Liberty, Liberty North and Kearney: Spring 2024 track & field preview
LIBERTY, Mo. — Spring track and field season is upon us, and some great athletes are returning for another run at state. The local schools have had a lot of individual and team success in recent years. Liberty North boys have gone back-to-back on the state podium. The Kearney girls were Class 4 state champs, and the Kearney boys had a three-year run in the top three, with a state championship in 2022. Here are some athletes who will be making noise this year and preparing for their runs to the state meet in Jefferson City in a few months.
Kearney Boys
Junior Grant Noland was an All-State performer in the 300 hurdles in 2023 and returns ranked #5 with a 40.11 PR. He also missed state by one sport in the 100m last year.
Ty Smith, a junior, enters the season as the #6 ranked discus thrower in Class 4, with a 48.97-meter throw.
Junior Theo Grace has the #3 longest throw returning in the javelin, with a 53.92-meter throw. Grace, All-State in the javelin last year, also expects to be ranked top four in the discus after missing last season with an injury.
Senior Aden Sallee comes into the season with the #8 ranked high jump at 1.86 meters.
Kearney Girls
Sophomore Jordin Vaughn is ranked #13 in the 800 meters with a 2:23.02.
Anna Williams comes into the season ranked #12 in the pole vault after finishing a successful winter season in diving and earning All-State honors.
Liberty Boys
Senior Dominic Revels is ranked #1 in the 100m with a time of 10.45. He was runner-up at the state meet last season in the 100m and 200m. His 21.46 in the 200m is also ranked #1 in the pre-season.
Senior Evan McWhorter is ranked #6 in the 800m, at 1:56.55.
Peyton Willbanks, senior, is ranked #5 in the 3200m at 9:20.90.
Senior Omari Kearse is ranked #6 in the high jump, with 1.97m.
Liberty Girls
Ella Brown, junior, is ranked #7 in the 1600m with a 5:06.28. She’s ranked #12 in the 3200m.
Junior Malia Cabuyaban, comes in at #8 in the javelin with a 39.09m.
Alyssah Price, junior, is ranked #2 in the shot put at 12.18m.
Liberty North Boys
Senior Colin Madison is ranked #10 in the 110 Hurdles, with a 14.92. He is ranked #3 in the 300 Hurdles at 38.48.
Eagle Nation has another shot at 4 x 800m Class 5 gold, with three 800m runners in the top 10.
Senior Collin Kleinhen at 1:53.26 is ranked #1. Kaden Kleinhen is ranked #7, 1:56.84, and Sean Forquer is #9, with 1:57.36. He is also ranked #2 in the 1600m at 4:13.20.
Sage Wilde ranks #7 in the 1600m at 4:20.13 and #2 in the 3200m at 9:17.70.
Senior Matthew Barno enters the season ranked #3 at 2m in the high jump.
Senior Theo Gibson enters the season ranked #9 at 6.8 meters in the long jump.
Ayden Jones, senior, is ranked #7 in the triple jump at 13.62 meters.
Liberty North Girls
Senior Nevaeh Goodwin is ranked #6 in the 400m at 58.58.
Kennedy Herrig, senior, is ranked #3 in the 300 Hurdles with a time of 44.50.
Senior Madeline Steiger is ranked #6 in the shot put, with an 11.62m.
Laura Babbitt is at #8 in the high jump. The senior went 1.59m last season.
Mary Kimmerle, senior, comes in at #5 in the long jump with a 5.56m leap.
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