Local athletes earns medals at first day of state

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Local athletes made their mark on the first day of the MSHSAA Class 3, 2, and 1 State Track and Field Championships at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, securing multiple medals and setting the stage for an exciting second day of competition.

__Class 3__

New Madrid County Central’s Amya Bills showcased her exceptional athleticism, claiming gold in the long jump with a leap of 5-8 meters. Bills’ speed was also on full display as she qualified first in the 100-meter dash (12.12 seconds) and the 200 (25.47).

The finals for these events are scheduled for Saturday, with the 100 at 11:45 a.m. and the 200 at 3:15 p.m.

Dexter’s distance runners proved their mettle, winning the 4x800 relay in a time of 7:56.46. The quartet of Ben Dowdy, Chase Farmer, Cameron Bell, and Anistin Kyle combined their speed and endurance to secure the gold medal.

Kennett’s Kevin Thompson displayed his strength in the field events, earning a bronze medal in the discus.

Notre Dame’s Lauren Eftink showcased her versatility, claiming bronze medals in the 1,600 and the 800.

__Class 2__

Woodland’s distance runners dominated the competition, capturing gold in the 4x800 relay with a time of 8:11.19. The team of Reed Layton, Calvin Layton, Merlin Tucker, and Hayden Vangennip displayed impressive teamwork and stamina.

Reed Layton further solidified his status as a top distance runner by winning the 3,200 in 9:57.78.

Charleston’s Lawrence Johnson secured a bronze medal in the triple jump.

The Charleston 4x200 relay team also qualified first for the finals with a blazing time of 1:47.20. Daniyah Thomas, Lajayla McCalip, Treasure Kimble, and Jada Jones will look to bring home the gold on Saturday.

Malden’s Angela Dobbins proved her dominance in the jumps, winning gold in the long jump with a leap of 5.62 and taking home the silver medal in the high jump.

Chaffee’s Ayne Held showcased her throwing skills, earning a bronze medal in the javelin.

St. Vincent’s Reagan Meyer had an outstanding day on the track, winning gold in both the 1,600 (5:16.61) and the 800 (2:18.94).

With several more events scheduled for Saturday, local athletes are poised to add to their medal haul and continue their impressive showing at the state championships. Look for updated results and more in-depth coverage of the MSHSAA State Track and Field Championships in the coming days on Semoball.com.