Sixteen Republic track and field athletes qualified for sectionals in 17 events Friday during a rainy district meet in Nixa. The Lady Tigers qualified 11 athletes in 12 events, and the boys advanced five in five different events.
Three of Republic’s seniors had especially big days. Kaitlyn Ragsdale led the way among sectional qualifiers, moving on in four different events: the 100 meter hurdles, the 300 meter hurdles, the 4×100 meter relay, and the 4×200 meter relay. She was district champion in the 100 meter hurdles.
Both AJ Fenske and Jasmyn Douglas won two different district championships. Fenske was Republic’s only two-time individual gold medalist, winning both the discus and the shot put. Douglas won the 800 meter run and was on the winning 4×800 meter relay team. She also finished second with her teammates on the 4×400 meter relay.
The girls 4×800 meter relay team finished in 10:01.77 to grab the gold medal. In addition to Douglas, that team included Miha Nambara, Kristin Probst, and Misora Nambara.
Chase Liedtke was among the top finishers and sectional qualifiers on the boys side, taking third place in the 100 meter dash. Devon McMillin also finished third in the 800 meter run. Landen Finley finished fourth in the 400 meter dash. Chase Buford took fourth place in the long jump. And Miller Rountree came from behind in the final few yards to nap fourth place in the 300 meter hurdles by three-hundredths of a second.
On the girls side, freshman Kristin Probst earned her way to sectionals by finishing second in the 400 meter dash. Miha Nambara finished third in the 1600 meter run.
The 4×100 meter relay team of Gracie Woods, Jenna Belcher, Chloe McCann, and Ragsdale finished fourth to advance to sectionals. The 4×200 meter relay team of Woods, Alaina Norman, Belcher, and Ragsdale finished third. The 4×400 meter relay team (Douglas, Woods, Norman, and Probst) finished second.
In the triple jump, Aaliyah Vasquez and Jenna Belcher got into a duel that worked out well for both of them. The two were the last remaining jumpers and Vasquez was in fourth place when Belcher passed her, knocking Vasquez out of the sectionals. Vasquez, who had saved her jumps because she’s working her way back from an injury, jumped again and re-passed Belcher, putting her in third place at the time. That left Belcher with one more jump – and she tied Vasquez for third, allowing them both to go through to sectionals.
The biggest disappointment on the boys side was the 4×400 meter relay, the last event of the day. The Tigers were in second or third place in a crowded field when Devon McMillin got tripped up during the final handoff, putting Republic out of contention.
Sectionals is scheduled for Saturday at Carthage.