Following a district championship performance, the Nixa track and field team qualified in 14 boys and 13 girls events for the Class 5 Sectional 3 meet on May 24 at Waynesville High School, vying to extend its season an additional week at the elusive state championships.
The top four individuals punch their tickets to the Class 5 state meet on May 30-31 in Jefferson City, Mo.
The Eagles earned 15 state berths on the boys side, including four sectional champions.
The junior duo of Jackson Cantwell and Hayden Mays finished one-two in the shot put and discus, securing state berths. Cantwell, the back-to-back defending Class 5 state shot put champion, captured first place with a record-setting throw of 23.90m. Mays was a few meters behind at 17.65m. In the discus, Cantwell launched the discus 59.31m to place first, and Mays was five meters behind at 54.48m to place second.
Both will compete in their third straight state meet, seeking to become 3x medalists. Cantwell won the shot put gold in 2023 and 2024 with throws of 19.60m and 21.92m, cementing a new MSHSAA Class 5 state record both times. In 2024, Cantwell crowned the discus title with a meet-best 61.95m. He finished runner-up in 2023 at 58.12m.Â
In the discus, Mays placed fifth at 49.91m and third at 56.21m a season ago. He was also the silver medalist in the shot put behind Cantwell at 17.21m.Â
Cantwell enters the 2025 state meet ranked No. 1 in the shot put and discus with season-best throws of 23.30m (shot) and 62.79m (discus). Mays ranks No. 2 (18.23m) in the shot and No. 3 (57.16m). Barring any setbacks, both are in place to win a second consecutive medal, if not the entire event.
The 4x200 and 4x100 relays also secured state berths with a first-place sectional title. The 4x200 team of Troy Huff, Jaren Davis, Keivon Flint, and Randy Flint won the event with a time of 1:27.95, besting Ray-Pec's 1:28.35. The 4x100 of Jax Adams, Keivon Flint, Randy Flint, and Troy Huff finished at 41.88, edging Ozark's 41.88. Davis and Randy Flint were both members of the 2024 4x200 state team that placed 14th (1:29.35). Davis, Huff, and Randy Flint also ran legs on the 4x100 team with Spencer Ward that placed 16th (42.82).
The 4x100 enters this year's state meet with a current medalist time as the No. 7 fastest in Class 5 of 41.88. Platte County holds the No. 1 at 40.83. The 4x200 sits with the 11th fastest time (1:27.34) in Class 5 entering the state meet. The top time from Rock Bridge is 1:25.39.
The Eagles were also runners-up in four additional events.Â
Randy Flint placed second in the 100m and 200m, clocking in at 10.75 and 21.64, respectively. He was second to Ozark's Kannon Williams (10.62, 21.37). Fellow teammate Jaren Davis competed in the 200m also and was fourth at 22.28, securing a state berth.
Entering the state meet, Randy Flint has the 11th fastest 200m time (21.64) set at sectionals and the 12th fastest 100m time (10.69) set at districts. Davis' 22.15 achieved at Liberty North's Ken Peek Invitational ranks him No. 32. The top 200m time is 20.98 is from Staley, and 100m is 10.27, both held by Staley's Robert Collins Jr.
Returning state medalist and 3x state qualifier, senior Aaron Ashley earned his third straight appearance, qualifying in two events and finishing in the top four in the 800m and 1600m. Ashley placed second in the 800m with a time of 1:57.90 and fourth in the 1600m at 4:21.29. He was three seconds behind the 800m first-place finisher from Carthage and five seconds behind in the 1600m top placer, as times of 4:15.78, 4:19.37, and 4:20.03 were the top three.Â
Ashley captured his first state medal in the 1600m at the 2024 championships, placing 7th at 4:12.54. He also competed in the 800m, finishing 16th (2:00.62). He was a 2024 and 2023 qualifier in the 3200m and placed 15th (10:01.07) and 16th (10:18.82), respectively. Entering this year's meet, he ranks No. 7 in the 1600m (4:18.04) and No. 24 in the 800m (1:57.16). The top 1600m time is 4:06.82 from Kirkwood, and the 800m is 1:52.88.
