Washington High School was the site of the MSHSAA Class 4 Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 25.
WHS hosted the state track and field meet following a EF-3 tornado on Wednesday, May 22, that damaged parts of Jefferson City, including Adkins Stadium on the Jefferson City High School campus, the original host of the state meet.
As a result of the tornado damage in Jefferson City, the state meet was divided into three separate locations.
Washington hosted the Class 4 meet.
Washington earned all-state honors in five events.
Leading the way was senior Claire Ayers, who captured state honors in three events.
Ayers cruised to the state championship in the girls 800-meter run, posting a time of 2:16.06, more than three seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Ayers took the early lead and only got stronger as the race continued.
Ayers also earned all-state honors in the girls 1,600-meter run, finishing in fourth place in a time of 5:14.74.
Ayers also anchored Washington’s girls 3,200-meter relay team that captured state honors with a seventh-place finish in a time of 9:49.91.
Also running for the Lady Jays on the 3,200-meter relay team were sophomores Mia Reed and Lilly Nix, and senior Anna Schneider.
Washington sophomore Morgan Gratza earned her second all-state medal in the girls high jump in as many years by placing third with a leap of 5-7, which tied her own school record.
Washington junior Noah Little earned all-state honors in the boys 3,200-meter run, finishing in eighth place in a time of 10:04.77.
Also representing Washington at the state meet were sophomore Mia Reed in the girls 1,600-meter run (11th place in 5:29.81) and the girls 3,200-meter run (14th in 12:33.79), freshman Ingrid Figas in the girls 100-meter hurdles (12th in 16.26), and senior Daulton Bender in the boys 400-meter dash (10th in 51.0).
Washington finished tied for eighth place in the Class 4 girls team standings with 23 points.
Team champions in Class 4 were Grandview’s boys and Parkway North’s girls.
WHS 3,200-Meter Relay Team
Washington’s girls 3,200-meter relay team captured all-state state honors at the Class 4 state track and field meet with a seventh-place finish in a time of 9:49.91. From left are Mia Reed, Anna Schneider, Lilly Nix and Claire Ayers.
Claire Ayers
Washington senior Claire Ayers captured all-state honors in three events at the Class 4 state track and field meet. Ayers won the 800-meter run in a time of 2:16.06, placed fourth in the 1,600-meter run in 5:14.74, and anchored Washington’s 3,200-meter relay team that finished seventh in 9:49.91.
Morgan Gratza
Morgan Gratza earned all-state honors in the high jump by placing third with a leap of 5-7, which tied her own school record.
Noah Little
Noah Little earned all-state honors in the 3,200-meter run, finishing in eighth place in a time of 10:04.77.