The West Plains boys track and field team claimed the Class 4 District 6 championship
Saturday, while the girls team took second, as the Zizzers loaded up a long list of qualifiers for
the upcoming sectional meet.
Competing at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Springfield, West Plains athletes secured five
individual district championships and captured both the boys and girls titles in the 4x800-meter
relay.
"We were so proud of the teams and the number of kids that qualified for the sectional meet,"
West Plains Head Coach Alicia Gunter said.
She highlighted three Lady Zizzers who achieved personal bests at the district meet: Mylea
Adams (200 meters), Violet Hafer (pole vault) and Libby Hart (800 meters).
Top performances on the boys side included Hunter Stanley, who won the 3,200-meter run in
10:15.08 to claim a district championship. Jaxon Hunter secured the district title in the discus
with a 49.75-meter throw, and Jared Kraft won the high jump at 2.06 meters. The boys 4x800
relay team of Trevin Smith, Joseph Roberson, Stanley and Blake Romans grabbed first place in
8:11.54.
For the girls, Kaebrynn Gunter dominated the distance events, earning district championships in
both the 800-meter run (2:23.61) and 1,600-meter run (5:20.84). The girls 4x800 relay team
(Lena Finke, Libby Hart, Karlee Romans and Kaebrynn Gunter) also brought home a district
championship with a time of 9:57.60.
To advance to sectionals, athletes needed to finish in the top four of their respective events.
Sectionals Up Next
The qualifying Zizzers will travel to Adkins Stadium on the campus of Jefferson City High School
for the Class 4 and 5 Section 3 Track and Field Championships on Saturday.
Field events begin at 9:30 a.m. with the girls pole vault and javelin. Running events start at noon
with the boys 4x800 relay. The final individual running events of the day, the 3,200-meter runs,
are scheduled for 4:20 p.m. (boys) and 4:50 p.m. (girls). The meet will conclude with the 4x400
relays.
Boys District Results (Top 15 finishes noted)
- 100m: Cameron Miller, 2nd (10.71) Sectional Qualifier; Trentin Jeffords, 12th (11.72).
- 200m: Cameron Miller, 2nd (21.75) Sectional Qualifier; Malakai Maupin, 9th (23.24).
- 400m: Eli Hawkins, 13th (57.66).
- 800m: Trevin Smith, 2nd (2:04.17) Sectional Qualifier; Chaska Shearin, 4th (2:08.99, PR)
Sectional Qualifier.
- 1,600m: Joseph Roberson, 2nd (4:38.22, PR) Sectional Qualifier; Blake Romans, 5th
(4:48.60).
- 3,200m: Hunter Stanley, 1st (10:15.08) District Champion/Sectional Qualifier; Trevin Smith,
2nd (10:28.49) Sectional Qualifier.
- 110m Hurdles: Jacob Moore, 5th (16.07, PR); Judah Harvey, 9th (18.51).
- 300m Hurdles: Jacob Moore, 8th (44.64); Judah Harvey, 13th (51.85).
- 4x100 Relay: Mason Matejek, Gavin Kenslow, Kael Harrison and Cameron Miller, 2nd (43.15)
Sectional Qualifier.
- 4x200 Relay: Mason Matejek, Gavin Kenslow, Kael Harrison and Cameron Miller, 2nd
(1:24.47) Sectional Qualifier.
- 4x800 Relay: Trevin Smith, Joseph Roberson, Hunter Stanley and Blake Romans, 1st
(8:11.54) District Champion/Sectional Qualifier.
- Shot Put: Jaxon Hunter, 2nd (17.25m) Sectional Qualifier; Samuel Allen, 13th (11.66m).
- Discus: Jaxon Hunter, 1st (49.75m) District Champion/Sectional Qualifier; Jaksyn Davis, 7th
(39.57m).
- Javelin: Halen Mullen, 11th (32.56m); Peyton Allen, 14th (27.49m).
- High Jump: Jared Kraft, 1st (2.06m) District Champion/Sectional Qualifier; Seth Mills, 6th
(1.81m, PR).
- Pole Vault: Chance Bradfute, 6th (4.03m).
- Long Jump: Gavin Kenslow, 3rd (6.20m) Sectional Qualifier; Mason Matejek, 5th (6.09m, PR).
- Triple Jump: Gavin Kenslow, 5th (13.29m, PR); Mason Matejek, 9th (12.01m).
Girls District Results (Top 15 finishes noted)
- 100m: Mylea Adams, 2nd (12.40) Sectional Qualifier; Anna Welch, 6th (13.36).
- 200m: Mylea Adams, 2nd (25.51, PR) Sectional Qualifier; Lillian Dixon, 6th (27.42).
- 400m: Rylee Smith, 9th (1:07.96).
- 800m: Kaebrynn Gunter, 1st (2:23.61) District Champion/Sectional Qualifier; Libby Hart, 4th
(2:27.56, PR) Sectional Qualifier.
- 1,600m: Kaebrynn Gunter, 1st (5:20.84) District Champion/Sectional Qualifier; Karlee Romans,
4th (5:28.94) Sectional Qualifier.
- 3,200m: Lena Finke, 2nd (12:08.76) Sectional Qualifier.
- 100m Hurdles: Macey Lambe, 6th (17.59).
- 300m Hurdles: Edie Hart, 8th (52.45, PR); Macey Lambe, 15th (59.23).
- 4x100 Relay: Isabella Bridges, Anna Welch, Ashlyn Tinsley and Lillian Dixon, 5th (51.29, PR).
- 4x200 Relay: Isabella Bridges, Anna Welch, Ashlyn Tinsley and Lillian Dixon, 5th (1:54.18).
- 4x800 Relay: Lena Finke, Libby Hart, Karlee Romans and Kaebrynn Gunter, 1st (9:57.60)
District Champion/Sectional Qualifier.
- Shot Put: Shaylee Peterson, 3rd (11.02m) Sectional Qualifier; Maxine Clinton, 11th (9.10m).
- Discus: Jocelyn Denny, 4th (34.45m) Sectional Qualifier.
- Javelin: Gracelyn Young, 15th (24.70m).
- High Jump: Ashlyn Tinsley, 5th (1.50m); Emersyn Brunson, 9th (1.42m).
- Pole Vault: Violet Hafer, 5th (2.76m, PR); Macey Lambe, 8th (2.60m).
- Long Jump: Mylea Adams, 2nd (5.17m) Sectional Qualifier; Anna Welch, 8th (4.92m).
- Triple Jump: Mylea Adams, 2nd (10.83m) Sectional Qualifier; Lillian Dixon, 11th (9.56m).
Mtn. Grove Invitational
Before entering the postseason, a 10-athlete contingent traveled to the Panther Relays — also
known as the Mtn. Grove Invitational — on April 25 to gain additional competition reps.
"We used the Mtn. Grove meet as a chance to get a few throwers a meet, as well as some kids
that wanted a chance for another race or competition," Gunter said.
The day yielded several personal bests, highlighted by Hunter winning the shot put with a PR of
17.71 meters, topping the second-place throw by more than three meters. Peterson won the
girls shot put with a PR of 11.53 meters.
Other personal bests included Jax Spencer (100m), Edie Hart (300m hurdles, pole vault),
Mason Chambers (pole vault) and Samuel Allen (shot put).
