Republic athletes brought home the biggest haul of state medals in program history during this weekend’s state track meet in Jefferson City. Republic earned six medals in six different events, beating the previous high of five medals in a year, set in 2002.
Gracie Troester and Alaina Norman earned two medals each. Troester finished seventh in the 1600m run and fifth in the 3200m run. She shaved five seconds off her previous school-record mark in the 1600m and 15 seconds off her record in the 3200m. She nearly because the only Republic athlete to ever win three medals in a single state meet, finishing ninth in the 800m run.
Norman finished sixth in the shot put, throwing 11.79 meters in the finals. She improved on that finish in the javelin, placing fifth. Her toss was 38.83 meters, one of her longest of the season. This is the second year in a row Norman has won a javelin medal.
The last time a Republic girl won two medals at the state track meet was 2002, when Audra Robinson did it. Norman and Troester both did it this year, becoming the first pair of girls to be double medal-winners for Republic in the same year. (Corrects previous version that referenced Sherri Dunn, who won two medals earlier than Robinson.)
Republic’s 13 team points placed the girls team 19th in Class 5.
Two boys brought home medals on the first day of the state meet. Zion Allen cleared 1.97 meters to place fourth in the high jump. Cooper Douglas broke his own school record on the final throw of his career, reaching a distance of 53.0 meters and placing fourth.
Troester and Probst, who finished ninth and 12th in the 800m run, made history despite failing to win a medal. They were the first two Republic girls to compete in the same race at the state meet.
Jenna Belcher, who finished 12th in the long jump Friday, placed 13th in the triple jump Saturday.
Kendell Curbow placed 11th in Saturday’s pole vault competition and Kailey Manes was 14th in the high jump.