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July 15, 2014

2014 All-Missourian Track and Field Team

Meet the members of the 2014 All-Missourian track and field team.

John Paul Halford and Laura Simon

Sierra Maddox Jackson senior State events and finishes: Pole vault (Class 4, first) After-graduation plans: Pole vaulting for the University of South Dakota while majoring in exercise science Favorite: Shoes to wear while competing: Nike Place to compete: University of Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Kansas Track and field athlete: Jenn Suhr/Jeff Coover My favorite memory from the season is ... when I PRed at the Missouri Relays. My coach is always on me about ... the process of the vault instead of being outcome-oriented. The best way to kill time during a meet is ... visualizing and getting to know the other vaulters. My best event is ... the pole vault because I practice year-round and I'm very passionate about it. The coach who has taught me the most is ... Coach Rad [Tim Rademaker] and Coach [Bob] Sink. Track and field is ... a mental sport as well as physical. Photo by John Paul Halford

Sierra Maddox, Dakota Maddox - Jackson

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com 2014 All-Missourian Track and Field - Gaven Ray - Kelly High School

Sierra Maddox, Dakota Maddox - Jackson

Trey Walker Kelly senior State events and finishes: 800 (Class 2, third), 1600 (Class 2, fourth) After-graduation plans: Attending Southwest Baptist University and double majoring in accounting and Christian studies as well as running cross country and track Favorite: Team tradition: Ice baths before meets Warmup song: "Earth Angel" (The Penguins) Shoes to wear while competing: Whatever I can find on sale Place to compete: Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri (state meet) Track and field athlete: Nick Symmonds My favorite memory from the season is ... Ian Williams PRing in the two-mile without shoes. My coach is always on me about ... keeping my upper body relaxed while running. The best way to kill time during a meet is ... to try and find the most secluded bathroom possible. My best event is ... the 800 because it is right in the middle of being a sprint and a distance run. The coach who has taught me the most is ... Jessica Bollinger. Track and field is ... just like NASCAR but with a lower chance of death. Photo by John Paul Halford

Trey Walker - Kelly

Sierra Maddox - Jackson

Trey Walker - Kelly

Samantha Ratledge Kelly junior State events and finishes: 800 relay (Class 2, ninth), 400 relay (Class 2, third), Triple jump (Class 2, ninth), Long jump (Class 2, fifth) Twitter handle: @sratledge14 Favorite: Team tradition: Praying. "A team that prays together stays together." Shoes to wear while competing: Nike Zoom Rival S7 Lane to run in: Three or five Place to compete: Jefferson City, Missouri (state meet) Track and field athlete: Melissa Norville My coach is always on me about ... being a leader and not always trying to get away with as much as possible. The best way to kill time during a meet is ... drawing a chalk court and playing tennis, or sleeping. My best event is ... my relays. My teammates and I are always there to help each other out and push ourselves to our full potential. The coach who has taught me the most is ... coach Red [Kenneth Riedinger]. Track and field is ... one of the most challenging and most competitive but also one of the most enjoyable sports. Photo by John Paul Halford

Samantha Ratledge - Kelly

Sierra Maddox - Jackson

Samantha Ratledge - Kelly

Carli Knott Jackson sophomore State events and finishes: 400 (Class 4, eighth), 3200 relay (Class 4, 10th) Twitter handle: @car_knott Favorite: Team tradition: Praying before races Warmup song: High energy songs Shoes to wear while competing: Nike Spikes Lane to run in: Three Place to compete: Mizzou Track and field athlete: Steve Prefontaine My favorite memory from the season is ... sectionals when our 3,200 relay made it out and I won the 400. My coach is always on me about ... relaxing and thinking about my arms. The best way to kill time during a meet is ... talking to friends and teammates and listening to music or envisioning myself running. My best event is ... the 400 because it's all or nothing and it's just my own race to run. The coach who has taught me the most is ... coach Steve Wachter. Track and field is ... all sorts of things: serious, fun, emotional and physical. Photo by John Paul Halford

Carli Knott - Jackson

Sierra Maddox - Jackson

Carli Knott - Jackson

Addie Kielhofner Oran senior State events and finishes: 800 relay (Class 1, seventh), 300 hurdles (Class 1, third), 1600 relay (Class 1, qualifier) After-graduation plans: Attending the University of Missouri-Columbia and majoring in nursing Twitter handle: @AddieK12 Favorite: Team tradition: Checking out the other relay teams and trying to find something to encourage each other. Warmup song: "Take it on the Run" (REO Speedwagon) Shoes to wear while competing: Neon green Nike Spikes Lane to run in: Three Place to compete: Jefferson City, Missouri, for the state track meet Track and field athlete: Max Weiser My favorite memory from the season is ... standing on the third-place podium at state. My coach is always on me about ... making sure I push through the hurdles and keep my trail leg up. The best way to kill time during a meet is ... a question I can't answer because all my events are right after one another, so time to kill would be something I'd love! My best event is ... The 100 and 300 hurdles because my form and technique are better in these events, which causes me to perform better. The coach who has taught me the most is ... Max Weiser. Track and field is ... the most stressful, self-challenging, most fulfilling and disappointing sport because most of the time everything's on you and only you can determine the outcome, which is why I love it. Photo by John Paul Halford

