Republic athletes earned medals in six events on the second day of the Class 5 State Track & Field Championships in Jefferson City on Saturday, bringing their total to eight over the two-day meet. In all, seven different Republic athletes earned all-state honors and medals this weekend in those eight events.
Gracie Troester made history by winning her third medal of the weekend late in the afternoon, when her 3200-meter performance landed her in third place. In addition to her role in the 4x800m relay, she had placed third in the 1600-meter run on Friday. She’s the first Republic athlete on record to win three medals in the same state championship.*
Saturday’s highlights included two relay medals for the Lady Tigers, in the 4x800m relay to start the day and in the 4x400m relay to close out the weekend. Both teams finished seventh. The 4x800m team (9:28.90) included Kristin Probst, Gracie Woods, Reese Finley, and Gracie Troester. The 4x400m team (4:03.32) included Probst, Woods, Finley, and Alaina Norman. The Lady Tigers had not won a relay medal at the state meet for at least 20 years before capturing two on Saturday.
In addition to Woods, Finley and Probst winning two relay medals, Norman won a second medal in the shot put, placing sixth.
Jenna Belcher, who had broken school records in the 200m dash and the long jump on Friday, and who won a medal in the long jump, finished 14th in the triple jump on Saturday.
Zion Allen, the only competitor for Republic on the boys side, earned medals in both his events. He finished seventh in the long jump (6.86m) and tied for fifth in the high jump (1.93m). He had medaled in the high jump a year ago.
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* Historical records are incomplete and I update them as I get new information.