The 4x800 and 4x400 relays ran to a runner-up performance. The 4x800 team of Alex Flannery, Aaron Ashley, Asher Coorts, and Reyes Martinez finished with a time of 8:04.14. Ashley and Flannery were members of the 6th place 2024 state medalist team. The four enter this year's championships with the No. 9 fastest mark of 7:57.91 set at the conference meet.Â
The 4x400 team of sophomore Toby Thompson, Keivon Flint, Aaron Ashley, and Roy Perez clocked in at 3:21.76 for second place. Thompson and Perez ran legs on the 2024 team that placed 14th at 3:24.83. 3:21.76 marked the four's best of the year and sits them No. 17 fastest.  Â
Reyes Martinez secured his first state berth, as the junior placed third in the 3200m at 9:27.01, setting a season-best time. Martinez's time ranks him No. 20. The top mark is 9:01.93 from Rockhurst.
Junior William Sanley also placed third in the pole vault with a leap of 4.11m, earning his first state qualification. Sanley surpassed 4.11m at the district meet with a season-best 4.58m, ranking fifth best prior to state. The top vault is 4.88m from Kirkwood.
As a team, Nixa won the sectional event with 124 points, besting Ray-Pec (65), Joplin (57), Ozark (57), and Rolla (55).
To view the full results, click here.
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The girls earned 10 state qualifications in nine events, led by sectional champs senior jumper Rylee Eng and the 4x200 relay team.
Eng, a 3x state qualifier, ousted the entire field in the triple jump with a leap of 11.58m to capture the gold, setting a new season best. In both of her previous outings at state, Eng just missed out on a state medal, placing 9th both times at 11.12m and 10.67m, respectively. This year, if Eng has repeat jumps similar to sectionals, she'll achieve All-State honors. Eng's best ranks No. 8 in the triple jump, and 12.44m is the top mark.
The 4x200 relay team of Olivia Reed, Taylor Hopper, Alex Doulova, and Eva Williams turned in a season best 1:41.60 to beat the entire field, including runner-up Ray-Pec (1:41.98). A similar performance will medal at state, as the four have the fifth fastest time, behind 1:40.50, 1:40.41, 1:39.46, and 1:39.28.
Following Eng and the 4x200, the Eagles were runners-up in three events, all of which they competed in the 4x200.Â
Junior Olivia Reed was .04 meters away from repeating as sectional champ. Reed's leap of 5.61m secured second, and another trip back to state. This performance was a few meters short of her season-best 5.78m posted at the Glendale Girls Night Out. In 2024, Reed barely missed out on a state medal, placing 9th (5.41m). Entering this year's meet, Reed ranks No. 5, with jumps ahead of her marked at 5.85m, 5.89m, 5.93m, and 6.15m.
Senior Taylor Hopper qualified for her third consecutive state appearance with a second-place performance that came down to the final stretch at the finish line. Hopper clocked in at 25.16 in the 200m, and Ray-Pec's Kynah Simmons won the event at 25.15. During last year's state meet, Hopper placed ninth (25.41). She'll compete in the 200m for the second straight year and enters ranked 19th in the state. The top time is 23.68 from Ladue.
Sophomore Alex Doulova and senior Eva Williams both qualified in the 110m hurdles. Doulova placed second with a time of 15.46, marking her first state qualification, and Williams was fourth at 15.60. Williams, a 2024 4th place pole vault medalist, competes in the running events for the first time as well. Williams posted a season-best time of 14.99 at the Republic Relays, which ranks her No. 10. Doulova's sectional outing marked her best and places her No. 16 prior to state. 13.57 is the No. 1 time from Cardinal Ritter.