Addie Kielhofner - Oran

Dakota Maddox Jackson sophomore State events and finishes: Pole vault (Class 4, eighth) Favorite: Team tradition: Funny haircuts for state Shoes to wear while competing: Pole vault spikes Place to compete: Jefferson City, Missouri (state meet) Track and field athlete: Earl Bell My favorite memory from the season is ... when I first cleared 14 feet, 6 inches. My coach is always on me about ... staying tall during and after the vault. The best way to kill time during a meet is ... to watch other athletes compete. My best event is ... pole vault because that's the only event I do. The coach who has taught me the most is ... coach Rad [Tim Rademaker] and coach [Bob] Sink. Track and field is ... the best sport ever. Photo by John Paul Halford

Addie Kielhofner - Oran

Marissa New Notre Dame senior State events and finishes: Discus (Class 3, sixth) After-graduation plans: Attending Southeast Missouri State University to major in pre-medicine while participating on their track and field team Favorite: Shoes to wear while competing: Neon green Saucony Unleash throwing shoes Place to compete: Jackson Track and field athlete: Dani Samuels My favorite memory from the season is ... breaking the Notre Dame discus record at districts with a throw of 132 feet, 10 inches. My coach is always on me about ... overtraining. The best way to kill time during a meet is ... hanging out with my family and friends. My best event is ... the discus because inside the discus ring, I know that I can accomplish anything if I put my mind to it. The coach who has taught me the most is ... coach [Lawrence] Brookins because he has not only helped me inside the ring but also outside the ring through his passion and positive attitude. Track and field is ... my life. Not only did I learn valuable life lessons through competing against myself, but I also gained lifelong friendships and memories that will last me a lifetime. Photo by John Paul Halford

Marissa New - Notre Dame

Dakota Maddox - Jackson

Marissa New - Notre Dame

Jordan Barber Notre Dame senior State events and finishes: 400 (Class 3, second), 3200 (Class 3, 10th), 1600 (Class 3, 10th), After-graduation plans: Attending Southeast Missouri State University to become a physical therapist while running track Favorite: Team tradition: Dance while warming up Warmup song: "Check Me Out" Shoes to wear while competing: New Balance Lane to run in: Four Place to compete: Ste. Genevieve Track and field athlete: Nick LeGrand My favorite memory from the season is ... going to state with my friends. My coach is always on me about ... eating right. The best way to kill time during a meet is ... sleep. My best event is ... the 400 because I always found a way to get the job done. The coach who has taught me the most is ... coach Unterreiner. Track and field is ... competitive. Photo by John Paul Halford

Jordan Barber - Notre Dame

Dakota Maddox - Jackson

Jordan Barber - Notre Dame

Dakaria Johnson Kelly junior State events and finishes: 100 (Class 2, second), 200 (Class 2, seventh) 400 relay (Class 2, third) Twitter handle: @dakariajohnson_ Favorite: Team tradition: Praying before we run Warmup song: Whatever comes on Pandora Shoes to wear while competing: Nike Rivals Lane to run in: Four and five Place to compete: State [meet] Track and field athlete: Melissa Barber My favorite memory from the season is ... when I got second at state and we got third in our relay. My coach is always on me about ... my block starts. The best way to kill time during a meet is ... singing to teammates or listening to music. My best event is ... 400 or 800 relays because I run with my teammates. The coach who has taught me the most is ... Coach Red [Kenneth Riedinger]. Track and field is ... tiring. Photo by John Paul Halford

Dakaria Johnson - Kelly

Dakota Maddox - Jackson

Dakaria Johnson - Kelly

Clay Darnell Jackson senior State events and finishes: Discus (Class 4, third) After-graduation plans: Throwing the discus for Arkansas State University and majoring in agricultural studies to be a teacher Favorite: Team tradition: Soaking coach when we won conference Warmup song: "Happy" (Pharrell Williams) Shoes to wear while competing: Nike Place to compete: State track meet Track and field athlete: Kurt Roberts My favorite memory from the season is ... tackling coach [Richard] Rushin after breaking the school record for the first time. My coach is always on me about ... getting focused. The best way to kill time during a meet is ... watching the other running events. My best event is ... the discus because I've thrown it the longest. The coach who has taught me the most is ... coach [Richard] Rushin. Track and field is... the most enjoyable sport and you get close to the people on your team. Photo by John Paul Halford

Clay Darnell - Jackson

Dakota Maddox - Jackson

Clay Darnell - Jackson

Gaven Ray Kelly senior State events and finishes: 300 hurdles (Class 2, fifth), 400 relay (Class 2, seventh) After-graduation plans: Attending Sikeston Area Higher Education Center for two years Favorite: Warmup song: Anything that could get us going Shoes to wear while competing: Nike Lane to run in: Four Place to compete: Jefferson City (state meet) Track and field athlete: Trey Walker My favorite memory from the season is ... going to state and placing. My coach is always on me about ... my hurdle form. The best way to kill time during a meet is ... goofing off with your friends and coaches. My best event is ... the 300 hurdles because that's what I've worked at. The coach who has taught me the most is ... coach Red [Kenneth Riedinger]. Track and field is ... one of the most exciting sports I have been involved in. Photo by LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com