(Editor’s Note: Corrects earlier version that Republic had won a COC title 29 years ago, rather than 30.)
A lot of great athletes have competed for the Republic girls track team over the past 30 years, but none of them accomplished what Republic accomplished Wednesday — a Central Ozark Conference track and field team championship. The Lady Tigers scored 129 points to out-distance Ozark (118.5) and Nixa (105) for Republic’s first team title at the COC meet since 1994. Republic had 16 personal bests on their championship night.
Coach Tori Mooneyham was a member of that 1993 team. Barbara Norman, the grandmother of new COC shot put champion Alaina Norman, was a coach. It had been “a long time coming,” according to Mooneyham.
“The kids really bought in this year. We’ve got a core group that’s been successful in the past, and once you have success, it builds on that,” said Mooneyham. “We were able to add a few new additions this year, and our coaching staff is just amazing. It takes all of us — we’ve got some amazing coaches, and we all coach each others’ kids, and it all came together.”
Republic’s depth was a key. In several events, more than one athlete scored points. In the long jump, Jenna Belcher placed second, Rilynn Finley was fifth, and Gracie Woods was seventh. In both the 800m and 1600m, Kristin Probst earned points in addition to Gracie Troester’s wins. Aubrey Haynes took sixth in the triple jump behind Belcher’s win.
The championship couldn’t have happened without an all-star performance from Gracie Troester. Troester was Republic’s top points-earner, winning three events and finishing second in a fourth. She broke her own record in the 1600-meter run just days after surpassing a 41-year-old school mark for the first time. was also first in the 800m run and she was a member of the winning 4x800m relay team. She finished second in the 3200m run.
Norman won the shot put. Belcher finished first in the triple jump. The 4x400m relay team of Gracie Woods, Probst, Finley, and Norman won a conference title. So did the 4x800m relay team of Probst, Misora Nambara, Cali Thompson, and Troester.
Riley Brown came up big with a second-place finish in the pole fault. Kailey Manes finished third in the high jump and Norman was third in the javelin. Kristin Probst was fourth in the 800m run. Avery Rossow contributed a point by finishing eighth in the discus. Adison Fanning was eighth in the 400m dash.
Mooneyham credits coach Ryan Cornelsen with finding spots for athletes to excel and plugging them into roles where they can earn points. Rilynn Finley, for example, took fourth in the 300m hurdles despite her relative inexperience in that event.
The 4x100m relay team (Woods, Brooklyn Douglas, Reese Fry, and Jenna Belcher) finished eighth, and the 4x200m relay team (Woods, Douglas, Norman, and Belcher) finished second.
“They knew the chance was there (to win the team championship), and they seized it and rose to the challenge,” Mooneyham said.
Even athletes who didn’t score points were involved as the night wore on and Republic clung to a lead over Ozark and Nixa.
“Track’s an individual sport and through the years we’ve always had a lot of individual success. But to see them buy in as a team and come together as a team, it’s so rewarding as a coach,” Mooneyham said. “Not a single girl left this track meet tonight. They literally came together as a team, whether they scored a point or didn’t, they were cheering on their teammates.
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Zion Allen’s tie for first place in the high jump was the top finish for the Republic boys.
The 4x100m relay team finished fourth. The 4x800m relay team finished third. The 4x200m and 4x400m teams finished seventh.
Cooper Douglas was fifth in the javelin, and Braden Ghys was fifth in the 200m dash. Kendell Curbow was sixth in the pole vault. Tyreke Williams was seventh in the long jump. Brady Purcell finished sixth in the 3200m run, setting a personal best by breaking the 10-minute mark for the first time. Mason Cole finished seventh in the 400m dash. William Payne was seventh in the 300m hurdles.