The 4x100 team of Carysn Patton, Reed, Doulova, and Hopper finished third with a season-best 48.26, beating Joplin's 48.34 and behind Willard's 48.05 and Ray-Pec's 47.70. The four also enter in medalist standing with the seventh fastest time. The top mark is Liberty North's 47.63.
Junior Avery Muniz placed third in both the shot put (11.89m) and discus (34.56m) to qualify for her state appearance. In the shot put, Muniz has a great chance to medal if similar performances prevail, as she enters with the sixth-best throw of 12.71m, set at Liberty North's Ken Peek Invitational to win the event. In the discus, Muniz enters No. 17 with a best of 36.41 to win the COC. 46.71m is the Class 5 best discus, and 13.42m is the shot put best, both from Jeff. City.
Nixa's final qualifier is junior Gwen Kubik, who placed third in the javelin with a throw of 35.61m. This was almost four meters short of her season-best 39.94m set at districts, which ranks Kubik No. 7 prior to state. The top throw is 44.93m from Lafayette.Â
As a team, Nixa placed second overall with 88 points behind Ozark (109.50).
To view the full results, click here.
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State Meet Information
The Class 5 state championships will be held May 30-31 at Adkins Stadium on the campus of Jefferson City High School.
On the opening day, Friday, May 30, field events are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. For Class 5, the following boys field events will occur: pole vault, discus, long, jump, and javelin, while the following girls events will occur: triple jump, javelin, and discus.
Running events begin at 11 a.m., after the National Anthem, which is scheduled for 10:50 a.m. All running events except for the 4x800-meter relay, 1600m, 800m, and 3200m will have preliminary rounds on the opening day. The top eight preliminary times advance to the finals on May 31.
Saturday, May 25, field events are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. The competition for boys in Class 5 is high jump, triple jump, and shot put. The girls events are pole vault, long jump, shot put, and high jump.
Running events begin at 11 a.m., following the National Anthem at 10:50 a.m.
A downloadable and detailed state schedule for each day can be found below.
Day 1 Event Schedule
Day 2 Event Schedule
Admission to the meet is $12 and must be purchased digitally on MSHSAA's website here or at the link below.
Nixa will provide live coverage of the meet throughout the day on their social media channels, which are linked below. Live results during the meet can also be found here.
Any additional information can be found on MSHSAA's website here or at the link below.
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Nixa's Full List of Competitors and Events
Running Events:
Randy Flint (Jr): 100m, 200m
Aaron Ashley (Sr.): 800m, 1600m
Reyes Martinez (Jr.): 3200m
Alex Doulova (So.): 110m Hurdles
Eva Williams (Sr.): 110m Hurdles
Taylor Hopper (Jr.): 200m
Boys 4x100: Jax Adams, Troy Huff, Randy Flint, Keivon Flint
Boys 4x200: Jaren Davis, Troy Huff, Randy Flint, Keivon Flint
Boys 4x400: Toby Thompson, Roy Perez, Jaren Davis, Keivon Flint
Boys 4x800: Alex Flannery, Aaron Ashley, Reyes Martinez, Asher Coorts
Girls 4x200: Olivia Reed, Eva Williams, Alex Doulova, Taylor Hopper
Girls 4x100: Carysn Patton (So.), Olivia Reed, Alex Doulova, Taylor Hopper
Field Events:
Jackson Cantwell (Jr.): Discus, Shot Put
Hayden Mays (Jr.): Discus, Shot Put
Will Sanley (Jr.): Pole Vault
Avery Muniz (Jr.): Discus, Shot Put
Gwen Kubik (Jr.): Javelin
Rylee Eng (Sr.), Triple Jump
Olivia Reed (Jr.), Long Jump
Important State Meet Links:
Day 1 Event Schedule
Day 2 Event Schedule
Tickets
Live Results
Nixa Athletics Twitter
Nixa Athletics Facebook
Nixa Athletics Instagram
MSHSAA Website
