Last spring, the West Plains Zizzers swept the boys and girls district track and field titles, making an emphatic statement before graduation claimed 12 seniors.
Now, 15 returning seniors provide a backbone of experience as the team rebuilds with spikes, split times and a steady stream of personal records.
“We are improving — setting [personal records], breaking records and preparing for the end of the season,” Head Coach Alicia Gunter said. “We have goals of winning conference and districts and advancing many to the sectional and state meet.”
Early in the season, those aren’t empty words. Senior Jaxon Hunter has already broken his own school record in the throws, trending toward another state appearance with solid consistency.
On the track, sophomore Cameron Miller has broken the school record in the 100-meter dash. He continues to climb the rankings, bringing a jolt of speed that can flip a meet in seconds.
Freshman Kaebrynn Gunter is showing strength beyond her years, demonstrating the patience and pain tolerance required for distance races. In the field events, Shaylee Peterson has already posted a lifetime personal record in the shot put, setting the tone for a breakout season.
The Zizzers are also keeping a close eye on the boys and girls 4x800-, 4x200- and 4x100-meter relays, where clean handoffs and timing often dictate podium finishes.
This squad has a high standard to measure against. At last year’s state meet, 2025 graduates Carson King and Kyler Gunter secured top-10 finishes in distance events. Several returning athletes also shined: Senior Jared Kraft finished fifth in the high jump. For the girls, senior Emily Ritter placed 10th in the 1,600-meter run, junior Ashlyn Tinsley took eighth in the high jump and senior Mylea Adams finished eighth in the long jump.
Those performances set a high bar. This year’s group understands the assignment, using early meets to focus on progress: faster splits, longer marks and tighter races.
Gunter offered special thanks to the coaches and volunteers who keep home events running smoothly. The Zizzers will host the Zizzer Relays — expected to be deeply competitive — on Thursday at Zizzer Stadium.
