Track and Field is the most popular sport at Wright City High School. More than 25% of the school participates in the sport. The substantial athlete turnout can be attributed to the wide variety of events available and the inclusive nature of combining genders within the sport.
Frederick Ross, Track and Field coach, has seen almost every athlete holding the school records for their event. Many of the athletes graduated in 2023 and left many empty slots in the events, and Ross is looking to see some step up.
“A lot of young talent coming up for track,” Ross stated. “Lots of kids that need to step up. There are lots of conference and district qualifiers as well. We are looking to see some new personal records coming into 2024.”
The outgoing 2023 seniors included Blake Hogan, Jeremiah Davis, David Riggs, Isaiah Yoder, Jacob Ritter, Noah Lamb, David Joseph Rice, and Demetrice LeNoir. They left numerous vacant positions in various events that require filling.
Notably, Jeremiah Davis, Blake Hogan, David Riggs, and Devin Myers set a school record for the 4x200 relay last year. At the same time, Kaden Cross, Jeremiah Davis, Blake Hogan, and Devin Myers achieved the same feat in the 4x100 relay.
The departure of Jeremiah Davis, who holds four school records and qualified for the state, will be a significant loss for the boys’ team. The only returning athletes for the boys’ running teams are current sophomore Kaden Cross and senior Devin Myers.
With a lot of young talent coming up. One significant role model for 2024 in the boys that everyone is expecting to step up and take on more roles is Sophomore Kaden Cross.
Kaden Cross has been doing track for three years and is in his fourth year. He runs in the 100-meter dash and the 4x100. He and his team have broken the 4x100 school record and is looking to step up even more despite doing this all in his 1st year of high school.
“I’m going to push myself ten times harder than last year,” Cross said. “I lost 2 of my relay team. So I have to step up and carry more weight on my shoulders and do whatever it takes to lead the Wright City High School team.”
Senior Devin Myers has been running track for five years and has always been a successful runner.
He participates in the 4x200, 4x100, triple jump, and long jump. He currently holds two school records in the 4x100 and the 4x200. He hopes more young athletes come up on the varsity level and eventually fill the shoes Jeremiah, Blake, and David Riggs left.
“I’m not expecting as high of expectations as me, Jeremiah, Blake, and David had,” Myers said. “I expect them to excel in races and hopefully be as good and successful as our record-breaking team when we all became juniors and seniors.”
The female events experienced a highly successful year in the running portion, and there were no graduates from the girls’ team last year. As a result, there are no vacant slots to fill, allowing them to build upon the previous year’s achievements.
“I expect the girls’ relay have a chance, and a couple of individual girls also have a shot at breaking personal records as well as school records,” says Ross about any records expecting to be broken.
Current Junior Lydia Clubb has the record for the girls’ 100-meter relay. Breaking the previous record last season. She has high expectations for the 2024 season. As well as Senior Lizzy Riggs breaking the school record for going to state and placing in the girls’ 300-meter hurdles.
“I hope the girls’ relay improves greatly this year,” Clubb said. “Hopefully, if we work hard enough, we can make it to state.”
The girls’ relay team has succeeded with Lindsay Pettus, Lydia Clubb, Lizzy Riggs, and Teagan Riley in these roles. They also have high expectations of going and winning state in the 2024 season.