Washington High School competed in six events at the MSHSAA Class 4 Track and Field Championships on Friday and Saturday, May 30 and 31, at Jefferson City High School.

Leading the way was senior Alyssa Repke, won the state title in the girls discus with a throw of 40.65 meters.  It was Repke’s third career state medal after finishing in fourth place in the discus in each of the last two years.

“This has been what I’ve been working for during my entire career, so it feels great to be able to accomplish it,” Repke said. “I was hoping to hit 40 meters at the state meet, and I’m glad that I did. The last couple of meets I didn’t do that, so I’m glad I did it here. It’s great to get something other than fourth place. I’m super proud. My senior season has been really great because I’ve been undefeated for the entire season. Hitting over 40 meters at state and going undefeated were definitely two of my goals.

“I knew the girl from Excelsior Springs (second-place finisher Kinley Rogers) was right on my tail, so I tried to stay calm and do what I knew how to do. I’m just glad it worked out in my favor,” Repke continued. “When I first started track, this was my goal, to be a state champion. It was my ultimate goal. During all the workouts and all the practice, I kept asking myself, ‘do I want to be on the board in the gym as a state champion?’ I wanted to show people what I can do. It motivated me. It made me work harder and be better.”   

Also earning a state medal was junior Jack Henderson, who finished in fourth place in the boys high jump, clearing 1.99 meters, a personal-best effort.

“I wasn’t really nervous. Just to be here was a great accomplishment, so I just figured I might as well have fun with it,” Henderson said. “My coaches helped me prepare for this over the last week and really throughout the entire season. I’m really happy with how things turned out. I’m hoping maybe next year I can jump over two meters and see where that gets me. It was a great experience being here.”

Caleb Matchell, a sophomore, barely missed qualifying for the final of the 110-meter hurdles. He finished in ninth place in the preliminaries in a time of 16.22. The eighth-place finisher in the preliminaries and last qualifier to the final posted a time of 16.21.

Steven Broadbent, a junior, competed in both the 800-meter run and the 1,600-meter run. He finished in 13^th place in the 1,600-meter run in a time of 4:30.54 and 16^th place in the 800-meter run in 2:04.51.

Washington’s girls 1,600-meter relay team finished in 12^th place in the preliminaries in a time of 4:10.33. Running were seniors Bri James and Izzy Von Behren, junior Josie Keiser and sophomore Kathryn Figas.

The top eight finishers in each event at the state meet earned all-state medalist honors.

Pictures of Washington athletes at the state track and field meet are below. Photos of the 1,600-meter girls relay team are courtesy of Arron Hustead of the Washington Missourian.