After a season of struggles in the 3200-meter run, Gracie Troester finally broke through when it mattered most. After missing practice all week because of a trip Florida, Keiran Govan returned to Missouri to earn his first state medal.
Both Republic athletes delivered breakthrough performances at the Class 5 MSHSAA track and field meet in Jefferson City over the weekend, with Troester capturing fifth in the 3200 and Govan tying for seventh in the high jump.
Troester’s medal came after a season of frustration in the event, unable to break 11:30 all year. Seeded 15th entering Friday’s race, she ran aggressively from the start and stayed with the leaders throughout, finishing with a 20-second personal best to earn her sixth career state medal.
“The 3200 hasn’t been going the way I wanted it to this season,” Troester said. “I knew I just had nothing to lose. I knew I just had to go out there and give it all.”
Govan’s medal Saturday morning was a similar upset. The sophomore entered as the tenth seed in the high jump after missing practice all week for a family trip, returning just two days before the meet. He cleared 1.88 meters without a miss before stalling at 1.93.
“I came in as like the tenth jumper,” Govan said. “But as we were going up, I felt really good and I kept going, just couldn’t get past that 6’4″.”
For their medal-winning performances that defied expectations, Troester and Govan share this week’s Performance of the Week honors.
