Class 2 state track and field: Saxony Lutheran's Anna Thomason caps career with state championship

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Anna Thomason’s final track meet for Saxony Lutheran ended with her name in the history books.

The senior won the 100-meter hurdles championships – the same year she started doing the event – and added three runner-up finishes, including the Crusaders' 4x100-meter relay.

Thomason, who will run at Southeast Missouri State, is the second-ever individual champion for the program, following Cassie Simpher who won the 400-meter dash in 2007. Saxony Lutheran won a state title in 2008 in the girls 4x400-meter as well.

The performance of Thomason helped the Crusaders take third place in Class 2 with 42 points, the school’s first-ever girls track and field trophy and sixth ever for any of the girls programs.

Thomason won the 100-meter hurdles, the start of moving back and forth between events, the medal stand and the bullpen after rain in the Mid-Missouri area led to a delay from a 9:30 a.m. start to 1 p.m. on the final day of the MSHSAA Track and Field Championships at Jefferson City High School.

Saxony Lutheran's Anna Thomason poses with her gold medal after winning the 100-meter hurdles on the second day of the MSHSAA Class 2 State Championships on Saturday at Jefferson City High School.Cody Thorn ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

“It was definitely very mentally tough,” Thomason said. “I’m used to a lot of events and everything rolls together a little but not like this. This was crazy and definitely physically tough too. I didn’t expect it to go this well. It was all so exciting and all glory to God. None of them would be possible without him. I’m so excited.”

Thomason had the second-fastest time in the 100-meter hurdles after Friday but won the title with a 15.25 dash down the straightaway, better than her 15.68 from prelims.

Coach Max Wieser suggested her doing the event this year in anticipation of her being a heptathlete or pentathlete at SEMO.

“My coach said, 'You do this, let's try it,' and I was like, 'This isn’t a good idea,' but we tried it and I kind of liked it,” Thomason said. “We just kept going at it and it is my favorite event now, by far. It is surreal winning the state title in my first year of hurdling. I wasn’t expecting it at all. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to come out and do this and for my coach pushing me, especially my senior year. After my last triple jump, I just broke down. I’m not ready to be done yet.

“I’m so thankful for this year and this team.”

Wieser reflected on Thomason's journey to a state title.

“I think her first race this year was 17.8 or so and then she dropped two seconds by the end of the year and then ran a PR today,” Wieser said.

Thomason, after winning the 100-meter hurdles, took second in the triple jump, high jump and was part of the 4x100-meter relay.

Ava Brown, Thomason, Bianca Scholl and Isabella Deckerd took second in the 4x100 – 51.47 – after being seeded fifth after prelims.

Saxony Lutheran's Isabella Deckerd competes in the 200-meter dash during the second day of the MSHSAA Class 2 State Championships on Saturday at Jefferson City High School.Cody Thorn ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

Deckerd, a senior, won three more medals, finishing sixth in both the 100 and long jump and seventh in the 200-meter dash.

Scott City’s lone medalist was Allysa Pruitt. The junior took eighth in the 300-meter hurdles – the same spot she sat after prelims.

On the boys' side, Woodland accounted for the only medals received in Class 2.

Senior Trenton Braswell was fifth in the javelin (49.74 meters) and seventh in the shot put (14.52 meters). Teammate Preston Hulvey, a junior, was sixth in the triple jump while junior Lane Vangennip took ninth in the long jump, just missing the podium.

The Cardinals finished 29th in the team standings.

Click here for the full list of Class 2 State Championship results.