 800 at state last year but did not make the final.

Huffman is making his second trip to state in the triple jump after finishing second in the event last year with a jump of 44-3 3/4.

He will also compete in the 400 relay with teammates Maurice Davis, Matt Burford and Gaven Ray.

In Class 1, Oran senior Addie Kielhofner qualified for state in the 300 hurdles for the third straight year.

She earned all-state honors the past two years, placing fourth as a sophomore and fifth as junior.

Kielhofner won the event at sectionals in 48.63 seconds and also qualified in the 800 and 1,600 relays. She will be joined by Aubrianna Jones, Ashlyn McIntosh and Kaylen Glastetter in the relays.

Toni Hency is the Eagles' other state qualifier. Hency placed first at the sectional meet in the shot put with a throw of 31-11 1/2. It is the junior's first appearance at state.

Area state qualifiers

Class 1

Boys

Cameron Blissett, Scott County Central (high jump)

Alex Lashley, Delta (discus)

Girls

Kaylen Glastetter, Oran (800 relay, 1,600 relay)

Toni Hency, Oran (shot put)

Aubrianna Jones, Oran (800 relay, 1,600 relay)

Addie Kielhofner, Oran (300 hurdles, 800 relay, 1,600 relay)

Ashlyn McIntosh, Oran (800 relay, 1,600 relay)

Class 2

Boys

Isaac Baer, St. Vincent (3,200 relay)

Skyler Bewley, Scott City (1,600 relay)

Matt Burford, Kelly (400 relay)

Maurice Davis, Kelly (400 relay)

Noah Hahn, Scott City (1,600 relay)

Dalton Huffman, Kelly (triple jump, 400 relay)

Levi Krauss, St. Vincent (3,200 relay)

John Lipe, St. Vincent (3,200 relay)

Trevor Morehead, Chaffee (shot put)

Gaven Ray, Kelly (400 relay)

Zach Schumer, St. Vincent (3,200 relay)

Austin Spriggs, Scott City (1,600 relay)

Caleb Sykes, Scott City (1,600 relay)

Trey Walker, Kelly (800, 1,600)

Robbi Wingerter, St. Vincent, (discus)

Girls

Bella Bowers, Scott City (800)

Kenzie Graham, St. Vincent (pole vault)

Dakaria Johnson, Kelly (100, 200, 400 relay, 800 relay)

Taylor Lasater, Kelly (400 relay, 800 relay)

Morgan LeDure, Kelly (high jump)

Delia Lowman, St. Vincent (400)

McKynlee Neumeyer, Kelly (400 relay, 800 relay)

Samantha Ratledge, Kelly (long jump, triple jump, 400 relay, 800 relay)

Julia Sutterfield, Chaffee (shot put)